SOLANACHA. 559 
in the cure of toothache; they are smoked in a chilam like 
tobacco and the natives have the idea that the smoke kills 
the insects which they suppose cause the pain. The ancients 
used the seeds of Henbane in the same way. (Scrib. Comp. 
54-) They act as a powerful sialogogue, and thus afford 
relief. (Phar. of India, p. 181.) In the Concan 2 tolas of 
the juice of the fresh plant, with 2 tolas ofHemidesmus juice, 
are given in whey as a diuretic, and the root with chiretta and 
ginger is given in decoction as a febrifuge. Dr. Peters, of the 
Bombay Medical Service, informs us that in Bengal the plant 
is much used as a diuretic in dropsy. 
Description.—Root at least biennial ; stem none, but se- 
veral flexuose, ramous branches, spreading close on the ground, 
_ for an extent of some feet, often striking root at the insertion 
_ of the leaves; angular, nearly void of pubescence ; leaves fre= 
quently in pairs, oblong, pinnatifid, or laciniate, smooth, but 
armed on both sides with long, strong, straight spines ; 
_ racemes between the leaves, and almost as long, bearing 4 to 6 
alternate, pedicelled, large, bright blue flowers; calyx armed 
_ with straight spines ; berries spherical, size of a large goose- 
‘ berry, very smooth, drooping, while immature variegated with 
green and white, when ripe with different shades of sada 
_ only.—(Roab.) 
Chemical composition.—The fruits of this plant were found on 
analysis to have a similar composition to those of the previous 
article, except that in this caso the fruits were examined in a 
esh condition, and the solanine reactions of the alkaloid and 
the almost entire absence of ammonia were noticed. The dried 
leaves left 20°74 per cent. of ash when burnt, and contained 
traces of an alkaloid, and an astringent organic acid giving a 
green precipitate with ferric salts. 
S. trilobatum, Linn., Wight Ic. t. 854, is mentioned by 
lie ‘al being used medicinally in Southern India. He 
oots of this creeper, are all 
Lit ieticive by the Tamools; the two first, which are bitter, 
oi prescribed in consumptive cases in the form ¢ 
