246 COMPOSITA. 
of China. According to Guibourt it is now almost forgotten. 
(Hist. Nat 6™° Ed. Ill., 68.) In the Pharmacopeia of India, — 
there is the following notice of Ayapana:—‘‘A South American — 
plant, naturalized in various parts of India, Java, Ceylon, Xe ( 
and generally known by its Brazilian name, Aya-pana, The 
whole plant is aromatic, with a slightly bitter sub-astringent : 
taste. The exaggerated ideas of its virtues formerly enter- 
tained are now exploded; but there is reason to believe that ibis 
a good stimulant, tonic, anddiaphoretic. According tothe state- 
ments of Bouton (Med. Plants of Mauritius, p- 96), it appears 
to hold a high place amongst the medicinal plants of the Mau- 
ritius, being there in daily use in the form of infusion, in dys- 
pepsia and other affections of the bowels and lungs, In 
the cholera epidemics in that island in 1854-56, it was exten- 
sively used for restoring the warmth of the surface, the languid 
circulation, &c. As an antidote to snake-bitos it has been used, 
both internally and externally, with alleged success. (Madras 
Quart. Med. Jour., IV., 7.) It is not uncommon in gardens, 
and though not generally known, is held in considerable 
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. esteem by those who areacquainted with it. Ayapana may be - “4 
compared with chamomile in its effects; it is stimulant and 
tonic in small doses, and laxative when taken in quantity ; the 
hot infusion is emetic and diaphoretic, and may be given with — 
vantage in the cold stage of ague and in the state of depres 
sion which precedes acute inflammatory affections. The infa- 
sion may be made with 1 oz. of the herb to a pint of sige 
and be given in 2 oz. doses every three hours. 
Description.—A small shrubby plant, 5 to 6 feet high; 
branches straight, reddish, with a few simple scattered hairs; 
young shoots have a somewhat mealy appearance, due to the 
presence of small particles of a white balsamic exudation; leaves 
opposite, in pairs, their bases uniting round the stem, about 4 
inches long and # inch broad, fleshy, smooth, lanceolate, attenu- 
ated at the base; midrib thick and reddish; flowers like those 
of the groundsel, purple. The odour of the plant is aromatic, 
somewhat like ivy, but more agreeable ; taste bitter and aromatic, — . 
uliar. ees : ee 
