ASCLEPIADEA» 433 
mentions the -medicinal: uses to which it is applied by the 
_ Hatives'‘of India; . Ainslie, ‘in‘his Muteria Medica of Hindus~ 
tan (1813), mentions two kinds of Calotropis, and in «the; 
_ Materia Indica he says, “Both plants in their leaves and stalks’ 
contain much milky juice, which, when ‘carefully dried, is 
_ considered as powerfully ‘alterative and purgative, and: has’ 
_ been‘ long used as an efficacious remedy in the Koostum (lepras 
Arabum)*of the Tamools; the dose about the quarter of a) 
pagoda weight in the day, and continued for‘ some weeks.: 
The root of the Yercwm has-a bitter: and'somewhat acrid, or* 
ther warm: taste; itis occasionally given in- infusion as-a: 
stimulant in low fever. Of the: other variety, the Vullerkoo,- 
the’ bark’ is warmish, and ‘when powdered and mixed with: a) 
cértain portion of margosa:oil, is used as an -external -applica- 
tion in rheumatic affections.. In’the higher provinces of ‘Ben- 
gal the Arka is supposed to have antispasmodic qualities. Mr. - 
Robinson has written a paper on elephantiasis, which may be’ 
seen in Vol. X. of the Journ. of the Medico-Chirurgical: Society, 
sxtolling the madar: root! (Yercum vayr) as ‘most efficacious in 
iat disease, as also in “venereal affections: In» elephantiasis + 
gave it in ‘conjunction with calomel and antimonial powder, « 
pill, consisting of half a grain of calomel, three of anti-: 
ial powder, and from six to ten of the bark of the madar: 
, every eight hours.‘ Mr. ‘Playfair has also written a paper+ 
on the same root which may-be seen in Vol. J, of the din... 
ei Trans. p. as pviioreila he speaks in’ praise ‘of 
alterative, stimulant t virtues of the bark,. 
wder, i in-cases’ of syphilis, lepra, hectic ‘iver: &e., i 
grs. 8 to10 ‘or 12, three times in the day, gradually, — 
sin; ie ‘Messrs. er ore teh others | seem, 
yest I. aaa the. ee dried pacts juice . cone 
finitely moré efficacious ; and later Rae 
6 wae Lassie me. in this, sirteads id Oe cit x 
