18S SANSKRIT MATERIA MEDICA. 



action oil ite uterus.* The root of Plumbago rosea taken internally 

 will expel the foetus from the womb, whether dead or alive. 1 This 

 root is a more powerful vesicant than that of P. Zrlavica, and 

 enters into the composition of caustic pastes and stimulant and 

 rubefacient applications. • 



NAT. ORDER MYRSINACE/E. 



EMBELIA RIBES, Burnt. 



Sans, fws^-, Vidanga. Vern. Bdberang, Hind. 



Scsruta describes the seeds of Embelia Bibe$ as anthelmintic, 

 alterative and tonic and recommends their nse along with 

 liquorioe root for the purpose of strengthening the body and 

 preventing the effeots of age. Later writers regard bdberang as 

 carminative stomachic, anthelmintic and useful in intestinal 

 worms, dyspepsia, and skin diseases. 



For expelling intestinal worms, the powder of the seeds is 

 given in draohm doses with honey, or with an infusion of the 

 seeds. A compund powder and a glirita are also prepared by the 

 addition of various other drugs. 2 



* It ia generally known that the scraped root of Plumbago rosea is 

 introduced into the month of the womb, for the purpose of procuring abortion. 



The root i 8 sometimes put to another nse, a knowledge of whioh is likely to 

 be of importance in a medioo-legal point of view. Many years ago I had 



nnder my treatment a married female, who had accidental abortion and 

 copious hemorrhage after it. On the third day after the accident, she was 

 brought to hospital, suffering from severe pain in the pelvic region, purulent 

 discharge and high fever. On examination I found a 'piece of the ItcM** 

 .root, with a little rag wrapped round it, projecting into the vagina from the 

 cervix uteri. I was told that a midwife had introduced it into the womb with 

 the object of checking hemorrhage after the abortion. If this woman bad 

 been a w,dow and had died from the effects of the abortion, and if on exami- 

 nation of the dead body, the root of the l-lchih" had been found in the 

 portion mentioned above, the inevitable conclusion would have been, that it 

 was introduced for the purpose of procurin g abortion. 





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