558 ASCLEPIADACE^— LOGANIACE^. App. C. 



Wrightia antidysenteeica, B. Dr. ( = Nerium antidysentericum, 



Linn.), 



The bark of this species of Wrightia is included in some European 

 works on Materia Medica under the name of Tellicherry or Conessi bark. 

 It has long enjoyed a high reputation in India as a tonic and febrifuge ; 

 but other parts of the plant likewise appear to possess similar properties, a 

 decoction of the long oat-like seeds being employed in ardent fever. The 

 bark is also given in dysentery. Among the Tamuls it goes by the name 

 of " Veppalei," while the Hindus call it " Curayia," and the Telingas " Pala 

 codija." It is a small tree producing a white ivory-like wood, which has 

 been tried for engraving purposes, but found unsuitable on account of it 

 not being of even quality throughout. It has obovate-oblong, shortly 

 acuminate, smooth leaves, and nearly terminal corymbs of jasmine-like 

 flowers. 



ASCLEPIADACEiE. 

 Calotkopis gigantea, li. Br. (= Asdepias gigantea, Linn.). 



Various parts of the Yercum-plant have long been employed for medicinal 

 purposes by the native doctors, and experiments made by Anglo-Indian 

 practitioners have proved that the inner bark of the root, called Mudar 

 bark, is a valuable remedy in leprosy, and that it may also be given with 

 advantage in several other complaints, including intermittent and other 

 fevers. An elastic gum and a valuable fibre are also obtained from the 

 plant. There are two varieties of Yercum, one with white and the other 

 with purple flowers, the former forming a tree fifteen or twenty feet high, 

 and the latter a shrub. 



LOGANIACEiE. 



Strychnos Nux- Vomica, Linn. 



According to Eoxburgh the exceedingly bitter wood of the Nux Vomica 

 is employed as a remedy in fevers of the intermittent kind, and also for 

 the cure of snake-bites, when that of the next species cannot be obtained. 

 The poisonous bark is commonly sold in the Indian bazaars in place of the 

 febrifuge " Eohuna bark," which is in reality the produce of Soymida 

 febrifuga. It is the false Angostura bark of our Materia Medica. Nux 

 Vomica seeds have also been administered with some benefit in inter- 

 mittent fever. The Strychnos Niix-Vomica forms a small tree, has oval, 

 entire, shining leaves, strongly marked with from three to five longitudinal 

 nerves, and bears small corymbs of greenish-white flowers. 



