300 Dr. Ainslie's Observations on the Lepra Arabum. 



shoots of the plant called Mdnidani (Tatn.) Lawzonia Spinosa, is also some- 

 times given, to the extent of half a spoonful, twice daily. 



The kernel of the nut called in Tamool Niredimutii, is, with other medi- 

 cines, prescribed in the form of electuary, to the quantity of half a tea- 

 spoonful, twice daily ; I believe the plant to be a species of Jatropha. 

 Different preparations of mercury are recommended by the Tamool phy- 

 sicians in leprous cases, as may be seen by turning to the Materia Medica 

 of Hindustan (pages 106, lOyj. In the Tamool sastram entitled PernnI, 

 written by Agastya, will be found a prescription which has great repute in 

 lower India in cutaneous affections ; it is a distilled oil prepared from a 

 combination of nineteen different plants, chiefly aromatic ; it is given in the 

 quantity of two gold fanams weight, twice daily, in conjunction with a 

 little sulphur : the same oil is also recommended as an external application 

 for the ulcerated joints. But of all the alterative and deobstruent remedies 

 employed by the native practitioners of India in this complaint, none is of 

 equal repute with the concrete milky juice of the plant called by the 

 Tamools Yercam (Asclepius Gigantea) ; it exudes from the leaves and 

 tender slioots on being pricked, and has at first somewhat the appearance 

 of cream ; but on drying becomes a little darker coloured, and has a rather 

 nauseous and acrid taste: the dose is about a quarter of a gold pagoda 

 weight, given twice daily, together with a little sulphur, and continued for 

 some weeks. The plant is termed, in Sanscrit, Area, also Vdsiica, and PrU' 

 tdpasa.* In the Canarese language it is Yecddd ; in Hindustani it is named 

 Maddr ;t in Dukhini, Akrc ; in Javanese, IVdduri ; and in Arabic, U'sher, 

 according to Avicenna ('2d3), though it would appear that in Arabia Felix, 

 the Asclepias Giganteat has got the appellation of Osckar, which, however, 

 may be a corruption of the same word. In the Materia Medica of Hin- 

 dustan, above cited, which I published at Madras in 1813, will be found 

 (page 128) some account of the >jercam plant (asclepias gigantea), and its 

 use amongst the Hindu doctors ; also some notice of what has been by 

 some considered as a variety of the same plant, and termed in Tamool 

 Vallerku ; but I have since had reason to believe that this last is of a 



* The Area or V^-uca is the rosy variet}' ; the Pratapasa or Alarca, is the white sort. — H.T.C. 



t From the Sanscrit, Mandara H.T.C. 



\ The reader will find farther notice of this plant in Springel's " Rei Herharice," vol. i. 

 pages •232, 253 ; also in " Abu Hanija abud Scrap," cap. 30 ; also in " Alpinus Egypt." 



