516 GENTIANACEZ, 
According to Cleghorn it is much used by the natives of | 
Madras as a stomachic, as in addition to its tonic properties, it 
is also somewhat laxative. (Ind, Ann. of Med. Sci. iii., p. 272.) 
Description.—Root perennial, creeping, filiform. Stems 
herbaceous, simple, erect, from 6 to 12 inches high, four- 
sided, jointed; leaves opposite, sessile, lanceolate, 3-nerved, 
smooth, entire, 14 to 2 inches long, by half an inch broad; 
flowers axillary, sessile, generally threefold, small, white ; 
corolla funnel-shaped. The whole plant is bitter. 
Chemical composition.—The aérial and subterranean por- 
tions of this plant were examined separately; the former gave 
34 per cent, of dry alcoholic extract and 157 per cent. of ash, 
and the latter 15°5 per cent. of dry alcoholic extract and 10°4 
per cent. of ash. The bitter principle from both portions 
appeared to beidentical and to have the characters ofa glucoside. 
Tt was left as a varnish-like residue from the evaporation of its 
solution in chloroform, and was also soluble in ether, benzol, 
alcohol and water. It gave a reddish-brown colour with 
strong sulphuric acid, which changed to a purplish tint after 
standing. The hydrolysis of the bitter principle with dilute 
hydrochloric acid resulted in the production of an agreeable 
aromatic substauce, and the deposition of a flocculent light - 
brown colouring matter. 
CANSCORA DECUSSATA, Roem. ct Sch. 
Fig.— Bot. Mag. t. 3066. 
| Hab.— Throughout India. The plant. 
_Vernacular.—Sankhéhuli, Danipola, Danakuni (Hind. ), Dan- 
kuni (Beng.) , Sankhvel (Mar.), Cansjan-cora (Mal.). 
History, Uses, &c.—This plant is mentioned in Sans- 
krit medical works, under the names of Shanka-pushpi, 
Kambu-pushpi, Kambu-malini and Dandotpala, as a laxative, 
: alterative, and nervine tonic. Chakradatta recommends. the 
. fresh juice of the plant to be given in doses of about an ounce _ 
e in all sorts of insanity ; he also prescribes it as a nervine tonic. 
