300  Gleanings  in  Materia  Medica.  {^j?ne?ilSarm* 
obtained  in  crystals  by  double  decomposition  in  sufficiently  diluted 
solutions.  Schultzen  and  Graebe  ascertained,  in  1867,  that  in  the 
animal  economy,  anisic  acid  forms  anisuric  acid,  C10HnXO4,  which  is 
a  substitution  product  of  glycocoll. 
Ammi  Visnaga,  Lin.  is  an  annual  or  biennial  umbelliferous  plant, 
indigenous  to  the  countries  near  the  Mediterranean.  The  plant,  and, 
more  particularly,  the  fruit,  has  long  been  in  use,  diuretic  and  emmen- 
agogue  properties  being  ascribed  to  it.  The  numerous  rays  of  the 
umbels  finally  become  quite  hard,  and  possessing  an  aromatic  flavor, 
are  used  in  oriental  countries  as  tooth  picks.  The  Arabian  name  of 
the  plant  is  el  kellah,  Ibrahim  Mustapha  (Compt.  rend.,  Aug.  25, 
1879),  isolated  from  the  fruit  an  emetic  and  narcotic  principle,  which 
he  named  kellin;  it  is  obtained  by  mixing  the  powdered  fruit  with 
slaked  lime  and  alcohol,  evaporating  to  dryness  and  exhausting  with 
ether.  Kellin  forms  white,  silky  needles,  which  are  sparingly  soluble 
in  cold  water.  Recently  attention  has  again  been  directed  to  this  plant 
in  French  journals  (Z'  Union  Med.,  April  8,  1886).  Kellin  is  stated  to 
produce  in  animals  paralysis  of  the  hind  legs,  irregularity  of  heart  action 
and  slow  breathing.  An  infusion  of  the  fruit,  5  or  6  : 100,  is  used  as  a 
mouth- wash  in  inflammations  and  carious  teeth,  and  a  decoction, 
10  : 1000,  is  given  internally  for  rheumatism,  from  125  to  150  gm. 
being  taken  daily;  an  ointment  made  with  the  powdered  fruit  being 
used  externally.  The  decoction  is  also  stated  to  possess  mild  antipy- 
retic properties,  and  to  be  useful  in  calculi  of  uric  acid.  The  leaves, 
which  are  used  for  poultices,  are  decompound,  the  final  lobes  being 
linear,  cuspidate  and  divaricate. 
Ailanthus  leaves  poisonous. — Caraven-Cachin  has  observed  that 
ducks  fed  with  ailanthus  leaves,  died  in  a  few  hours,  and  attributes 
this  effect  to  a  poisonous  principle  residing  in  the  very  acrid  juice. 
— Jour.  Phar.  Chim.,  Dec,  1885. 
Ambrosia  artemisiwfolia,  Lin. — Attention  has  been  directed  to  this 
common  plant,  known  as  ragweed,  in  the  North  Car.  Med.  Jour.,  by 
Dr.  J.  H.  Hill,  who  found  it  very  serviceable  in  persistent  bleeding  of 
the  nose,  a  strong  infusion  of  the  plant  being  given  in  tablespoonful 
doses  every  half-hour,  and  a  plug  made  of  the  leaves  being  inserted 
into  the  nostril.  According  to  the  National  Dispensatory,  the  astrin- 
gency  of  the  plant  has  caused  it  to  be  used  in  moderate  discharges  of 
blood  and  mucus,  and  to  palliate  mercurial  salivation. 
Galium  Aparine,  Lin.,  nat.  ord.  Rubiacese,  commonly  known  as 
