5A, - GONVOLVULACEA. 
‘phlegmatic and antiphlogistic. | In Vedic times it was» thought 
‘to promote conception. At: the present time. it is thought-to 
strengthen the brain and memory, and.is used extensively as.a 
.febrifuge and tonic.. .Rheede calls.it Vishnu-clandi, an evident 
corruption-of the Sauskrit:name; he ‘states that it .is used as.a 
febrifuge with cumin and.milk, also as an alterative, and with 
oil to promote the growth of the hair.. According to Ainslie, 
the leaves,- stalks, and roots are all used in medicine by the 
Tamools, and are supposed. to possess. virtues in certain bowel 
affections; they are prescribed in infusion in the quantity of 
half.a teacupful twice daily. Burmann says that it is reputed 
to bea sovereign remedy for dysentery. 
\. Deéscription:—A very small herbaceous plant, ceespitose, 
procumbent, covered with adpressed hairs ; leaves ovate-oblong, 
subsessile, less than 4 inch long; peduncles one-flowered, as 
long as the leaf or longer; flowers of a beautful deep blue, very 
small. Common everywhere in grassy places. 
' Chemical composition.— Ether separated from the powdered 
herb a yellow neutral fat of the consistence of vaseline. The 
alcoholic extract contained an alkaloid of a slightly bitter taste, 
and affording no colour reactions with strong mineral acids. 
An organic acid of a deep red brown colour occurred in the 
water extract, and formed an uncrystallizable compound with 
lead. A quantity of saline matter was present in this drng. 
SAKMUNIYA or BAZAR SCAMMONY, 
_ This substance is all fictitious, and is said to be made in 
Surat ; nevertheless it was for many years purchased by the 
Medical Store Department in Bombay under the impression 
that it was genuine Scammony! (See Pharmacopeia of India, 
__p. 447.) Te usually occurs in irregular fragments of a bright 
green colour, somewhat translucent at the edges, and having 
> resinot & Arsaieinel, Rectified spirit dissolves the resin, aud 
rene of Breen colouring matter and. gum. ; the fors 
~ 
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¢ ha hig : : 
