234  Alkaloids  and  other  active  Principles.  {AmMaj"risP9harm' 
arborea,  BL,  the  leaves  of  which  contain  in  addition  a  fluorescent 
substance.  Kopsia  (Calpicarpum)  Roxburghii  yields  quite  a  differ- 
ent alkaloid,  which  causes  tetanus.  The  seeds  and  leaves  of  Kopsia 
(Calpicarpum)  albiflorum  contain  an  alkaloid,  as  also  do  Vincaroseay 
L.,  and  Alstoni  (Blaberopus)  villosa. 
Voacanga  (Orchipeda)  fcetida  yields  a  bitter  alkaloid  readily 
soluble  in  ether,  and  the  fluorescent  compound  already  frequently 
mentioned.  Taberncemontana  sphcerocarpa,  BL,  also  contains  an 
alkaloid,  and  a  wax-like  compound,  which  is  free  from  nitrogen  and 
melts  at  1 8 5 ° .  Alkaloids  are  also  present  in  Rhyncodia  {Cercocomd) 
macrantha  and  in  Choncmorpha  macrophylla,  Don,  which  is  of 
interest,  inasmuch  as  these  species  both  belong  to  the  Echiiidice, 
the  other  members  of  which  are  free  from  alkaloids. 
IV.  Cerbera  O  doll  am,  Hamilt. — The  sap,  leaves  and  cortex  of 
this  plant  have  no  toxicological  action,  but  the  seed  kernel  contains, 
in  addition  to  a  non-poisonous  fatty  oil,  the  compound  cerberin, 
which  has  a  poisonous  action  on  the  heart.  It  resembles  thevetin, 
thevetosin  and  tanghinin,  but  is  identical  with  none  of  them.  It  most 
nearly  resembles  the  last-named  substance,  which  is  obtained  from 
Tanghinia  vcnenifcra,  Poir.,  the  "  test-plant"  of  Madagascar.  Cer- 
berin  is  free  from  nitrogen  and  crystallizes  well,  and  although 
decomposed  by  acids,  is  not  a  glucoside.  It  is  insoluble  in  water, 
but  dissolves  readily  in  alcohol,  chloroform,  acetic  acid,  and  8o  per 
cent,  ether,  and  melts  at  165 °.  It  gives  a  violet  coloration  with 
sulphuric  acid,  has  a  sharp,  burning  but  not  bitter  taste,  and  is  very 
poisonous.  The  seeds  contain  another  very  poisonous  substance, 
which  is  readily  soluble  in  water,  alcohol,  and  amyl  alcohol,  but 
insoluble  in  chloroform,  for  which  the  name  odollin  is  proposed.  It 
is  not  precipitated  by  lead  acetate,  and  gives  the  same  color  reaction 
with  sulphuric  acid  as  cerberin. 
V.  Laurotetanine,  the  Active  Constituent  of  certain  Lauracece. — 
Many  of  the  Javan  varieties  of  Lauraceae  contain,  in  addition  to 
other  not  yet  clearly  defined  bases,  a  crystalline  alkaloid  termed 
laurotetanine,  which  has  a  strong  tetanic  action  on  animals.  It  is 
contained  in  quantity  in  the  cortex  of  the  stem  of  Litscea  chrysocoma, 
BL,  and  is  sparingly  soluble  in  ether,  more  readily  in  chloroform. 
It  is  precipitated  by  sodium  carbonate  from  solutions  of  its  salts,  but 
readily  redissolves  in  an  excess  of  potash  or  soda,  and  is  precipi- 
tated by  the  usual  alkaloid  reagents.    The  freshly  prepared  alkaloid 
