N. O. SC1TAMINE2E. 
1263 
diflicult to determine in many cases to which species authors 
refer. Dr. Irvine, in his Medical Topography of A j mere, says : 
“ Rhizome of this plant is hot and stimulating ; used in 
mesalihe, has a sweet scent ; is put into bazar spirits to make 
it more intoxicating.” This habit of flavouring spirits with 
galangal also prevails in Russia. The seeds also possess simi- 
lar medicinal properties. 
“ Hakims use it in impotence, bronchitis, and dyspepsia. 
It is disinfectant, used to destroy bad smells in the mouth or 
any other part of the body, ft is also advocated in diabetes 
mellitus.” (Asst. Surg. J. N. Dey, Jaipur.) “ In Mysore a 
domestic medicine, much used by old people with bronchial 
catarrh.” (Surg.-Maj. John North.) 
Tho crystalline constituents of Ualanga root have been investigated by 
Jahus, who isolated three compounds, which were termed camphcride, galangiu, 
and alpinin. The first-named snbstance, which has the Emporical formula 
C 16 H,j O e , crystallises from metbylic alcohol in lustrous, golden needles a 
coutimetre in length ; it contains 1 mol. of the solvent, which is removed 
at 100°, and melts at 227-220°. The trio cetyl derivative crystallises from 
alcohol in pale-yellow needles, and melts at 198-105°. When the substance is 
heated with inethylic alcohol, potassium hydroxide, and methylic iodide, 
tho dimelho.vijmethijl derivative is produced, along with two compounds 
melting at 151-155° and 188-140° respectively ; the dimoth-oxy-mothyl deri- 
vative crystallises from metbylic alcohol in rectangular plates and melts at 
178°.-J. Ch. 8. 1800 A. I. 587. 
The oil, boiled at 170-275", had a sp. gr. O'Ol at 20", a rotatory power— 
2°27' in a 100 mm. tube, and iij, l- 46C8 at 20°, Piucne, cineol, and possibly 
cadiuouc are present in the oil ; in the fraction 230-24°, a now hydro-carbon is 
found, the hydro-chloride of which C, s U 2t , 2 H.CI, crystallises in leaflets, is 
optically inactive, and melts at 51°. — J. Ch. 8. 1902 A 1. 551. 
% 1250. A. alluyhus, liosc., H.i-'.ii.i., vi., 25o. 
Roxb. 161. 
Vern. : — Taro, taruko (B.). 
Habitat Throughout India. 
Root tuberous, aromatic ; stem. 3-6 ft. ; leaves very shortly 
petioled, 1-1 £ ft. by 3-0iu., linear-oblong or oblong-lanceolate, 
acuminate, with usually a twisted cusp, glabrous, base acute, 
sbeatb compressed, ligule rounded ; panicle erect, decompound, 
6-12iu. long, pubescent or tomentose, lax- or deuse-lid., 
brandies short, ascending, with linear deciduous bracts, 4-6in. 
