N. 0. SOLANACEiE. 895
which is used largely in a great variety of diseases. It is regarded as expectorant and useful in cough and catarrhal affections" {Hindu Mat. Med.). It is prescribed by the Indian doctors, in cases of dysuria and inchuria, in the quantity of half a tea-cupful twice daily. Horse field reports that the root taken internally manifests strongly exciting qualites. It is employed in difficult parturition and in toothache. It is also used in fevers, worm complaints, and colic (Sakharam Aijun).
Used in skin diseases of children (Ibbetson's Gujrat). The juice of the leaves, with fresh juice of the ginger, is administered to stop vomiting. The leaves and fruit, rubbed up with sugar are used as an external application to itch (Agra Exhibition).
200 grams of the fruits were found to consist of 58 grains of pericarps and 142 grams of seeds. These were powdered and examined separately, and had the following composition- Pericarps. Seeds. Ethereal extract ... ... ... *9 13*5
Alcoholic ... ... 5*8 lO'l
Aqueous „ ... ... ... 13-8 22*9
Mineral matter ... ... ... 11*2 77
The pericarps contained a yellow wax-like principle melting at 45°, a trace of an alkaloid answering to solanine, and a quantity of ammonia combined as an ammonium salt. The seeds afforded 13*5 per cent of a j^ellow oil having a specific gravity of "9273. After saponification of the oil by alcoholic potash, the free fatty acids were liberated and found to consist mainly of oleic acids, and on standing in a cool place for several days, some white crystals separated out, having a melting point approximating that of myristic acid. An alkaloid was present in the seeds which could not be referred satisfactorily to solanine, and it was associated with a glucosidal principle givng a purple- coloured solution with sulphuric acid. The seeds like the pericarps con- tained an ammonium salt, and both portions of the fruit gave off strongly alkaline fumes on burning, and in which ammonia was easily detected. The fruit when dried and kept for some time are almost tasteless compared with their bitterness and acridity when fresh, and it would consequently appear that the alkaloids solanine and solanidine, become decomposed with the production of ammonia and other substances. (Pharmacographia Indica, II. 556-557).
859. S. Melongena, Linn., h.f.b.l, iv. 235 Roxb. 190.
Vem. :— Baingan (Hind.); Begun (Beng.) ; Bengan (Pb.) ; Wangi (Dec): Kuthirekai (T am .) : Vanga-ehiri-vangu (Tel.) Kha-yan (Burm.) ; Baigana, vange (Bomb.).
