VALERIANES, 239 
of the Mahometans physicians of India, as we find it 
d by them as an Indian kind of Asérun (Asarabacca). 
hor of the Makhzan-el- Adwiya describes several kinds 
un, and says that the kind known as Tagar in India is 
rice spirit given to people attacked by small-pox to lessen 
eruption of pustules. Stewart notices the export of this 
g to the plains of India for medicinal use. Sir William 
ies (As. Research. I1., 405,) obtained the plant and — 
be the source of the jatamansi root of commerce. 
It appears to be the Sumbul-jibali of the: Arabs and the 
hai-wala of the Persians. Recent experience has shown 
b this drug like jatamansi is an excellent substitute for the 
t of our Pharmacopceias. 
Description.—The rhizomes are crooked, about two 
long and from 3 4 to} an inch in diameter, of a dull 
n colour, marked with transverse ridges, and_ thickly 
ed with circular prominent tubercules, to a few of which. 
k rootlets still remain attached. The crown is marked by 
mber of bracts ; the lower end is blunt. The rhizome is 
hard and Eoaidl and the fractured surface greenish brown. 
3 dour i is like Valerian, but much more powerful. 
croscopic structure —Examined under the microscope the 
bark is seen to be composed of ten or twelve layers of © 
ressed cells; within this is a starchy parenchyma, and 
t to it a cambium layer; within the cambium layer is a 
ken ring of vascular bundles, and lastly, a starchy paren- 
yma, thickly studded with conglomerate. masses of large 
s, having greenish-yellow contents of a resinous appear- 
ro supposed a the time to ‘ns the rOry 0 
