N. O. APOCYNACE.E. 803 



of Selmis's Ptomaines (Finoshi) ; statements of diffrent observers concerning 

 Oleandrine, Neriin, Neriodorin, &e., are conflicting ; see Leuknowsky, Rep. 

 Chim. Appliq., Ill, 77 ; Schmiedeberg Archiv., Exp. Pathol., XVI, 151 ; Greenish, 

 Pharm. J„ Trans., 3rd Ser., XI., 873, and others] Amorphous, yellow, resinous, 

 biiter, poisonous. After heating to 240° C. it is no longer soluble in alcohol 

 or water. Melting point above 56° C. with crystalline sublimate. Soluble in 

 water, Betelli ; alcohol, ether, chlorofrm and fatty oils. 



Neriodorin scarcely soluble in water or ether, not soluble in benzene or 

 petroleum ether. For further information regarding the precipitants, see 

 Sohn. 



2. Neriin lias all the properties of Digitalin and possibly identical there- 

 with. 



3. Nerianthin bears similar resemblance to Digitalin. 



4. Rosaginin.— A Glucoside (E. Pieszezck). Amorphous, Archiv. Pharm., 

 1890, 352 ; poisonous ; action like Strychnine. Soluble in alcohol ; not in 

 water, ether, chlorofrom or petroleum ethers. For further tests, see Sohn. 



The presence of the Glucoside Rosaginin would seem to account for tetanic 

 symptoms noticed in two cases reported in the Indian Medical Gazette of 

 1866. 



Dregendorff recognizes Oleandrine as the alkaloid found in the plant, but 

 says he is not familiar with it and refers the reader to the researches of 

 Leukowsky.* Dymock, in referring to the researches of Leukowsky says that 

 the latter recognizes in the leaves of oleander the presence of two alkaloids — 

 namely, Oleandrine and Pseudo-citrarine. Dymock further quotes the resear- 

 ches of Schmiedeberg, which, in view of the quotation from Sohn given above, 

 referring to the difference of opinion as regards the nature of the true 

 alkaloid, may well be repeated here. " Schmiedeberg (1883), who considers 

 Oleandrine to be a glucoside, found in the leaves two other glucosides— 

 Neriin and Neriuntine : he cosiders Neriine to be identical with Digitaleine."\ 



Greenish recognizes two bitter principles in the bark, Neriodorein and 

 Neriodorin, which, he says, are closely allied non-nitrogenous substances, 

 probably glucosides, both possessing the properties of powerful cardiac 

 poisons. In the bark, he says, there are crystals of calcium oxalate. (Year 

 Book of Pharmacy, p. 154, 1881). 



763. Aganosma caryophyllata, G. Don., H.F.B.I., 

 in. 664. 



Habitat: — Lower Bengal, Monghyr ; common on rocks at 

 Risikund ; Dekkan Peninsula ; frequent on the Veligonda Hills 

 of Cuddapab. 



A large, evergreen climber. Stem very stout. Shoots 

 pubescent. Leaves 4-5 by 2-2Jin., ovate or elliptic, coriaceous, 

 acute, obtuse or acuminate, glabrous or tomentose beneath, 



* Plant Analysis transtated by Greenish, p. 204, 1884. 

 t Pharmacographia Indica, p. 401, Vol. II, 1891. 



