ASCLEPIADEA. 447 
the milky juice is dropped into inflamed eyes; it causes copi- 
ous lachrymation, and afterwards a sensation of coolness in the 
part. The root is tied up in plantain leaves and roasted in 
hot ashes; it is then beaten into a mass with cumin and sugar 
_ tion of the urinary passages. As a lep the root is applied to 
8 It is used in Madras in mixtures for purifying the 
blood as ordinary Sarsaparilla is in other countries, and it is 
an adjunct in chutneys and pickles simply as a flavouring 
agent. 
Recent Mahometan physicians under the name of ushbah 
describe several kinds of sarsaparilla, of which they say the 
Western or Andalusian is the best. Another kindis described | 
by the author of the Makhzan-el-adwiya as having flowers 
ike yellow jasmine ; this may possibly be Hemidesmus. The 
athors of the Pharmacographia remark that there is an 
[ndian root figured as Palo de Culebra by Acosta (Tractado de 
las Drogas dle las Indias orientales, 1578, cap. EV.) which 
astonishingly like the drug in question. He describes it, 
reover, as baving a sweet smell of melilot. The plant he 
/is called in Canarese Duda-sdli. The figure is repro- 
din Antoine Colin’s translation, but notin that of Clusius. 
plant must be the true Hemidesmus, as Dudha-sdli 
a name it is known by in the Concan. In Goa at the 
at _day Hemidesmus root is to be found in all the 
uption of the Maratha name. Ashburner in 1] was, 
Se to call the attention of the bere in | Europe 
ish Phabitisecineais. In India Oran inensy found its 
ic action to be very remarkable ; two ounces infused in 
of water and allowed to cool was the quantity usually 
! trebled or quadrupled. Tt also acted as a . 
remedy in his hospital, the patients themselve 
ep seagate and continuance. (Gi 
daily, and by such doses the discharge of urine was oe 
