258 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Very similar to the Japanese S. Japonica, Thumb., but the flowers are 
4-merous in that species. 
A poisonous alkaloid, Skimmianine, has been found to be present in all 
parts of Skimmia Japonica, but most abundantly in the leaves. It was 
isolated from the latter by extracting with 96 per cent, alcohol. Skimmianine, 
C 32 H„ 0„ [» 3 , crystallises from alcohol, in yellow, four-sided prisms, melts at 
175' 6,° and is readily soluble in chloroform or alcohol, moderately so in methyl 
alcohol, very sparingly so in ether, amyl alcohol, or carbon disulphide, and 
insoluble in water or light petroleum. All the solutions are neutral to 
litmus. The solutions of the base are almost tasteless, but those of the salts 
are very bitter. 
Injection of skimmianine into the femoral lymphatics of Rana escul enta 
or Rana temporaria affects the appearance of the muscles at the place of 
application, and renders them stiff and brittle. The neighbouring muscles 
are also affected by larger doses. Voluntary motion becomes sluggish, the 
breathing superficial, and the pupils contract. Reflex sensibility appeared 
as a rule to increase only in the case of Rana esculenta. The absolute 
strength, and the work performed by the muscles, were apparently dimi- 
nished. The alkoloid has probably a direct action on the muscles of the 
heart, decreasing the pulsations and causing disturbance of the diastole. The 
pulse is similarly affected, even when atropine has been previously adminis- 
tered. Intravenous injection, in the case of rabbits, causes general symptoms 
of poisoning. Slight poisoning is accompanied by feeble spasms. The pressure 
of the blood falls even when chloral has been administered, but after a time 
it increases again, probably owing to the compensating contraction of the 
peripheral vessels. Skimmianine has no effect on the secretion of urine. 
(I. Honda Ghem Centr. 1904. II., 15 11-1512) 
J. Ch. S. LXXXVllI., pt II., p. 152. 
It is probable that the same alkaloid is also present in the 
Indian species, which deserves careful examination. At my re- 
quest, Mr. Satis Chandra Deb, M.A , Professor of Chemistry, Muir 
Central College, Allahabad, analysed the leaves of the plant, from 
which he obtained an alkaloid, but it was not in sufficiently large 
quantity to determine its nature. B.D B. 
230 . Acronychia laurifolia, Blume. h.f.b.i., i. 498 . 
Fern. : — ( Sinhalese ) Akenda. 
Habitat : — Sikkim Himalaya, in hot valleys; Khasia Mountains; 
Assam ; Chittagong ; Eastern Peninsula ; Western Peninsula, 
on the Ghats, from Concarn to Travancore. Ceylon, moist regions, 
from sea-level up to -5,000ft. ; common in Malaya and Cochin- 
China. 
