EVPBORBUCE^. 301 



J 



plant, and lias a greenish tinge. Tlie collection of tlie drug is 

 an industry ol the hill Khonds iu Ganjam, who sell a few 

 measures for a few measures of rice or a yard of cloth. 



The average value of the best red Kam^la is Rs. 11 per 

 maund of 41 Ihs. The high winds laden with dust, which often 

 prevail in India, cause a certain amount of impurity in the drug 

 from the adherence of dust to the capsules and leaves of the 

 plant. Native dealers test the drug by taking it up on the 

 moistened finger and rubbing it firmly upon a piece of white 

 paper ; if of good quality, a smooth paste is formed and the 

 paper is stained of a bright-yellow colour. 



RICINUS COMMUNIS, Unn. 



Fig, — Bentl. and Trim., t 237; Sibfh. FL Gtcbc. x., t. 952 ; 



Bayne, Arueigew. x.^ t. 48; Uheede, Hort, Mai. ii, f. 32, Castor 

 plant {E>ig.)j Eicin commun {Fr.). 



Hab. — Africa? Cultivated throughout India. The leaves, 

 seeds, root, and oiL 



Vernacular. — Arandi { Hind. ) , Erandi {Mar. ) , Bherenda 

 (Beng.), Amanakkam-chedi (J'aw.), Amudapu-chettu {TeL), 

 Avanakku {MaL), Karala-gida {Can.), Erando [Giiz.). 



History, Uses, &C. — The Castor plant is called in 

 Sanskrit Eranda, Ruvu, Euvuka and Uruvuka, and the red 

 variety Raktairanda ; the root and the oil obtained from the 

 seeds have been used medicinally by the Hindus from a very 

 remote period, and are mentioned by Susruta. 



Both root and oil are described as purgative and useful in 

 costiveness, flatulence, rheumatism, fever and inflammatory 

 affections ; on account of its efficacy in rheumatism the plan 

 bears the synonym of Yatari (vata-ari). As a purgative the 

 oil is directed to be taken with cow's urine or an infusion of 

 ginger or the decoction of the ten roots known as dasamula (see 

 Vol. I., p. 243). The seeds freed from the husks and germs, and 

 boiled in milk and water, form a decoction which is given in 

 rheumatism ; a decoction of the root with carbonate of potash 



