The author of the Makhzan-el-adwiya says there ‘are three 
varieties of Calotropis—lst, a large kind with white flowers, 
large leaves, and much milky juice, it is found near towns and 
the habitations of man;. 2nd, a smaller kind with smallerleaves, 
the flowers white externally but lilac within; 3rd, a still 
smaller plant, with pale yellowish green: flowers. The second 
and third kinds grow in sandy deserts. The properties of all 
three are. similar, but the first kind is to be preferred, as it 
produces the largest quantity of milk, The juice is described 
as caustic, a purge for phlegm, depilatory, and the most acrid 
of all milky juices. Tanners use it to remove the hair from 
skins. Medicinally,it is useful in rmgworm of the scalp, and 
to destroy piles; mixed with honey it may be applied to aphthe 
of the mouth; a piece of cotton dipped in it may be inserted 
into a hollow tooth to relieve the pain. Hakim Mir Abdul 
Hamid, in his commentary upon the Tuhfat, strongly 
recommends Calotropis in leprosy, hepatic and splenic enlarge- 
ments, dropsy and worms. A peculiar method of administra- 
tion is to steep different kinds of grain in the milk and then 
administer them. The milk itself is a favourite application to 
painful joints, swellings, &c., the fresh leaves also, slightly 
roasted, are used for the same purpose. Oil in which the leaves 
have bese boiled is applied to paralysed parts; a powder of the 
dried leaves is dusted upon wounds to destroy excessive 
granulation and promote healthy action. 
- All parts of the plant are considered to have valuable altera- 
gad abe apleme when taken in small doses. 
cera was observed in Egypt by Prosper Alpinus 
(A. D. 1580—84), and upon his return to Italy was badly 
figured, and some account given of its medicinal properties. 
(De plantis gypti, Venet. 1592, cap. 25.) A much more 
correct figure was published in 1633 by his commentator Ves- 
ling. Rheede (Hort. Mal. ii., t. 31) figures a white-flowered 
Calotropis (Bel-erien) and a lilac (Hricu), and Rumphius 
(Hort. Amb. vii., t. 14, £. 1) figures C. gigantea under the: name” 
of Madorous. Roxburgh (II., 30,) gives a. botanical de: a 
tion of C. edghnacta under the name of —— ‘edhe nd 
