The fruit contains the highly toxic principle _picrotoxin_, and others as follows: _Menispermin_ (C_18_H_24_N_2_O_2_) is an alkaloid which crystallizes in pyramidal prisms, is soluble in alcohol and ether and insoluble in water. Hot nitric acid converts it into oxalic acid and a yellow substance of a resinous appearance. _Picrotoxin_ (C_30_H_24_O_13_) is not an alkaloid as may be seen from its formula. Its properties are not well known at the present time. It crystallizes in small quadrilateral prisms, white and transparent, or in needles grouped in stars. No odor, taste bitter, insoluble in water, partly soluble in alcohol and in ether, freely soluble in acids and alkalies. A solution in concentrated sulphuric acid has a saffron-yellow color. Nitric acid transforms it into oxalic acid. _Picrotoxinin_ exists in picrotoxin in the proportion of 32 to 100, and may be separated by boiling in benzine. It is bitter, poisonous, reduced by Fehling's solution and nitrate of silver. Sixty-six per cent. of _picrotoxin_ consists of another bitter substance, non-poisonous--_picrotin_, which is insoluble in benzine and is reduced by Fehling's solution and nitrate of silver. Lastly, _anamirtin_ is found in the mother water of picrotoxin; it is not bitter, not poisonous, and not reducible by the aforementioned reagents. The fruit of the _anamirta_, the "coca de Levante" is an acrid, narcotic poison, which may not be employed internally; its uses are limited to external medication. In the Pharmacopoeia of India is given the formula for a parasiticide ointment, highly recommended in the treatment of pediculi: _Unguentum anamirtæ_: 4 grams Cocculus berries, powdered, 30 grams Vaseline. M. Fiat unguentum. In applying this ointment it is necessary to make sure that there is no wound or abrasion of the skin through which absorption might take place. Botanical Description.--A vine with leaves alternate, entire, glabrous, broadly oval, pointed, with 5 nerves which unite at the base, long petioles. Flowers dioecious, in compound racemes. Male flowers consist of a perianth without corolla, the sepals arranged by threes in two or three whorls. The end of the receptacle expanded like a bead, bears a large number of stamens in 6 vertical series, with anthers sessile and 4-lobed. Female flowers analogous as regards the perianth, with 6-9 sterile stamens. Carpels formed of 5 ovaries, free, unilocular, containing one ovule each. Fruit, a drupe of a purple color, the size of a filbert, kidney-shaped, the albumen horny. _Cissampelos Pareira_, L. Nom. Vulg.--_Sansawsansawan_, Tag.; _Chinchaochinchauan_, Sp.-Fil.