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INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS.

proceeds more quickly if platinum black, hydrogen peroxide, or barium peroxide is employed. J. Ch. S. 1893 AI. 727.

(2) But in J. Ch. S. 1896 AI. 623, the formula given for Anemonin is C10H8O4. It is also stated there that it yields methyl and ethyl derivatives, which are apparently ethereal salts, showing that it is the anhydride of a dicarboxylic acid. Dimethylanemonin, C8H8(C00Me)2, melts at 109-110°, methylanemonin at 174-176°, diethyl anemonin at 47°, and ethylanemonin at 168-170°. (3) The said dicarboxylic acid is a ketonic acid. (4) By oxidation, anemonin yields succinic and oxalic acids. (5) By hydrolysis of the dialkylic salts before mentioned with alkali and amorphous acid, C10H8O4 + 2H2O is formed, but hydrolysis of them with HCl yields a crystalline acid, C10H8O4 + H2O. The amorphous acid gives coloured, the crystalline acid colourless, salts. (6) Anemonin is a saturated compound, for by reduction it yields a saturated hydroxy-acid, and absorbs neither chlorine (Hübl's solution) nor bromine.


5. Thalictrum foliolosum, D.C. h.f.br.i., I. 14.

Vern.:—Pinjari; Shuprak (root-pili-jari) (H.); Pila-jari, pengla jari, barmat (root-mamira) (Kumaon); Gurbiani, pashmaran, phalijori, Chitra-mul, Keraita, Mamira (Pb.); Chaitra (Kashmir); Mamiran (Bombay).

Habitat:—Temperate Himalaya; Khasia hills.

A tall perennial rigid herb. Stem 4-8 ft. glabrous. Leaves exstipulate, pinnately- decompound; petiole sheaths auricled. Leaflets 1/6 - 1/4 in. rarely 1 in., orbicular. Panicles much branched, bracts small. Flowers polygamous, white, pale green, dingy purple. Sepals 4-5. Petals 0. Stamens many, filaments filiform; anthers beaked. Ovule 1, pendulous. Achenes usually 2-5, small, oblong, acute at both ends, sharply ribbed.

Parts used:—The root.

Uses:—It has been found useful as a tonic. "I administered it in the form of a tincture to some extent when at the European General Hospital, Bombay, and found it a good bitter tonic, comparable with gentian." (Dymock.).

The root is largely used as an anjan, or application for ophthalmia in Afghanistan and throughout India.

In the Punjab, the root is used as a purgative and diuretic. (Baden Powell).