Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Nov.,  1887. 
Naregamia  Alata. 
577 
nitrogen,  and  occurring  in  this  extract,  shows  that  it  is  allied  to,  if  not 
identical  with,  asparagine. 
Among  the  less  important  constituents  of  naregamia  are  albuminous, 
pectinous  and  coloring  matters,  starch,  cellulose,  woody  fibre  and  ash. 
The  starch  is  in  minute  rounded  granules  of  about  the  same  size  as 
rice.  The  ash  is  of  a  reddish  color,  and  contained  10  per  cent,  insolu- 
ble in  hydrochloric  acid. 
The  following  table  will  show  in  what  amount  the  various  princi- 
ples occur : — 
Ether  extract    2-93 
Alcoholic  extract   5*40 
Aqueous  extract   7*00 
Albuminous  matter,  etc   7  61 
Starch  and  cellulose   17'66 
Woody  fibre   4477 
Ash   552 
Moisture   911 
100-00 
Medical  Properties. — About  one  ounce  of  the  powdered  naregamia 
was  sent  to  Surgeon-General  Bidie,  who  undertook  to  have  some  ex- 
periments made  on  its  therapeutic  action  in  the  Monegar  Choultry 
Hospital,  Madras.  I  have  been  favored  by  Dr.  Bidie  with  the  medi- 
cal report,  which  contains  the  following  information : — "  The  powder 
was  tried  in  two  cases  of  dysentery.  *The  first  patient  had  a  very  se- 
vere attack  of  the  disease,  and  had  recovered  from  a  similar  attack 
only  a  month  before,  and  was  in  consequence  in  a  very  weak  and 
emaciated  state.  After  three  doses,  all  traces  of  blood  in  his  motion 
disappeared.  The  drug  was  administered  in  doses  of  20  grains, 
preceded  by  15  minims  of  tincture  of  opium.  The  second  patient 
also  recovered  rapidly,  but  the  disease  was  not  so  severe  as  in  the  first 
case.  As  an  emetic  its  effects  were  exactly  similar  to  the  officinal 
drug,  20  grains  acting  as  an  effectual  emetic  in  an  adult.  It  was 
also  tried  in  small  doses  as  an  expectorant  in  catarrhal  affections  with 
good  results,  and  was  effectual  in  the  treatment  of  children  suffering 
from  bronchitis." 
The  results  of  these  experiments  confirm  Dr.  Dy mock's  experience 
of  the  emetic  property  of  naregamia,  and  Dr.  Bidie  intends  to  have 
more  extended  trials  made  with  it  in  dysentery  and  other  complaints. 
Pharmacy  of  Naregamia. — The  "vinum"  being  a  recognized  prepa- 
37 
