N. O. SOI.ANACE.fi. 
895 
which is used largely in a great variety of diseases. It is regarded 
as expectorant and useful in cough and catarrhal affections ” 
(Hindu Mat. Med.). It is prescribed by the Indian doctors, in 
cases of dysuria and inchuria, in the quantity of half a tea-cupful 
twice daily. Horsefield reports that the root taken internally 
manifests strongly exciting qualites. It is employed in difficult 
parturition and in toothache. It is also used in fevers, worm 
complaints, and colic (Sakharam Arjun). 
Used in skin diseases of children (Ibbetson’s Gujrat). The 
juice of the leaves, with fresh juice of the ginger, is administered 
to stop vomiting. The leaves and fruit, rubbed up with sugar 
are used as an external application to itch (Agra Exhibition). 
200 grams of the fruits were found to consist of 58 grams of pericarps 
and 142 grams of seeds. These were powdered and examined separately, 
and had the following composition— 
Pericarps. 
beeds. 
Ethereal extract ... 
■9 
18-5 
Alcoholic „ 
... 5-8 
10- 1 
Aqueous „ 
,. ... 13-8 
224) 
Mineral matter ... 
... 11-2 
7-7 
The pericarps contained a yellow wax-like principle melting at 45°, a trace 
of an alkaloid answering to solanine, and a quantity of ammonia combined as 
an ammonium salt. The seeds afforded 13-5 per cent of a yellow oil having a 
specific gravity of •0278. After saponification of the oil by alcoholio potash, 
the free fatty acids wore liberated and found to consist mainly of oleic acids, 
and on standing in a cool place for several days, some white crystals separated 
out, having a melting point approximating that of myristic acid. An alkaloid 
was present in the seeds which could not be referred satisfactorily to 
solanine, and it was associated with a glucosidal principle givng a purple- 
coloured solution with sulphuric acid. The seeds like the pericarps con- 
tained an ammonium salt, and both portions of the fruit gave off strongly 
alkaline fumes on burning, and in which ammonia was easily detected. 
The fruit when dried and kept for some time are almost tasteless compared 
with their bitterness and acridity when fresh, and it would consequently 
appear that the alkaloids solanine and solanidine, become decomposed with 
the production of ammonia and other substances. (Pharmacograpbia Indica, 
II. 566-557). 
859. S. Melongena, Linn., h.f.b.I., iv. 235 Roxb. 
190. 
Vern . : — Baingan (Hind.); Begun (Beng.) ; Bengan (Pb.) ; 
Wangi (Dec.); Kuthirekai (Tam.): Vanga-ehiri-vangu (Tel.) 
Kha-yan (Burn.) ; Baigana, vange (Bomb.). 
