WallidCs Plantce Asiaticce Raribres. 209 



experiments were made in the presence of Dr. Falconer, assistant-surgeon 

 to the Bengal establishment, and ni}' brother, on rabbits and dogs, and with 

 the root in the form of powder, spirituous extract, and watery extract. Of 

 these preparations the spirituous extract is by far the most powerful. The 

 effects were tried by introducing this extract into the jugular vein, by 

 placing it in the cavity of the peritoneum, by applying it to the cellular 

 tissue of the back, and by introducing it into the stomach. In all these 

 cases, except the last, the effects were very similar ; namely, difficulty of 

 breathing, weakness, and subsequently paralysis, which generally com- 

 menced in the posterior extremities, vertigoes, convulsions, dilatation of the 

 pupil, and death, apparently from asphyxia. The bodies of most of the 

 animals were examined inmiediately after death. In all cases the right 

 side of the heart was found distended with dark-coloured blood, and the 

 left empty. In one or two cases the auricles were still contracting, but 

 the ventricles had ceased to contract. The galvanic apparatus produced a 

 quivering in a few of the fibres of the ventricles, and either produced, or 

 very much increased, the contractions of the ventricles. All the voluntary 

 muscles were susceptible of galvanism. One grain of the alcoholic extract 

 introduced into the cavity of the peritoneum of a rabbit began to produce 

 its effects in two minutes ; death took place in nine minutes and a half.. 

 In a second experiment of a similar kind, the effects commenced in two 

 minutes and a half, and death was produced in eleven minutes. Two grains 

 introduced into the jugular vein of a good-sized strong dog produced con- 

 vulsions in one minute, and death in three minutes. One grain introduced 

 into the cellular tissue of the back of a rabbit began to affect the system at 

 the end of six minutes, and produced death in fifteen minutes. A rabbit 

 was made to swallow three grains of the extract. No effect was produced, 

 except that the animal continued chewing for several hours, as if ruminat- 

 ing, and which arose probably from the local action of the poison on the 

 moutli and thi'oat. The watery is less powerful than the si)irituous extract. 

 Two grains of it introduced into the peritoneum of a rabbit did not pro- 

 duce death until the expiration of twenty-seven minutes. 



" It appears that the root of this plant is imported in very considerable 

 quantity into the plains, where it is sold at the rate of one rupee per seer 

 (about Is. the pound), although the sale of it seems to have been pro- 

 hibited under the native governments, on pain of heavy penalties, except 

 to persons well known, or by authorit}'. It is also used in cases of chronic 

 rheumatism by the native practitioners. The coinciilence in opinion 

 respecting its efficacy in such cases, between them and Professor Stoerk of 

 Vienna, who applied the extract of the roots of some of the European 

 species to similar purposes, may perhaps add to the evidence respecting its 

 utility." 



Ruelh'a gossypina. — Convolvulus atro-purpureus. " A very lai'ge shrub ; 

 and I am scarcely acquainted with any species which would be more 

 desii'able, as an ornament, eitlier to a garden or a hot-house." — Abehnoschus 

 *crinitus. Approaches to //ibiscus racemosus. — Centranthera hispida ; 

 Labiatae. — Quercus spicata. " This is one of the largest, as well as the 

 commonest, sorts in Nepal, where it attains the most gigantic size. The 

 wood, is exceedingly like the English oak m colour, and most probably 

 equals it in other respects, but the mountaineers do not esteem it much, 

 owing, as they say, to its speedy decay ; a circumstance owing, no doubt, 

 to their employing it in its green state. A similar prejudice prevails in that 

 country against the other sjiecies." — Muciina macrocar[)a ; Leguminosae. 

 " This superb climber approaches closely to the Miicunn gigantea Dcccoid., 

 but differs in the size of its flowers and fruit, as well as in other respects. 

 It is furnished to a less degree than most of the other species belonging to 

 the genus, with those long and easily separable hairs, which on the slightest 



Vol. VIL — No. 31. p 



