DRUGS. 



very different nature, and brought down from Bissehur and from Um- 

 ritsur the commercial capital of Lahore. This kind is fusiform and 

 somewhat flattened and wrinkled, of a black colour externally, and in 

 some respects resembling Bikh itself; when cut, the substance is found 

 to be compact and of a brownish colour, with a slight degree of bitter- 

 ness and acrimony." There is a Judwar in the Bombay Bazar like Bikh, 

 only far more costly ; but the root found here, answering to Royle's 

 description of Umritsur Nirbisi, is the article lately imported into 

 England under the name of Padshah Salep, and which has excited consider- 

 able interest there as to its botanical source. Lindley considered it to be 

 liliaceous. Is it not the root of Asparagus adscendens mentioned by 

 Royle, whose description is quoted by Liudley at page 204 of the 

 third edition of his Vegetable Kingdom? In Bombay it is not well 

 known, but is often spoken of as Punjabee Piaz and Khorasanee Piaz, or 

 Punjab and Khorassan Onion. This question has come under discussion 

 here in consequence of the name Nirbisi having been given to Bikh. 

 Nirbisi signifies the antidote, particularly the antidote to Bikh, the poison ; 

 and consequently the term can never with any propriety be applied to the 

 latter virulent narcotic. See below Delphinium pauciflorum in this order, 

 and Asparagus adscendens, Royle, N. O. 242. Bikh is first mentioned, 

 according to Sprengel, by Nicander. The root of Gloriosa superba is 

 known as Buchnag, and that of Lagenandra toxicaria as Futsunab in 

 Bombay. Also Butch is the name of Acorus Calamus ; Kala-buchnak of 

 Hymenodyction excelsum ; and Bish-tarak, Bish-hupra, Bish-bansh, and 

 Bish-umba, respectively oiArgyreia speciosa, Trianthema obcordata, Beesha 

 rheedii, and Cucumis Colocynthis. 



Aconitum heterophyllum. Wall. 



Linn. Sytt. Polyandria Trigynia. 



The root. 



Vernacular. Atees, Hind. 



Habitat. The Westward Himalayas. 



Remarks. Under this name (Atees) according to O'Shaughnessy, the 

 dry tubers of Asparagus sarmentosus, the Soota Mooli of Bengal, the 

 Satawree of Bombay, are commonly sold in the former Presidency. 

 The bark of a species of Betula used in Northern India for dyeing 

 Chintz red (Ainslie) goes by the name of Atees, as also does Linseed. 



Coptis Teeta. Wall. 



Linn. Syst. Tolyandria Polygynia. 



The root. 



Vernacular. Mishmee teeta, Assam. 

 Habitat. Assam, 

 2 



