34 PENTANDRIA DIGYNIA. AsclepiOS. 



late. Flowers numerous, small, colour a mixture of bad 

 yellow, and orange. Cahjx ; divisions lanceolate, very 

 acute. Corol flat ; divisions oval. Follicles lanceolate, 

 spreading, three or four inches long, and about two in cir- 

 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 well as 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 rhy 

 other papers, l)y 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 neirlected 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 

 Ipecacuana had it seems, been wholly expended, and 



