— $06 MONOPETALEAE—HYPOCOROLLES. 
used, and are powerfully stimulant, exerting their action — 
chiefly on the nervous system. The vegetable alkali Strych- 
nia is procured from them, and this is considered the best 
form for the exhibition of the medicine. In the plant it is in 
combination with Igasuric acid. St. Ignatius’ Bean (S. Jg- 
natia) is much less active, and has been used in cholera in 
India. The bark of S. pseudo-quina is astringent and bit- 
ter, and resembles quassia and gentian : it is much employ- 
ed as tonic and febrifuge in Brazil. The wood of the root 
of Strychnos colubrina is the Lignum colubrinum esteemed in 
India as a cure for the bite of snakes and intermittent fevers. 
The Lignum colubrinum, formerly esteemed as a cure for 
paralysis, was procured from the Strychnos ligustrini. The 
root of the Yereum or Mudhar plant (Calotropis gigantea, 
or Asclepias g.) is much used in India as an alterative, sti- 
mulant, and sudorific. Dr Duncan has discovered in it a pe- 
culiar principle, which he has called mudarine. For a full 
account of the uses of the various plants in this useful and in- 
teresting family, I must refer to Dr. Ainslie’s Materia Indica. 
Officinal Plant. 
Strychnos Nux-vomica. 
_ Poisonous Prorerties.—The acrid juice in which the — 
_ plants of this family abound is, in many cases, extremely — 
_ poisondus. The leaves, bark, and wood of the Oleander or | 
_ Rose-bay (Nerium oleander) possess an extremely subtile — 
__ and powerful poisonous principle, which, it is said, has prov- _ 
oe to persons who have merely been exposed to the _ 
