208 SANSKRIT MATERIA MEDICA. 





NAT. ORDER SOLANACE^. 



DATURA ALBA, Rumph. and FASTUOSA, Linn. 



Sans. ^j, Dhustura, ^jpff, Unmatta. 

 Vern. Dhuturd, Hind, and Beng. 



Sanskrit writers do not make any distinction in the properties 

 of the two varieties of Datura, and in practioe both are indiscri- 

 minately used. Sometimes the white flowered variety is specified, 

 as for example in a prescription for insanity, quoted below. 

 Dhaturd leaves are used in smoking by debauohed devotees and 

 others aooastomed to the use of gdnja. The seeds are added to the 

 preparations of bhang (leaves of Cannabis sativa) used by natives, 

 for increasing their intoxicating powers. The use of the powdered 

 seeds in Bweet-meats, ourry powder, etc., for the 

 stupifying travellers and then robbing them, is well known. 



The seeds, leaves and roots are all used in medicine. They 

 are considered useful in insanity, fever with catarrhal and 

 cerebral complications, diarrhoea, skin diseases, lice, etc. 



Svalpajvardnl-usa. 1 Take of mercury, sulphur, aconite, ginger, 

 long pepper and black pepper, each one part, dhaturd seeds two 

 parts ; rub them together with lemon juice and make into four- 

 grain pills. These pills are used in fever attended with catarrh 

 or cough. Several other preparations of composition similar to 



purpose 



JvardnJcusa, etc 



Nava ivardnkusa. Kt 



The root of Datura alba ( svetonmatta ) is boiled in milk and 

 this milk is administered with the addition of clarified butter and 

 treacle in insanity,' A metallic preparation called Unmddankura 

 rasa and composed of the sulphides of mercury and copper 

 together with a number of other substarfoes and dhaturd seeds, is 



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