. 
APOCYNACER. 399 
De Gubernatis states that the N. Oleander is called in ltaly 
Ammazza cavallo or Ammazza Vasino, and remarks that this 
accounts for the dread of its presence shown by the ass of 
Lucian and Apuleius. (Myth. des Plant. ii., 259.) 
For external application the Hindus make a strong decoction 
of the root and boil it down with oil and cow’s nrine until the 
_ water has been driven off, other drugs are usually added, such 
as Plumbago root, Embelia seeds, &c. 
The root of Oleander beaten intoa paste with water is recom- 
mended by Sarangadhara to be applied to chancres and ulcers 
on the penis. According to Chakradatta the fresh 
: if 
; In Arabic and Persian works the plant will 
_ generally be found described under the name of Difli; other 
_ names are Sum-el-Himér and Kharzahrah, which both signify 
Asses’-bane ; it is identified with the Nerium of the Greeks.* 
‘The Mahometan physicians describe it as a most powerful 
resolvent and attenuant, only to be used externally ; taken 
‘animals are a counter-poison against serpents. The latter 
‘statement appears to be copied from Pliny. (Hist. Nat. 24, 2.) 
‘Ainslie informs us that the bark of the root and leaves are 
considered by the Vytians as powerful repellants, applied 
externally. The active principles of N. odorum are powerful 
into a large healthy frog caused in 14 minutes diminu- 
leander, hardly different from the Indian plant. Conf. D 
80. It was also called by the Greeks and Romans Rho 
oisons. 0:0016 grams of Neriodorein injected hypoder- — 
‘the heart beats from 70 to 12 per minute, followedbya 
rise to 60; after the lapse of five minutes longer the : 
d to beat. This cessation of the heart’s action was 
