790 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Echitamine is obtained from the liquor from which the ditamine has been 
extracted. On neutralizing this liquor, concentrating it by evaporation, and 
then adding hydrochloric acid and sodium chloride, impure echitamine 
hydrochloride is precipitated. The base isolated from this precipitate, and 
then purified, crystallizes in thick vitreous prisms, answering to the formula 
C 51 B“ N’ 0‘+4H ! 0. When dried in vacuo these part with three molecules 
of water, leaving a strong base of the formula G’ 2 H 2 ’ N‘0 5 + H’ O, or C 5 ’ H" 
N 5 O s , which the author calls echitamine hydrate, or eehit-ammonium hydro- 
xide. If in drying the heat be raised to and maintained at 150° C., another 
molecule of water is given off ; but the anhydrous echitamine thus left is a 
much weaker base, and is reconverted into the original alkaloid by dissolving 
it in hydrochloric acid, and decomposing the hydrochloride. In consequence 
of the decided loss of basic properties accompanying the elimination of the 
last molecule of water, the author prefers to regard the monohydrated base 
as the normal form. The latter is a powerful alkaloid ; it neutralizes acids 
perfectly, and yields well defined crystallizable salts. 
Echitenine. — This base is prepared from the mother liquors of echitamine 
hydrochloride, by precipitating with mercuric chloride, decomposing the 
precipitate with sulphuretted hydrogen, and then shaking with chloroform. 
It exists in the bark to the extent of only 0 01 per cent. Its composition 
corresponds to the formula C ! ° H" NO'. It is markedly bitter, of a brownish 
colour, and fuses above 120° C. With strong sulphuric acid it forms a reddish- 
violet, and with nitric acid a purple solution, the latter of which changes to 
green and ultimateley to yellow. Its salts are amorphous. In the author's 
opinion all these alkaloids belong to one series : 
Ditamine C 1 ' H' 5 NO : 
? C'» H !3 NO’ 
Eehitanine C”’ H 1 ' NO' 
Echitamine Hydrate (Eehit-ammonium Hydroxide)... C”H’“N s O ! 
(Liebig's Ann&len, cciii., 144) in Year-Book of Pharmacy for 1881.) 
(Pharmacographia Indica, Vol. II, pp. 389 — 391). 
755 . Holarrhena antkhjsenterica, Wall., H.V.B.I.. 
iii . 644 . 
Syn. : — Echites antidysenterica, Roxh. 245 ; Wrightia antidy- 
senterica, Graham. 
Sansk : — Kutaja (the bark) and Kalinga (the seeds). Giri- 
malli ka, Vatsaka (cow tree), Sakra Sakhin (Indra’s tree), Salua- 
Sana (Indra’s food). The tree is fabled to have sprung from the 
drops of ainrita which fell on the ground from the bodies of 
Rama’s monkeys which were restored to life by India. (Phar- 
macographia Indica II, p. 392). 
Wern: — Kureya, kaureya, karra, kaura, kora, karchi, dudhi 
(Hind.); Kurchi (Beng.) ; Pandbra kuda, dowla kuda (Bom.); 
