says, as stated in Dr. Lindley’s Introduction to Bot- 
any, that if two fluids, of unequal density, are sepa- 
rated by a membrane, the denser will attract the 
less dense, through the membrane. This propen- 
sity he calls endosmose, when the attraction is from 
the outside to the inside ; and exosmose, when it op- 
erates from the inside to the outside. Thus, it is 
considered that the fluid of the placentary matter 
in this fruit gradually acquires a greater density 
than that which surrounds it, and begins to empty 
the tissue of the pericarpium : as the fruit increases 
in size, the same operation continues to take place ; 
the pulpy matter in the centre is constantly aug- 
mented in volume at the expense of the pericarpium; 
but, so long as growth goes on, the addition of new 
tissue, or the distension of old, corresponds with the 
increasing volume of the centre. At last growth 
ceases, but endosmosis proceeds; and then the tissue 
that lines the walls of the central cell is pressed 
upon forcibly by the pulp that it encloses, until this 
pressure becomes so violent that rupture must take 
place somewhere.” 
Elaterium has been well known from remotest 
antiquity. It subsides, spontaneously, from the thin- 
ner parts of the juice of the fruit of this plant, and 
is dried for use. The eighth part of a grain of this 
preparation proves violently cathartic. Its active 
principle, called elatin, has been separated: this con- 
stitutes less than one tenth part of its substance. 
Momordica elaterium, will grow in any common 
garden soil. If once established, so as to ripen 
seeds, whether considered annual or perennial, there 
will be but little danger of its being lost. 
Don’s Syst. Bot. v. 3, 36. 
