939 ss RUBIAOER. 
avert the evil eye, and tied to the necks of animals. with the 
same object.* 
Ainslie observes that the hakims are in the habit of p 
scribing an infusion of madder root.as a grateful and deo 
struent drink in cases of scanty lochial discharge after lying-i 
(Materia Indica II., p. 182.) In another notice of the artiel 
(Op. ctt. I., p. 202), he remarks that it would appear to be 
chiefly produced in Cachar, and the root is in great demand in 
the adjacent countries, for dyeing their coarse cloths and stuffs 
red; the Nepalese are in the habit of bartering it for rock salt 
and borax. Kinnier and Tavernier notice the abundance 
madder in Persia and Makran. Dr. G. Playfair, ina n 
appended to his translation of the Talif-i-sharifi (p. 150) 
states that if taken to the extent of about 3 drachms sev: 
times daily, it powerfully affects the nervous system, ind 
temporary delirium, &c., with evident determination to 
uterine system. ER. cordifolia is common throughout 
hilly districts of India, but the Bombay market ibs 
supplies chiefly from neta through Sind, where R. ti 
is cultivated. 
_Description.—Madder root consists of a short s 1c 
from which numerous cylindrical roots about the size of a 
diverge; these are covered by a thin brownish suber 
peels off in flakes, disclosing a red-brown bark marke 
fenot cieal furrows. The taste is sweetish at firehy 
wards acrid and bitter. | 
Chemical composition. GFE to Bucholz, the | 
stituents of madder are as follows: :—Resinous red colour 
matter 1:2, extractive ditto 39-0, reddish brown substane 
soluble in alcohol 1-9, pungent extractive 0°6, 
9-0, woody fibre 29-5, matter soluble in potash 4°6, 
while R. cordifolia yields purpurin and a ‘yellow color 
* — with Dioscorides i iii., 151, mept cody se Fob 
