POISON OF THE SOMALIS, EXTRACTED FROM THE WOOD OF THE OUABAIO.

The principle in question, ouabaine, forms rectangular plates, very slender, of a nacreous appearance. It is absolutely white, inodorous, and not appreciably bitter. It contains no nitrogen, and does not react with coloring matters. At a boiling heat, in presence of dilute acids, it is split up, yielding a reductive sugar. Its composition is C₉₀H₄₅O₁₂. It is poisonous if introduced into the circulation, but not if swallowed.—M. Arnaud, in Comptes Rendus.