FLANTAGINEM 127 



canal to procure an easy stool. The decoction is prescribed in 

 cough. The roasted seeds have an astringent effect^ and are use- 

 ful in irritation of the bowels in children^ and in dysentery. 

 The natives have an idea that the powdered seeds are injurious, 

 and consequently always' administer them whole, Fleming, 

 Twining, Ainslie, and others speak very favourably of the use 

 of Ispaffhul in the treatment of chronic diarrhoea. Twining 

 gives the dose for an adult as 2| drachms mixed with half a 

 drachm of sugar-candy. {Dismses of Bengal, Yol. L, p. 212.) 

 In the Pharmacopma of India the seeds have been made 

 official, and directions are given for the preparation of a 

 decoction. 



Description. — The seeds are boat-shaped, about ^ of an 



inch long and rather less than y'^ broad, translucent^ with a pinkish 

 tinge and a faint brown streak upon the convex side. The con- 

 cavity is covered with a thin white membrane. Soaked in water 

 they become coated with an abundant adherent mucilage which 

 is free from taste and odour. The epidermis of the seeds is 

 composed of polyhedral cells, the walls of which are thickened 

 by secondary deposits, the source of the mucilage; between 

 it and the albumen is a thin brownish layer. The albumen 



is formed of thick walled cells which contain granular 

 matter. 



T 



E 



P. amplexicaulis, Cav. Ic. //., t. 125, a plant of the 



Punjab Plains, Malwa and Sind^ extending to Southern Europe, 

 furnishes the brown IspagJml not unfrequently to be met with 

 in the Indian bazars. The seeds have the same boat-shaped 

 form as those of P. ovafa, but are rather larger, averaging 

 I of an inch in length. They are probably as efficient as the true 

 Ispaghul seeds. 



Commerce, — Large quantities of these seeds are imported 

 into Bombay from Persia. Value, Rs. 4 per maund of 

 37 1 lbs. 



They differ in colour, some being brow^n and some nearly 

 white^with a pinkish tinge ; the latter are preferred. 



i^ 



