34 PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA. Asclepias. 
late, Flowers numerous, small, colour a mixture of bad 
yellow, and orange. Calyx ; divisions lanceolate, very 
acute. Corol flat ; divisions oval. Follicles lanceolate, 
spreading, three or four inches long, and about two incir- 
_cumference. 
On the coast of Coromandel, the roots of this plant 
have often been used as a substitute for Ipecacuana. I 
have often prescribed it myself, and always found it an- 
swer as wellas I could expect Ipecacuana to do; I 
have also often had very favorable reports of its effects 
from others. It was a very useful medicine with our Eu- 
ropeans who were unfortunately prisoners with Hyder 
Ally, during the war of 1780, 81, 82 and 83. In a pretty 
large dose, it answered as an Emetic; in smaller doses, 
often repeated, as a Cathartic, and in both ways very 
effectually. 
I had made and noted down many observations on its 
uses, when in large practice in the General Hospital at 
Madras in 1776, 77 and .78, but lost them, with all my 
other papers, by the storm and inundation at and near 
Coringa in May 1787. I cannot therefore be so full on 
the virtues of this valuable, though much neglected root, 
as I could wish. I have no doubt but it would answer 
every purpose of Ipecacuana. 
The natives also employ it as an Emetic ; the bark of 
about three or four inches of the fresh root, they rub up- 
on a stone, and mix with a little water for a dose ; it ge- 
nerally purges at the same time. 
Note by Dr. P.. Russell. 
“Dr. Russell was informed by the Physician General 
at Madras, (Dr. J. Anderson,) that he had many years _ 
before known it used, both by the European and Native 
Troops with great success in the dysentery which happen- 
ed at that time to be epidemic in the camp. The store of 
ee had it seems, been wholly expended, and 
