CIIENOFOniACEM 143 



SHUKAI 



Hab. — Persia, The herb. 



Vernacular. — Shnliiii [Inch Bazars). 



History, Uses, &C. — This drug is described in IMaho- 



4 



metan works as the Akranfkl* or Afsharnlkf of the Greeks. 

 Other Arabic names given are Shankat-el-baida^ Shaukat-el- 

 Arabiya, and Ivathir-el-rakab. Ibn Sina says it is the same as 

 Bdzaward (Badaward, Pers.) Muhammad Ilusain yery truly 

 denies this ; he says the Persian names are Charchah and 

 Kangarkhar^ and describes two varieties^ one with a white 

 flower and more slender stems than the other, which has purple 

 flowers, and is the kind generally used. The latter, he says, 

 has triangular stems, the size of a man's finger or less, and thick, 

 small, triangular, downy leaves terminating in thorns; the seeds 

 arc small, triangular, and of a greyish colour. The whole druf^ 



is of a yellowish white colour and sweetish taste. The plant 

 and fruit are generally used, but the root is to be preferred. 

 Shukai is more drying and astringent than Badaward; it is 

 attenuant and deobstruent, &c., &c. {MaJxhzan-el-Achviya, 

 axticle S/nikai ) Haji Zein- el- Attar states that it is useful in 

 palsy and other diseases caused by cold humors. He quotes 

 Galen as recommending its use in melancholia, and Paulus as 

 saying that it is useful in leprosy. In Persia it is said to have 



a reputation as a remedy for ague. The dose is from 2 to 5 

 dirhams. 



Description. — The drug as met with in India consists of 

 all parts of the plant broken up, but very little of the root is 

 present. The portions of the stem are of a greenish-yellow 

 colour, round, crooked, channelled, with numerous branches 

 springing from the axils of the leaves ; the external surface of 

 the stem is siliceous, hard, and pubescent ; internally it is full of 

 soft pith. The petioles of the leaves are 

 lower ones completely so. The lower leaves are of considerable 



Possibly from dKpi>vvxoi:, on account of its thick leaves, each lobe of 

 which terminates in a thorn. 



stem 



