Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/475
in two cases of rheumatic sciatica and osteo-myelitis hardly any effect was produced, but it is only fair to remark that antipyrine, salicylate of soda, antifebrine, salol, &c, also failed to afford relief in these two cases. The decoction used by Dr. Biektine was made with 3.85 grams of the drug to 180 grams of water. Kobert has shown that 0.20 gram of ephedrine injected into the veins of dogs and cats produces violent excitement, general convulsions, exopthalmia and mydriasis. (Nouveaux Remedes, Aug. 8th, 1891.) Pharmacographia Indica, III. 369-370.
The American aborigines of Pima use Teamster's Tea (Ephedra antisyphilitica, Berland) as a beverage. (B. D. B.)
Chemical composition— Dr. N. Nagai (Tokio Chem. Society, through Chem. Zeit., 1890, p. 441) obtainedthe'alkaloid Ephedrine from the stem of Ephedra vulgaris (Ma-oh). Its composition is C15H10NO ; by oxidation the alkaloid is split into benzoic acid, monomethylamine and oxalic acid. Isoephedrine, melting point 114°C, is obtained by heating ephedrine, melting point 30°C, with hydrochloric acid in a closed tube to 180°C. The constitution of ephedrine is C°H5CH2 CH (NHCH3 ) CH2OH, and that of isoephedrine is C5H5CH2C (OH) (NH CH3 ) CH6 .
The hydrochlorate of ephedrine forms acicular crystals which are freely soluble in water. Mr. J. G. Prebble (1889) found the twigs of E. vulgaris to contain 3 per cent, of a tannin, giving a whitish precipitate with gelatine and acetate of lead, and a greenish precipitate with acetate of iron. (Phar- macographia Indica).
1213. E. pachyclada, Boiss. h.f.b.i., v. 641.
Vern. : — Hum, Huma, (Pers. Bomb.).
Habitat : — Western Himalaya, in the drier regions, and Western Tibet, from Garhwal westwards.
A rather tall shrub, more robust them E. Vulgaris, and more scabrid. Branches rather stout, erect, striate, scaberulous, bracts connate to the middle, margined, eciliate, anthers about 6 sessile or subsessile. I can find no good characters in the spikes and flowers except the more or less margined bracts (Hooker).
Uses : — The same as of E. Vulgaris. The ashes are used as a snuff and dye in Afghanistan.
N. 0. CONIFERÆ.
1214. Cupressus sempervirens, Linn., h.f.b.i. v. 645 ; Roxb. 678.
Vern. :— Sara, sarâs (Hind.) ; Farâs (Sind) ; Saruboke (Mar.).