386 '  APOCYNACEA. 
three ounces of goat’s milk, twice a day as a diuretic in 
dropsy. 
Description.—Stem scarcely any, but branches in- 
numerable, opposite, spreading in all directions, forming a 
close impenetrable bush, something like the Furze; young 
branches four-sided. Thorns axillary, four-fold, spreading, 
very sharp, from 1 to 2 inches long. Leaves opposite, short- 
petioled, reflexed, oval, acute. Male flowers axillary, numerous, 
female axillary, solitary, sessile, between the two thorns. Berry 
globular, of the size of a pea, when ripe white, succulent, 
edible. Seeds two. The plant is in flower and fruit the 
greater part of the year. 
APOCYNACE. 
ALSTONIA SCHOLARIS, Br. 
Fig.— Wight Ic., t. 422; Bedd. For., Fl., t. 242; Rheede 
Hort. Mal. 2., t. 45; Bentl. and Trim. ¢. 178. 
Hab.—Drier forests of India. The bark and leaves. 
Vernacular.—Chhatién, Datyini (Hind.), Chhatin (Beng.), 
Satvin (Mar.), Ezhilaip-p4élai (Tam.), Edakula-pals, Pala- 
garuda (Tel.), Janthalla (Can.). 
History, Uses, &C.—The tree is called in Sanskrit 
saptaparna, Sapta-chhada, Guchha-pushpa, Vrihat-tvak and 
Vishala-tvak, “ having large or thick bark.” Hindu physicians 
describe it as tonic, alterative, and usefulin fever, skin diseases, 
and dyspepsia. Susruta gives the following formula for 
usé in catarrhal dyspepsia :—* Take of the bark of Alstonia, 
stems of Tinospora cordifolia, bark of Azadirachta indica, and 
the bark of Betula Bhojpatra, e — in all two tolas (320 
and other diseases of the skin. ee 
| has ‘been ce ha om te a feat 8, soa 
