N. 0. SOLANACEiE. 895 



which is used largely in a great variety of diseases. It is regarded 

 as expectorant and useful in cough and catarrhal affections" 

 {Hindu Mat. Med.). It is prescribed by the Indian doctors, in 

 cases of dysuria and inchuria, in the quantity of half a tea-cupful 

 twice daily. Horse field reports that the root taken internally 

 manifests strongly exciting qualites. It is employed in difficult 

 parturition and in toothache. It is also used in fevers, worm 

 complaints, and colic (Sakharam Aijun). 



Used in skin diseases of children (Ibbetson's Gujrat). The 

 juice of the leaves, with fresh juice of the ginger, is administered 

 to stop vomiting. The leaves and fruit, rubbed up with sugar 

 are used as an external application to itch (Agra Exhibition). 



200 grams of the fruits were found to consist of 58 grains of pericarps 

 and 142 grams of seeds. These were powdered and examined separately, 

 and had the following composition- 

 Pericarps. Seeds. 

 Ethereal extract ... ... ... *9 13*5 



Alcoholic ... ... 5*8 lO'l 



Aqueous „ ... ... ... 13-8 22*9 



Mineral matter ... ... ... 11*2 77 



The pericarps contained a yellow wax-like principle melting at 45°, a trace 

 of an alkaloid answering to solanine, and a quantity of ammonia combined as 

 an ammonium salt. The seeds afforded 13*5 per cent of a j^ellow oil having a 

 specific gravity of "9273. After saponification of the oil by alcoholic potash, 

 the free fatty acids were liberated and found to consist mainly of oleic acids, 

 and on standing in a cool place for several days, some white crystals separated 

 out, having a melting point approximating that of myristic acid. An alkaloid 

 was present in the seeds which could not be referred satisfactorily to 

 solanine, and it was associated with a glucosidal principle givng a purple- 

 coloured solution with sulphuric acid. The seeds like the pericarps con- 

 tained an ammonium salt, and both portions of the fruit gave off strongly 

 alkaline fumes on burning, and in which ammonia was easily detected. 

 The fruit when dried and kept for some time are almost tasteless compared 

 with their bitterness and acridity when fresh, and it would consequently 

 appear that the alkaloids solanine and solanidine, become decomposed with 

 the production of ammonia and other substances. (Pharmacographia Indica, 

 II. 556-557). 



859. S. Melongena, Linn., h.f.b.l, iv. 235 Roxb. 

 190. 



Vem. :— Baingan (Hind.); Begun (Beng.) ; Bengan (Pb.) ; 

 Wangi (Dec): Kuthirekai (T am .) : Vanga-ehiri-vangu (Tel.) 

 Kha-yan (Burm.) ; Baigana, vange (Bomb.). 



