CONVOLVULACER. 537 
nyms for Vriddhadéraka :—Chhagala, Chhagalénghri, “ goat’s 
foot” ; Chhagalandi, “ goat’s testicles ;” Chhaggalantri, “ goat’s 
guts;” Antri, Raksho-ghna, Dirgha-mulaka, Anda-kotara- 
pushpi, Durga and Mahasyama. From these names it would 
appear that the “ goat’s foot convolvulus” is the plant which 
ought to be used. Vriddhadéraka is described as astringent, 
hot, pungent, alterative, tonic; a remover of rheumatism, 
dropsy, gonorrhwa and phlegm. Theso properties agree very 
nearly with those ascribed to I. biloba, the leaves of which 
boiled are applied externally in rheumatisth and colic ; whilst 
the juice is given as a diuretic in dropsy, and at the same time 
_ the bruised leaves are applied to the dropsical part. Rheede,. 
_ Speaking of I. biloba, which he calls Schovanna Adambu, 
States:—TIn aqua decocta fomentum exhibet quo dolores 
3 arthritici mitigantur. Folia cum lacte caprarum in potionem 
_ Preparata, pro hamorrhoidibus propinantur.” 
_ According to P. S. Mootooswamy, the leaves are used as a 
cataplasm in phlegmon, &c, Plumier states that the dried juice 
of the root is used asa purgative in the Brazils in doses of 12 
to 14 grains, and that it should be given like jalap resin with 
uger and bitartrate of potash. 
_ L, biloba is sacred to Durga, and the Kolis on the Wesiobs 
Oast, on the sixth day after a child is born, decorate its cradle 
with the flowers to propitiate that goddess, who, under thename 
of Shashti, is supposed to destroy newborn children. In this 
Tespect it also agrees with the description of Vriddhadéraka. 
The Brahminical name for the plant given by Rheede is ainda, 
. 4 Combination of the Marathi word Béngadi, ‘‘a coil of rope or 
bangle,” and the Sanskrit Valli, “a creeper.” 
_ Description. —A perennial plant with a tough woody 
root of great length ; it abounds in sandy ground near the sea~ 
shore ; from the enlarged crown of the root grow a number of 
ig stems, fleshy and a when young, but becoming 
they mature; the leaves are smooth, thick, long 
and two-lobed like those of the Bauhinias; the flowers 
nd of a reddish purple. A section of the nonk-slowe Se 
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