STROPHANTHUS SARMENTOSUS : ITS PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTION. 343 



Their dimensions range between 180 mm. and 320 mm. in length (7-^ and 12^ inches), 

 and 25 and 28 mm. in greatest width (l and 1-| inch) ; and their weight between 

 11 and 39 grams (f to If ounces), the greater number approximating to the larger 

 dimensions and the higher weight. 



Seeds. — The seeds, which are provided with the plumose appendages common to 

 the genus, are narrow-ovate or spindle-shaped. They vary in size from 10x3 to 

 13x4 mm. (about -4 x "12 to '5 x "15 inch), the greatest number being about 

 12x4 mm. (-A7x'l5 inch); and they vary in weight from 0*014 to 0'028 gram 

 (*22 to - 44 grain), having an average weight of about 0"024 gram ("37 or f of a 

 grain). They are of a dark fawn colour and have a velvety appearance caused by the 

 short brown hairs with which they are covered,* and their appearance is distinctive 

 when contrasted with that of the seeds of many species of Strophanthus with which 

 we have had an opportunity of comparing them. The seeds have a bitter taste, and, 

 when reduced to powder, they have a feeble woody odour with slight acridity. 



When the surface of a transverse section is moistened with 80 per cent, sulphuric 

 acid, a faint red tint appears round the cotyledons, in a few minutes the cotyledons 

 assume a dull purple and the albumin a red tint, and, ultimately, the cotyledons 

 become blue, and remain so for several hours. t When 80 per cent, sulphuric acid is 

 applied to the seed divested of its testa, a lavender tinge is produced, which passes 

 into violet and then into pale blue. Both of these reactions markedly contrast with 

 the green colour produced in the seed of S. hispidus. Hydrochloric acid applied to 

 a transverse section produces a greenish-blue colour in the interior of the seed, 

 whereas the interior of the seed of S. hispidus is unaffected by this reagent. 



Extract of Seeds. — For the purpose of determining the pharmacological action of 

 S. sarmentosus we used an alcoholic extract of the mature seeds. It was prepared 

 by reducing the seeds to a fine powder, percolating the powder, in the first place, 

 with ether so long as ether removed anything, and then percolating the residual 

 powder with 90 per cent, alcohol in the proportion of five parts of alcohol to one part 

 of the original powdered seeds. The etherial and alcohol percolates were separately 

 distilled to a small bulk and evaporated at a low temperature on a water-bath, and the 

 latter percolate finally dried in vacuo over sulphuric acid. By this process there was 

 obtained 34 "7 per cent, of ether extract and 23 - 5 per cent, of alcohol extract. 



The latter extract, with which chiefly our experiments were made, is a brittle, 

 shining, yellowish-brown and slightly hygroscopic substance, freely soluble in water 

 and moderately so in 90 per cent, alcohol. The watery solution of the extract is 

 strongly bitter in taste and slightly acid in reaction. It contains an active principle 



* A few of the seeds that had protruded to the outside of opened-up follicles, and many of the seeds that had 

 been removed from the follicles and dried in Africa, are of a very pale fawn or deep cream colour, having become 

 blanched, apparently, by exposure to weather. 



+ On submitting seeds to Mr Holmes, of the Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, who originated this test and 

 has applied it to the seeds of many species of Strophanthus, he states that he obtained very similar colour-changes, 

 and he expresses the opinion "that there can be no doubt, therefore, that your seeds are those of Strophanthus 

 sarmentosus." 



