CONVOLVULACRE, 531. 
Shape of the seeds, and colour of the flowers. As regards the 
medicinal properties of the drug he says that it is a drastic 
‘purgative and attenuant, relieving the system of bilious and 
hlegmatic humours, and acting as an anthelmintic. In some 
native works the seeds of Cliterea ternatea appear to be con- 
founded with Kaélédéna. The author of the Makhzan, though 
: describing the latter article correctly, gives Aprajita (Oliteria 
ternatea) as the name of a kind of Hab-un-nil. i 
From the time of Roxburgh, and probably from an earlier 
ate, the properties of the seeds have been known to Europeans, 
ho have almost universally acknowledged their value as a 
e and sure cathartic. 
Th the Pharmacopeia of India (1868) they were made 
official, aud directions fer preparing an extract, tincture, com- 
ound powder, and resin are given. These preparations are 
‘Meant to supply the place of similar preparations of jalap. 
With regard to the extract, we would observe that no direc- 
ons for separating the albumen and mucilage are given, 
msequently the result of the operation isan enormous bulk 
f a most inert extract, which in a short time becomes putrid. 
@ to ten grains of this extract have no perceptible effect as 
urgative. The resin, first prepared by Dr. G. Bidie of 
as in 1861, appears to be the most satisfactory prepara- 
of this the dose is from 4 to 8 grains. 
ae eg 
Jescription.—The seeds resemble in shape those of < 
of the Convolvali, being in the form of a segment ofa _ 
e; they are generally about 3, of an inch in length, 
nearly as much in breadth, but sometimes much smaller. 
ir weight varies from }to nearly ] grain. The colourof _ 
testa is black, except at the umbilicus, where itis brown, 
le. ‘These have an acrid taste and earthy odour. 
 structure.—From without imwards the testa con- 
a layer of epithelial cells, the thick outer walls of 
ical projections; 2nd, a sixgle layer — 
