N. 0. MELIACfcbE. 
309 
with a pale yellow tinge. It was sweet in taste and possessed the peculiar 
aromatic odour of full ripe i Seem fruits. On boiling and removing the 
precipitated albuminous matter, a limpid faintly yellow solution was obtained. 
Angle of rotation of this solution at 15°C was +U’C. Its specific gravity at 
the same temperature was i'0589. 
The following is the general composition of the material : — 
Moisture 
... 80-50 
Proteids 
... 0-86 
Gums and colouring matter ... 
... 0T7 
Glucose (grape sugar) 
... 299 
Sucrose (cane sugar) 
... 861 
Ash 
... 0-41 
Petroleum ether extracted from the dried solids of the toddy only a trace 
of fatty and resinous matter. Tests for alkaloidal and glucosidal principle 
were in the negative. 
Qualitative analysis of the ash showed the presence of potassium, iron, 
aluminium, calcium and carbon dioxide in it. 
From the above analysis it can easily be seen that the toddy cannot claim 
any special medicinal properties. It is, like all other toddies, a syrupy 
solution of sugar plus a little albuminous and gummy matter with the peculiar 
odour of ripe Neem fruits. The valuable active principle of Neein which is 
an alkaloid according to Cornish and a resinous body according to Broughton 
(vide Watt's Dictionary of Economic Products), is absent. Hence the Neem 
toddy can be said to be a cooling nutrient and stimulating tonic, but it does 
not seem to contain anything which can be said to be useful for leprosy or 
other skin-diseases. 
Dr. Watt also mentions the tapping of Neem for its toddy. This is not 
a general practice, but if it can be successfully tapped, and if it is made 
available in large quantities, then it might be a fruitful source of country 
liquor or even alcohol, and in that case the tree might well be brought under 
the Excise Act. 
This investigation was carried out under the instructions of the Forest 
Chemist. 
263. M. azadaraeh, Linn, h.f.b.i., i. 544. Roxb, 
369. 
The English “ Persian ” Lilac. 
Habitat . — Commonly cultivated in iSdia and Burma ; wild 
in the Sub-Himalaya tract. Supposed to be indigenous in Balu- 
chistan and the Jhelum valley in Kashmir (Brandis) and 
naturalized. 
Syn . — Melia sempervirens, Sw. ; M. Bukayun, Royle. 
Sanskrit. — Mah&nimba, himadruma, parvata-nimba-vriksha 
(Sans.) 
