ASCLEPIADEA. 439 
; 
1 eases, and found it most valuable. In dysentery, and as a 
__ simple emetic, it is in every way comparable with Ipecacuanha. 
The dose is from 20 to 30 grains, with half a grain or a grain. 
of Tartar Emetic, if strong emesis is required. If the dysen- 
tery distinctly arise from intermittent disease, Quinine is con- 
joined. The form of the medicine I use is the powder of the 
dry leaf.’ Tylophora is also employed in Mauritius, where it 
is known as [peca sauvage or Ipeca du pays. In the Indian 
Pharmacopeia the leaves have been made official. In the 
Concan 1 to 2 tolds of the, juice are given as an emetic; it is 
also dried and made into pills which are administered in dysen- 
tery. The pills areas large as the seed of Phaseolus Mungo; 
one pill is sufficient to produce one copious stool. 
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Description,—The leaves are opposite, entire, from 2 to 
_ 5 inches long, ? to 24 inches broad, somewhat variable in out- 
line, ovate or sub-rotund, usually cordate at the base, abruptly 
acuminate or almost mucronate, rather leathery, glabrous 
. above, more or less downy beneath with soft simple hairs. 
The pedicel which is channelled is 4 to 2 of an inch in length. 
In the dry state the leaves are rather thick and harsh, of a 
pale yellowish green; they have a not unpleasant herbaceous 
smell, with but very little taste. The root consists of a short, 
knotty, descending root stock, about 3 of an inch in thickness, 
emitting 2 to 3 aerial stems, and a considerable number of 
wiry roots. These roots are often 6 inches or more in length 
by 3 2 a line in diameter, and are very brittle. The whole drug 
is of a pale yellowish brown ; it has no considerable odour, buta 
Sweetish and subsequently acrid taste. In general appearance 
itis suggestive of valerian, but is somewhat stouter and larger, 
seis 
Chemical composition.—A concentrated infusion of the leaves 
has a slightly acrid taste. It is abundantly: precipitated by 
tannic acid, by neutral acetate of lead or caustic potash, and is 
turned greenish-black by perchloride of iron. Broughton of 
Ootacamund obtained from a large quantity of leaves a small _ 
amount of crystals—insufficient for analysis. ares = 
d into a small dog they occasioned purging an : 
