| LEGUMINOSZ. 459 
Vernacular.—Kava-thenthi (Hind.), Aprajita (Béng.}, Kajali, : 
Gokaran (Mar.), Garani (Guz.), Kakkanan-kodi (Yam.), Dintana 
_(Tel.), Karnike (Can.). ee ae. i 
History, Uses, &c.—The plant is called in Sanskrit 
_ Aparajita or Gokarna, both are names for Shiva, to whom the. 
flowers are sacred in common with those of the species of 
Sesbania having flowers of a somewhat similar shape; typical 
of his representation as the Ardha-néri-or hermaphrodite god. 
Rumphins calls Clitoria, Flos caeruleus, and says that in Ternate 
it is known as, Saja Cotele and Bokyma Cotele, i.e. Flos clitori- 
dis and Clitoris principisse ; he gives Fula criqua as the Por- 
_ tuguese name. (Hort. Amb. vii, 30.) Sanskrit works on 
Materia Medica describe the root as aperient and diuretic, and 
direct it to. be used in combination with other diuretics and 
_- laxatives in ascites and enlargements of the abdominal viscera. 
~The Mahometans have given it the name of Mazeriyun-i-Hindi 
(Indian Mezereon) on account of its purgative and diuretic pro- 
perties.. We may mention here. that their mezereon is used to 
remove dropsical enlargements of the abdomen, and is not the 
same drug as the mezereon of our Pharmacopeia, . 
Ainslie mentions the use of the root’in eroup, given with 
the object of causing nausea and vomiting. In the Concan 
a two tol4s of the root-juice are given in cold milk to remove the 
however to give rise to griping 4 
phlegm in chronic bronchitis ; it causes nausea and vomiting. — 
The juice of the root of the white-flowered variety is blown up 
the nostrils as a remedy for hemicrania. The author of the 
Bengal Dispensatory after extensive experiments denies its 
emetic properties, but says that an alcoholic extract proved - 
brisk purgative in doses of from 5 to 10 grains ; he found it 
nd tenesmus, and does ‘not 
recommend its use. Mr. Moidin Sheriff speaks highly from 
personal experience of the root bark in doses ee 
two drachms in infusion. as @ demutcent in irritation of the 
bladder and urethra. Itacta ab the same time as-s diuretic 
and in some cases as a laxative. The seeds appear not to 
have been used medicinally by the natives, but attention 
