hy 



VEBBENAGEM 7/ 



History, Uses, &C. — This is a slirubtlie medicinal pro- 

 perties of wliich are widely known in the East. Some identify 

 it with the Kshudragniraantha of the Raja Nirghanta. It is 

 the Gamhir-lant of Java, the WceUhii-rmida of Ceylon, and the 

 Sanftf-nmn of Cochin-China. Ainslie says the juice of the 

 leaves and root is considered alterative in scrofulous and 

 venereal affections, the dose being a tahlespoonful with or with- 

 out a little castor oil. Eheede speaks of the use of the di'ied 

 leaves for the same pifrpose, and of a poultice of the leaves 

 to resolve buboes ; he also says a bath prepared with them is 

 used in mania, while the root boiled in oil affords a liniment 

 useful in rheumatism. C inerme is the Jasmintim liforeiim and 

 Pharmacum liforeum of Eumphius {Lib. vii., cap. 47), who says 

 the Amboyna name is Wale-jmti'IohaJia, which means ^^ white 

 strand cord.^' The Malays and Macassars administer the 

 berries or the root to people poisoned by eating unwholesome 

 fish ; the leaves smeared with oil are heated over the fire and 

 applied to recent wounds ; they are also one of the leaves used 

 for preparing the green rice of the Malaj^s ; he concludes 

 by saying " larga ac fausta natura in cunctis fere litoribus 



banc obviam profert plantam.'' In Bombay the plant has a 

 great reputation as a febrifuge ; the juice of the leaves is used 

 in doses of half an ounce. It is mucilaginous, very bitter, 

 somewhat saline, and with a fragrant, apple-like odour. 



ose 



of Chiretta. 



be 



efRcicnt as the juice of the fresh plant ; they should be dried in 

 the shade to preserve their aroma, and may be administered in 

 decoction with aromatics, or powdered and made into pills, A 

 tincture has also been found to be an efficient preparation. 



Description." A straggling shrub, 3—7 ft.; shoots grey- 

 pubescent. Leaves opposite, rarely ternate, |— 1^ in., when 

 young somewhat grey-pubescent, ba,se cuneate; petiole I in. 

 Peduncles r}— 1^ in., all axillary, 3—7 fid. ; bracts ^\ in., linear; 

 pedicels ^—^ in., calyx grey-puberulous or glabrate. Corolla 

 white, tube % in., glabrate, lobes ^ in., oblong. Drupe i by | in., 



