118 PHARMACOPEIAL DRUGS 



1819), states that the seeds of Croton Tiglium, under 

 the name "gayapala," are a most powerful purgative, 

 and also that the leaves are very acrid, causing an in- 

 tolerable burning in the mouth and throat. 



Dr. Irvine, in 1848, gave a short account of the ma- 

 teria medica of Patna (part of the province of Bengal), 

 mentioning "jamalgoota," which he stated is derived 

 from Croton Tiglium and several other species of croton. 

 The croton seeds furnish a violent purge, and are made 

 into pills with ginger and "kutkaranja or kath karanja 

 seeds," which he explains are known as bonduc nut 

 (the febrifuge seed of Ccesalpinia Bonducella, or nicker 

 tree). 



More recently, Mr. 0. Weynton (682), calls attention 

 to the occurrence of Croton Tiglium in all parts of the 

 fertile and wealthy province of Assam, especially in the 

 dry districts. He states that the demand for the drug 

 is small, and that the plant has a tendency to spread. 

 Hence efforts are being made to restrict the growth, and 

 keep it within certain bounds. 



The ancient Hindu physicians were not acquainted 

 with the drug, which seems to have originated in China, 

 from whence, at an early day, the seeds were also intro- 

 duced into Persia (where they are now called dand), by 

 way of the caravan routes of Central Asia. Subse- 

 quently the Arabs derived their knowledge of the 

 seeds from the Persians, their name, hab-el-kathai 

 (Cathay seeds), being in turn suggestive of the Chinese 

 origin (209). Some of the vernacular Indian names, 

 according to Dymock, (208), seem to indicate that the 

 plant reached India through the Himalayan province 

 of Nepal (209). 



Croton was imported into Europe by the Dutch during 



