18 RANUNCULACE.. 
of Southern India other roots are sold as Atis. (Pharmaco- 
graphia, p. 15.*) The average price is Rupee j to 1 per lb. 
ACONITUM PALMATUM, Don. 
Hab.—Temperate Himalaya from Sikkim to Garhwal, 
‘Mishmi. The tubers. q 
So Bishma (Hind.), Wakhma or Vakhma q 
( Bomb.) 
History, Uses, &c.—It is impossible to trace the 
history of this drug in Indian and Persian works on Materia 
Medica, though doubtless ‘it is one of their non-poisonous- 
kinds of Bish. The author of the Makhzan-el-Adwiya notices — 
it as a non-poisonous kind of Bish, and says it may be pre-_ 
scribed in the same manner as Atis. In English works upon 
Indian drugs, it appears to have almost escaped attention. 
Dr. Buchanan, in his account of the Kingdom of Nepal, 
enumerates four kinds of Bikh, of which Bikhma is one; he 
describes it as a powerful bitter: it is a rare drug in most 
parts of the country. Bikhma is intensely bitter, like quinine, 
and is administered by Native doctors in sembinalien wit 
black pepper, or mace, in doses of about eight grains, as. 
remedy for pains in the bowels, diarrhcea, and: vomiting; also’ 
to destroy intestinal worms and to remove costiveness.: 
Externally it is applied in rheumatism. From its sensible 
properties we may conclude that - it would be likely : 
prove a valuable tonic and digestive; but unless it is much 
more powerful than Atis, its high price and —— will prevent 
its general use. 
Description.—Tuberous roots of a light brown colou 
2 to 4 inches long, much resembling some samples of horny and 
farinaceous Bish in structure, but differing from them in being 
* The rhizome of Cryptocoryne spiralis, which hes lately attracted atten- 
tion by being offered for sale in London as a kind of Ipecacuanha, is the root 
referred to; it is known in Madras as Néttu-ati-vadayam or oe 
af (Lawson-) 
