LOGANIACEAE 459 
‘ History, Uses, &c.—No mention of Nux-vomica can 
be found in the older Sanskrit medical works. A drug called’ 
Vishamushti, mentioned by Sarangadhara, has by some been 
Supposed to be nux-vomica, but according ‘to the Bhavapra~ 
kasha, Vishamushti has an edible fruit, and is called Karerua in 
Hindi. The latter work gives Kupilu and Kulaka as Sanskrit 
hamés for Kuchila, but these names are generally referred to @ 
kind of ebony. Another Sanskrit’ name given to the drug in 
recently compiled works is Kurachilla, an incorrect.form of 
Kuruchilla, “a crab,” to which animal the seeds bear some 
resemblance in shape. We think there can be little doubt 
that nux-vomica was not used medicinally by the ancient 
Hindus, but ‘the Hindi name Kuchila or Kuchula occurs in 
ancient Persian, and appears to be derived from the Sanskrit 7 
(kunch) to make crooked.: We also find an unidentified plant 
éalled Kuchela, mentioned by Sanskrit writers, with the syno- 
nyms of Avi-karni and Viddha-parmi ; the name Kuncha-phala is 
also met with, but it may possibly be only an incorrect render- 
ing of Kucha-phala, a term for the pomegranate. We can hardly 
Suppose that a plant having such marked» poisonous proper- 
ties can have escaped the notice of the earliest settlers in 
India, and there can-bé no doubt that the wood has been: in 
use from a very early date as one of the kinds of Mushadi in 
Southern and Western India. ° We also find that in the Indian 
Archipelago, which was colonised at a very early date by the 
Hindus, the wood is used as a popular remedy for dysentery; 
fevers and dyspepsia, under the name of Bidara-laut by the 
Malays. This name appears to be of Sanskrit origin and to 
be derived from Vidara, “splitting or rending,’” and lata, “a 
tree or shrub,” in allusion to the tetanic S07 produced : vs 
over-doses of the drug. 
"Inthe Raja Nirghanta two kinds of Katuka are noticed ; one 
of these with the vernacular synonym Kedér-katuki is’ doabt- 
less Picrorhiza Kurroa, the other Katukavalli with the Canarese 
_ &ynonym Tonrematta, which’ does not appear in the vernacular 
. Nighantas, must, we think, be referred to the bitter Saber — 
as lignum colubrinum. pany Sirychnos. colubrina. Ue ae 
