N. O. MENISPERMACEA5. 
55 
active [a] D = — 62'6° The calcium salt, (C ls H„Br0 7 )j Ca-f-SH 7 0, potassium salt, 
with 2H a O, ammonium salt, and mercurous salt have been prepared. 
Picrotoxic acid, C 15 H 18 0 7 , obtained in small amount by the removal of 
bromine from the bromo-acid by the aid of sodium amalgam in alkaline 
solution, crystallises from water in needles melting at 229-230°, and has no 
bitter taste ; its aqueous solution has strong reducing properties, and it 
readily undergoes decomposition in both aqueous and ethereal solution. 
The substance obtained by Paterno and Oglialoro by the action of sodium 
acetate and acetic anhydride on pikrotoxiu, and described as an unsaturated 
acid, is shown to be diacetylpikrotoxinin, at 247-248°. When a largo excess 
of benzoic chloride is employed, no definite product is obtained. 
Acetylpikrotin, C, 5 H I7 0 7 Ac, crystallises from benzene, alcohol, or acetic 
acid in glistening plates melting at 244-245°, and is probably identical with 
the compound described by Paterno and Oglialoro as diacetylpikrotoxinin and 
melting at 227°. When pikrotin is allowed to remain in contact with acetic 
chloride for 24 hours at the ordinary temperature, and then heated until 
complete solution ensues, two compounds are obtained. Anhydrodiacetyl- 
pikrotin, C 15 H u O e Ac a , which is precipitated, on the addition of alcohol, 
in crystalline masses melting above 800°, and diacetylpikrotin, C 1S H l6 O r Ac,, 
which is obtained as an oil from the alcoholic mother liquor ; when it is hot, 
aqueous solution is allowed to cool, drops of oil separate, which solidify to 
crystalline needles melting at 207-210° ; these contain 2 H a O. 
Attempts to convert pikrotin into pikrotoxinin by removal of the elements 
of water have not proved successful. 
When warmed with fuming nitric acid, pikrotin yields a nitro-derivative, 
C, 5 H JS 0„. No,, anhydronitropikrotin, melting at 260°. 
J. Ch. 8. 1890 A I. 226-227. 
42. Coscinium fenestratum, Colebr. h.f.b.i., 
i. 99. 
Syn. : — Menisperum fenestratum, Gaevtn. 
Vem. : — Jhar-ki-haldi, or Jhadi haladi (Dec.) ; Haldi-gach 
fB.) ; Mara-Manjal (Tam.) ; Manu pasupu (Tel.) ; Marada-arishina 
(Kan.) Veniwel. I Mar. ; and Sinhalese). 
Hobitat : — Western Peninsula, Central and South India. 
Malacca, Singapore, Ceylon. 
A Woody climber, bark smooth, young shoots densely but 
finely yel low-tome ntose. Leaves large, 4-8 in., broadly ovate or 
rounded, suddenly f -acute, truncate, rounded, subcordate or 
slightly peltate at base, entire, glabrous above, densely felted, 
with fine yellow tomentum beneath, strongly 5-7-nerved ; 
