AmMa^iSi.arm,l  Akaloids  and  other  active  Principles.  231 
picric  acid,  gold  chloride,  tannin,  potassium,  thiocyanate,  etc.,  melts 
at  1 1 50,  and  sublimes  partly  without  decomposition.  Its  hydro- 
chloride crystallizes  in  beautiful,  lustrous  needles,  and  is  readily 
soluble  in  water..  The  base  even  when  dissolved  in  100,000  parts 
of  water,  has  a  bitter  taste,  and  is  oniy  poisonous  in  large  doses,  but 
small  quantities  readily  kill  smaller  animals,  the  action  taking  place 
on  the  heart. 
II.  Investigation  of  Indian  Legitminous  Plants. — The  plant 
known  as  Derris  (Pongamia)  elliptica,  Benth.,  is  largely  used  in 
Java  in  fishing,  and  appears  also  to  be  a  constituent  of  the  Borneo 
arrow-poison.  It  has  exceedingly  poisonous  action  on  fish,  a 
decoction  of  the  roots  being  fatal  even  when  diluted  with  300,000 
parts  of  water.  The  only  active  constituent  isolated  is  a  resinous 
substance  termed  derrid,  which  does  not  contain  nitrogen  and  is  not 
a  glucoside;  it  readily  dissolves  in  alcohol,  ether,  chloroform,  and 
amyl  alcohol,  but  is  very  sparingly  soluble  in  water  and  potash 
solution.  On  fusion  with  potash,  it  yields  salicylic  and  proto- 
catechuic  acids.  It  occurs  almost  entirely  in  the  cortex  of  the  root, 
but  has  not  yet  been  obtained  pure.  Its  alcoholic  solution  has  a 
slightly  acid  reaction,  and  a  sharp  aromatic  taste,  causing  a  partial 
insensibility  of  the  tongue,  which  remains  for  hours.  A  solution  of 
I  part  in  5  millions  is  almost  instantly  fatal  to  fish.  A  very  similar 
compound  is  found  in  the  seeds  of  Pachyrhizus  angulatus,  Rich.,  a 
decoction  of  which  is  quickly  fatal  in  a  dilution  of  1  :  125,000.  It 
is  probably  identical  with  derrid,  but  until  this  has  been  experi- 
mentally proved  it  may  be  distinguished  as  pachyrhizid.  It  is  very 
readily  prepared  from  Pachyrhizus,  which  occurs  in  all  tropical 
countries,  as  the  tannin  compounds,  usually  so  difficult  to  separate, 
are  not  found  in  this  plant.  The  seeds  also  contain  a  non-poisonous, 
crystalline  compound,  which  is  readily  soluble  in  alcohol,  and  has  at 
300  the  consistence  of  butter. 
The  plant  Sophora  tomentosa,  L.,  formerly  renowned  as  a 
medicine  {^lAnticholerica  Rumphii^),  contains  a  poisonous  alkaloid, 
soluble  in  ether,  which  is  contained  in  largest  quantity  in  the  seeds. 
Alkaloids  have  previously  been  found  in  S.  speciosa  and  S.  angnsti- 
folia,  but  have  not  been  closely  investigated. 
The  cortex  of  Erythrina  (Stenotropis)  Broteroi,  Hassk.,  contains 
considerable  quantities  of  an  alkaloid,  which  may  be  readily  isolated 
by  Stas'  method,  and  is  easily  soluble  in  ether.    Its  sulphate  may 
