Arp. C. KANUNCULACE^— MAGNOLIACE^. 547 



EANUNCULACEiE. 

 Thalictrum foliolosum, D. C. 



The bitter roots of this Himalayan species of Meadow Rue are used by 

 the natives in intermittent fevers, and have, according to O'Shaughnessy, 

 been experimented upon by European practitioners, and found serviceable 

 not only as a febrifuge, but as a tonic in convalescence from acute dis- 

 eases. The plant is an erect, branching perennial, three or more feet high, 

 with large quadripinnate leaves composed of numerous small leaflets. It 

 is common throughout the Himalayas, and is called " Pelijuree " or 

 " Shuprak " by the natives. 



COPTIS TEETA, Wall. 



Several bitter roots are called " Tecta " in the Bengal bazaars. Those 

 of the present plant are brought down from the Mishmee Mountains on 

 the northern borders of Assam, and are consequently called " ISIishmee 

 Teeta." They are usually packed in little baskets about two inches wide, 

 made of strips of rattan-cane. In the Scinde bazaars they are called 

 " Mahmira," and they are likewise said to be imported from China under 

 the name of " Sou-line " or " Chyn-len," but the plant is not known to be a 

 native of that country. They have an intensely bitter taste, and the 

 native doctors esteem them verj^ highly as a tonic and stomachic. M. 

 Virey says that a decoction of them is a powerful febrifuge, but O'Shaugh- 

 nessy states that in experiments made in the Indian hospitals they did 

 not seem to exercise any febrifuge virtues, though their tonic properties 

 were very manifest. The roots of an allied American species (Copt is 

 trifolia, Salisb.) are used throughout the United States and Canada as a 

 tonic, under the name of " Gold Thread." 



ACONITUM, qj. pi. 



The roots of several species of Aconite, common in the Himalayas, are 

 reputed to possess febrifuge properties, but the identification of the 

 particular species is very uncertain. Amongst others the most virulent 

 kindof "Bikh" or "Bish," that yielded by the Jconitumferox, Wall., is 

 said to be thus employed and also in chronic rheumatism ; and likewise 

 the "Bikhma" of Hamilton, supposed to be the Aconitum palmatum, 

 Don. The little tuber-like roots called "Atees" or "Butees," much 

 esteemed for their bitter tonic properties, are afforded by the Aconitum 

 heterophyllum, Wall. 



MAGNOLIACEiE. 



MiCHELiA Champaca, Linn. 

 Several of the Mar/noliaceoi are known to possess powerful febrifuge 

 virtues, particularly the Magnolia ylauca, Linn., and other American 



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