N. O. ASCLEPIADE.E. 817 



(acetate, needles, m, 222°), oxidized by Cr0 3 in HOAc to akundaric acid, isolated 

 as the stiver salt, C 38 H b9 3 Ag, faintly green, amorphous. Sapon. of (C) gave 

 mudarol (E), C 80 H 43 0. 2 , hexagonal plates, m. 176° (acetate, needles, m. 195—6°), 

 oxidized to mudaric acid, amorphous, m. 225°, purified through the silver salt 

 C 30 H 45 O 3 Ag 1 faintly green, amorphous. (E), (C), and their ales, gave color 

 reactions very similar to those of cholesterol and phytosterol. A little (D) 

 in 2 cc. CHC1 3 , treated with 20 drops Ac 2 and 1 drop H 2 S0 4 , gave the usual 

 violet-pink color, while (E) gave an intense blue. The resinous material evolv- 

 ed NH 3 and amines when boiled with coned, aq. KOH, and was finally purified 

 to a hard, brittle mass of the comp. C 34 H 47 12 N. (Chemical Abstracts, Jan. 10, 

 1916 p. 41.) 



No crystalline derivative could be isolated from the guttapercha-like 

 substance and no alkaloid could be isolated, although the yellow bitter 

 principle gave the usual alkaloidal reactions. 



The following results were obtained from quantitative experiments on the 

 powdered barks : — 



Moisture 

 Spirit extract 



Soluble in water 



Resins 

 Total Ash 



Sand 



Pure Ash ... 



It will bo seen that the root-bark from the older plants has a higher per- 

 centage of acrid and bitter resinous matters than that from the younger 

 plants. In this connection attention should be drawn to a remark made some 

 years ago by Moodeen Sherift of Madras. In the Supplement to the Pharmaco- 

 poeia of India, page 364, he reports that he found that the older the plant, 

 the more active is the bark in its effects. (Hooper). 



The latex of C. procera contains a rennet ferment, which, 

 like those present in the fig, papaw, etc., coagulates boiled milk 

 more rapidly than raw milk and is very resistent to heat. Its 

 action is inhibited by mercuric chloride, but not by salts of the 

 alkali metals. (J. Ch. S. A. II. p. 977.) 



Calotropis procera. — A new Heart Drug acting like Digitalis.— L. Lewin., 

 Berlin. Arch. exp. Path. Pharm. 71, 142-56. The physiologically active sub- 

 stance is found in the milky juice of the plant, in which it may be preserved 

 for years without fermentation. The milk coagulates upon long standing or 

 by the addition of ale. or Me. 2 CO. D=1062 reacts alk. The white, resin-like 



103 



From 



From 



lg Plants. 



Old Plants, 



121 



10-2 



15 



16-2 



7*2 



7'5 



7*8 



8-7 



7-0 



12-2 



2-8 



7-2 



4'2 



50 



