N. 0. CONIFERS. 1225 



in two cases of rheumatic sciatica and osteo-myelitis hardly any 

 effect was produced, but it is only fair to remark that antipyrine, 

 salicylate of soda, antifebrine, salol, &c, also failed to afford 

 relief in these two cases. The decoction used by Dr. Biektine 

 was made with 3*85 grams of the drug to 180 grams of water. 

 Kobert has shown that 0*20 gram of ephedrine injected into the 

 veins of dogs and cats produces violent excitement, general 

 convulsions, exopthalmia and mydriasis. (Nouveaux Remedes, 

 Aug. 8th, 1891.) Pharmacographia Indica, III. 369-370. 



The American aborigines of Pima use Teamster's Tea (Ephedra antisyphi- 

 litica, Berland) as a beverage. (B. D. B.) 



Chemical composition— Dr. N. Nagai (Tokio Chem. Society, through Chem. 

 Zeit., 1890, p. 441) obtainedthe'alkaloid Ephedrine from the stem of Ephedra 

 vulgaris (Ma-oh). Its composition is C 15 H 10 NO ; by oxidation the alkaloid is 

 split into benzoic acid, monomethylamine and oxalic acid. Isoephedrine, 

 melting point 114°C, is obtained by heating ephedrine, melting point 30°C, 

 with hydrochloric acid in a closed tube to 180°C. The constitution of ephe- 

 drine is C°H 8 CH 2 CH (NHCH 3 ) CH 2 OH, and that of isoephedrine is C e H 5 CH'C 

 (OH) (NH CH 8 ) CH 6 . 



The hydrochlorate of ephedrine forms acicular crystals which are freely 

 soluble in water. Mr. J. G. Prebble (1889) found the twigs of E. vulgaris to 

 contain 3 per cent, of a tannin, giving a whitish precipitate with gelatine 

 and acetate of lead, and a greenish precipitate with acetate of iron. (Phar- 

 macographia Indica). 



1213. E. paehyclada, Boiss. h.f.b.i., v. 641. 



Vern. : — Hum, Huma, (Pers. Bomb.). 



Habitat : — Western Himalaya, in the drier regions, and 

 Western Tibet, from Garhwal westwards. 



A rather tall shrub, more robust them E. Vulgaris, and more 

 scabrid. Branches rather stout, erect, striate, scaberulous, bracts 

 connate to the middle, margined, eciliate, anthers about 6 sessile 

 or subsessile. I can find no good characters in the spikes and 

 flowers except the more or less margined bracts (Hooker). 



Uses : — The same as of E. Vulgaris. The ashes are used as 

 a snuff and dye in Afghanistan. 



N. 0. CONIFERJE. 

 1214. Cupressus sempervirens, Linn., h.f.b.i. 

 v. 645 ; Roxb. 678. 



Vern. :— Sara, saras (Hind.) ; Faras (Sind) ; Saruboke (Mar.). 



154 



