CALUMBA WOOD. 59 



Cingalese Venivel-getta or 'Bangwel-getta ; English, the knotted 

 plant. It is in repute among the inhabitants, who slice it into 

 pieces, and after having steeped it in water several hours, swal- 

 low it with the liquid. They recommend it as an excel- 

 lent stomachic. 



' When the seed ripens, I shall have the pleasure of sending 

 you some of it at all events. 



' I have sent you a pretty large bit of the root, sawed from 

 the centre of a knot, that you may make an experiment upon 

 it." 



" Note. This is certainly not the Colombo Root of our Materia 

 Medica.R" 



The Cingalese name Venivel-getta, so nearly corresponds with 

 that of Weni-wcela-gceta, applied by Moon (Catalogue of Indi- 

 genous and Exotic Plants growing in Ceylon, Colombo, 1821, 

 p. 70) to a plant which he calls Cissampelos convolvulacea, var. 

 /3, whose root he states to be medicinal, that I have been led to 

 suspect that Moon's plant may prove identical with the Menis- 

 permum fenestratum of Eoxburgh. 



It is, however, evident that we are without any proof that 

 Calumba wood is produced by M. fenestratum, and although 

 from the foregoing statement of Eoxburgh it may appear pro- 

 bable that such is the case, yet, as many plants of this genus 

 are employed medicinally in the countries of which they are 

 natives, I think it must be concluded that there is at present 

 by no means sufficient evidence to decide to which species it 

 should be assigned. 



Dr. Pereira (to whose valuable assistance on this and on 

 many other occasions I am greatly indebted) has shown me a 

 curious old tract, entitled, "Some Observations made upon the 

 Calumba Wood, otherwise called Calumback, imported from the 

 Indies : showing its admirable virtues in curing the Gout, and 

 easing all sorts of Rhumatical Pains. Written ~by a Doctor of 

 PhysicJc in the Counlrey, to the President of the College of Phy- 

 sicians in London" London 1694. But as this author gives 

 no description of the wood, it is not possible to say to what 

 substance he refers, though it is likely that the Calambac, or 

 Aloes Wood of the old pharmacologists, may have been intended. 



