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as a remedy for indigestion and epilepsy and as an aphrodisiac. (Irvine.) The bark is used by Kunâwaris as a substitute for tea (Kanjilal.)

The palp of the ripe fruit is non-poisonous ; the kernel contains the taxin. This substance is prepared from its satd. soln. in very dil. Na CI soln., by Na CI. NH₃ , NaOH, phospho-tungstic acid, phospho-molybdic acid, potassium mercuric iodide, KI₃ , Esbach's reagent, Au Cl₃ and (NH₄ )₂S0₄ . With coned. H₂S0₄ , it gives a red color, and with Killiani's reagent a red ring ; KMn0₄ is decolorized in both acid and neutral soln. In CHCl₃ with a layer of coned. H₂S0₄ , a brown ring is formed. The unripe fruit is, perhaps, more poisonous than the ripe. Taxin is not toxic to fish. Rabbits, guinea pigs, and cats, if the dosage is cautiously increased, can stand many times the lethal doses subcutaneously without harm. These animals thus become comparatively immune to this poison very quickly. Game and cud-chewing domestic animals stand moderate ambs. of yew needles without harm ; horses and other solipeds, though more susceptible, likewise soon easily accustom themselves to taxin. It may be extracted from the wine, into which it passes unchanged, by Et₂0, after adding Na₂C0₃ . The action of taxin consists in motor excitation of the central nerve system, followed by paralysis. (Chem. Abst., Sept. 10, 1915, p. 2403.)

The alkaloid, taxine, was obtained from the green leaves and the air-dried leaves. Its formula is C₃₇H₅₂O₁₀N.

The physiological action of taxine was examined in 1876 by Borchero, who states that, when administered to frogs, rabbits, cats and dogs, it depresses the action of the heart and interferes with the respiratory functions, and that death ensues from suffocation in a short time. It has been asserted, however, that taxine has no action on guinea pigs. Further experiments are required to establish definitely whether the alkaloid is actually poisonous, and if so, how it acts, and whether, as alleged, certain animals are immune to it. (Thorpe & Stubbs, J. Ch. S. 1902, p. 880.)

Autumn-gathered leaves of male and female trees have been investigated. The alkaioid was extracted by digesting the powdered air-dried leaves with 1 per cent. Sulphuric acid for five or six days. The acid liquid was strained and pressed from the leaves, and at once, without concentration, rendered alkaline and extracted with ether. Taxine was obtained in the form of very fine glistering particles by crushing down the residue from the ether extract. It gives precipitate with most of the alkaloidal reagents, and colour reactions with strong sulphuric acid alone, and when this reagent is mixed with nitric acid, molybdic acid, or chromic acid. (Y. E. Thorpe & G. Stubbs Proc. Ch. S. for 1902, p. 123.)

Sans. : — Sarala, oleo-resin = sarala drava, sricâsa, kshira.

Vern. : — Salla, saral, chir, chîl, oleo-resin = ganda-biroza, chîr-kâ-gond (Hind.) ; Dhûp, sala, dhûp, sula, oleo-resin= dhup,