PLUMBAGINEAD. 329 
4 PLUMBAGO ROSEA, Linn. 
Fig—Rheede Hort. Mal. «., t, 9; Bot. Mag. tt. 230,5363. 
Hab.—Sikkim, Khasia wild? Cultivated in India. 
Vernacular, —Chitrak, Chita (Hind.), Chitra (Guz.), Chitraka 
(Mar.), Chita (Beng.), Chitri (Can.), Chittira ( Tam.), Chitra, 
_ Agnimata (Tel.), Kotu-veli (Mal), P. rosea bears the same 
_ lames with the addition of the adjective red. 
History, Uses, &c.—These plants, in Sanskrit 
Chitraka, are described as digestive, light, astringent, hot and 
appetizing ; a remedy for dyspepsia, piles, leprosy, anasarca, 
worms, cough, phlegm, windand biliousness. In the Nighantas, 
3 among other synonyms, they bear the names Déruna, Dahana, 
_ and Agni, in allusion to their burning and acrid properties. 
_ P. zeylanica is much used as a stimulant adjunct to other pre- 
_ parations, in the form of a combination called T’rimada, consist- 
_ ing of Plumbago root, B&berang (fruit of Bmbelia Ribes), and 
a Nigarmoth (tubers of Cyperus pertenuis). It enters into the 
a composition of numerous medicines for dyspepsia. The follow- 
ing is an illustration: Take of Plumbago root, Rock salt, 
_ Chebulic myrobalans and long pepper, equal parts ; powder 
and mix. Dose about 40 grains. (Chakradatta.) A favourite 
- Mnedicine for flatulence is an old prescription of Susruta’s 
_ called Shaddharanayoga. It is a powder composed of equal 
parts of the following substances: Plumbago root, seeds of 
; Holarrhena antidysenterica, roots of Cissampelos Pereira, of 
 Picrorrhiza Kurroa and Aconitum heterophyllum, Chebulic ~ 
a “myrobalans, Dose about 1 drachm. The root of P. zeylanica 
is said to exercise a beneficial effect on piles, in which disease it 
is given in various combinations. One mode of administering 
_ it is as follows:—An earthen jar or pot is lined in its interior 
with a paste of the root, and curdled milk (dadhi) or Kanyika 
(rice vinegar) is prepared in this pot. Plumbago root reduced 
Pee Ie Er) ee 2 ie RS ok See, tone te SiR ad el ad AP eH 
7 ree espa ee Rees He Nias erat 
een he a oa eel Oe nee eee ee Te PA ee Ae ee eo ey ee ee 
ite F 
g them. It enters also inte the sperticn of several prepa 
Ti—42 
to & paste is applied to abscesses with the object of open-— a 
