of Selmis's Ptomaines (Finoshi) ; statements of diffrent observers concerning Oleandrine, Neriin, Neriodorin, &c., are conflicting ; see Leuknowsky, Rep. Chim. Appliq., III, 77 ; Schmiedeberg Archiv., Exp. Pathol., XVI, 151 ; Greenish, Pharm. J, Trans., 3rd Ser., XI., 873, and others] Amorphous, yellow, resinous, biiter, poisonous. After heating to 240° C. it is no longer soluble in alcohol or water. Melting point above 56° C. with crystalline sublimate. Soluble in water, Betelli ; alcohol, ether, chlorofrm and fatty oils.
Neriodorin scarcely soluble in water or ether, not soluble in benzene or petroleum ether. For further information regarding the precipitants, see Sohn.
2. Neriin has all the properties of Digitalin and possibly identical there-with.
3. Nerianthin bears similar resemblance to Digitalin.
4. Rosaginin.— A Glucoside (E. Pieszezck). Amorphous, Archiv. Pharm., 1890, 352 ; poisonous ; action like Strychnine. Soluble in alcohol ; not in water, ether, chlorofrom or petroleum ethers. For further tests, see Sohn.
The presence of the Glucoside Rosaginin would seem to account for tetanic symptoms noticed in two cases reported in the Indian Medical Gazette of 1866.
Dregendorff recognizes Oleandrine as the alkaloid found in the plant, but says he is not familiar with it and refers the reader to the researches of Leukowsky.* Dymock, in referring to the researches of Leukowsky says that the latter recognizes in the leaves of oleander the presence of two alkaloids —namely, Oleandrine and Pseudo-curarine. Dymock further quotes the researches of Schmiedeberg, which, in view of the quotation from Sohn given above, referring to the difference of opinion as regards the nature of the true alkaloid, may well be repeated here. " Schmiedeberg (1883), who considers Oleandrine to be a glucoside, found in the leaves two other glucosides— Neriin and Neriuntine : he cosiders Neriine to be identical with Digitaleine."†
Greenish recognizes two bitter principles in the bark, Neriodorein and Neriodorin, which, he says, are closely allied non-nitrogenous substances, probably glucosides, both possessing the properties of powerful cardiac poisons. In the bark, he says, there are crystals of calcium oxalate. (Year Book of Pharmacy, p. 154, 1881).
763. Aganosma caryophyllata, G. Don., H.F.B.I., iii. 664.
Habitat: — Lower Bengal, Monghyr ; common on rocks at Risikund ; Dekkan Peninsula ; frequent on the Veligonda Hills of Cuddapab.
A large, evergreen climber. Stem very stout. Shoots pubescent. Leaves 4-5 by 2-2Jin., ovate or elliptic, coriaceous, acute, obtuse or acuminate, glabrous or tomentose beneath,
- Plant Analysis transtated by Greenish, p. 204, 1884.
† Pharmacographia Indica, p. 401, Vol. II, 1891.
