Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/30

780 linear-lanceolate or slightly obovate, much tapering to base-rather suddenly accuminate, subacute, glabrous, pale beneath, rather thick, venation pellucid, lateral veins numerous, horizontal, connected by an intermarginal one. Petiole l-l½in. long. Flowers large, on a stout erect peduncle, white, with throat yellow, sweet scented, in ample terminal cymes or flat topped panicles ; bracts ½-lin. long, oblong, acute deciduous. Calyx segments ¾-⅞in. linear-oblong, acute, recurved, glabrous, deciduous. Corolla-tube ¾in., lower third narrow, upper part dilated, throat nearly closed by 5 pubescent projecting wings ; lobes lin. Ovule, obtuse, oblique ; filaments very short (Trimen). Ovary of 2 distinct carpels united by a single style. Fruit (from the abortion of one carpel) a drupe, 2-4in. long, flattened on one side, with a fibrous endocarp. Seed usually one, oily, albumen (Brandis).

Uses: — The whole plant is full of an acid milky juice. Emetic and purgative properties are assigned to the milky sap and to the leaves, but their use is to be condemned (Ph. Ind.).

The nut is narcotic and poisonous. The green fruit is employed to kill dogs (Balfour).

The fruit combined with Datura is a part of remedy given by native physicians for hydrophobia (Pharamcographic Indica, Vol. II, p. 410.

The bark is purgative (Watt).

The kernel of the fruit is an irritant poison, producing, when taken internally, vomiting and purging, soon followed by collapse and death (Surgeon-Major Houston, in Watt's Dictionary.)

Cerebrin C27H40O8 occurs in the seeds. It forms colourless, odourless crystals, with a bitter taste, turns yellow at 180—185°, and melts at 191—192° (corr.). It disparts of the solvent at 16-21°,— Chloroform 8.83 ; alcohol 90 per cent. 12.43, absolute, 12.89, 75 per cent. 27.27 ; isobutyl alcohol, 14.7 ; amyl alcohal, 14.87 ; ether 178.5, benzene, 544.7; carbon tetrachloride, 813; water, 5555 (at 100°, 4974); carbon bisulphide, 12, 487 ; light petroleum (sp. gr. 0.675), 36, 730. It has the following values of specific rotation : [a]D ; in 90 per cent, alcohol— 74.61°; in ether— 64.76° ; in chloroform, 74.82°; in acetic acid— 80.81'. Analysis and molecular weight determinations lead to the formula C27H04O8 ; but its properties show that it is not identical either with the taughinin of Arnaud or with the the thevetin of De Yrij. It exhibits the following colour reactions : I. Yellow coloration, when warmed with dilute sulphuric, hydrochloric, or nitric acid.