Soe 
eee eT 
7 int # 5 
LEGUMINOSZ. — 409 
ofits physiological effects is as follows :—“Shortly after taking 
it, the patient experiences a sense of constriction at the fauces, 
and the impression of a metallic taste on-the tongue. These 
are followed by nausea, and frequently by actual vomiting. 
The intensity of these symptoms varies in different cases. In 
some the vomiting is so violent as to preclude the further use 
of the remedy. The matter vomited presents no peculiarity 
except its blue colour. When the vomiting has subsided, 
iarrhcea usually oceurs: the stools are more frequent, liquid, 
and of a blue or blackish colour. The vomiting and diarrhcea 
are frequently accompanied by cardialgia and colic. Occa- 
sionally these symptoms increase, and the use of the remedy is 
in consequence obliged to be omitted.” Dyspepsiaand giddiness 
sometimes succeed. The urine hasa brown, dark, violet colour ; 
but Dr. Roth never found the respiratory matter tinged with 
_ it. After the use of indigo for a few weeks, twitchings of the 
muscles sometimes were observed, asafter the use of strychnia. 
The seeds of these plants powdered and steeped in arrack or 
rum, yield a tincture which is used to destroy lice, 
Cultivation and production.—Indigo is chiefly cultivated iu 
Bengal in the delta of the Ganges, on those districts lying 
between the Hooghly and the main stream of the former river. 
The ground is ploughed in October and Noyember after the 
cessation of the rains; the seeds are sown in March and the 
beg inning of April. In July the plants are cut when in blossom, 
a that being the time when there js the greatest abundance of 
- dyeing matter. A fresh moist soil is the best, and about 12 Ibs. 
of seeds are used for an acre of land. The plants are destroyed 
_ by the periodical inundations, and so jast only for a single 
_ year, The cut plants are first steeped in water, when they 
bottom. The supernatant liquor is the 
indigo is boiled with water for several hours, pre 
? _ ferment with evolution of CO%, the yellow liquor is then eg 
_ Off into another vat, when it is- vigorously mixed with “air by re 
manual labour or machinery. By this means the lencindigo re 
(white indigo) contained in the solution is oxidised, and —_ o 
indigo separates out as a blue scum which finally settles to he 
n run off, and the- 
82 
