622 JOURNAL, BOMBAY NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY, Vol. XL 



add, common to Calotropis gigantea and Calotropis procera) and tobacco 

 are said to be used for purposes of infanticide " (" Medical Jurispru- 

 dence for India, " p. 114, Calcutta, 1889). In Gribble's " Medical 

 Jurisprudence " (Madias, 1835, p. 188) there are the following remarks 

 regarding Calotropis Hamiltonii^ which is no other than Calotropis 

 procera, a congener of Calotropis gigantea, with respect to its aborti- 

 facient properties : — Calotropis Hamiltonii (Madras native name 

 Atrendo) " Is used both internally and externally. The milky juice is 

 mixed with flour and given in a pill ; a rag is then dipped in the juice 

 and folded round a stick. About four and a-half inches are introduced 

 per vaginam. This plan is useful in all stages of pregnancy, and there is 

 not much danger to the mother or to the foetus, which latter may in 

 fact be born alive if the step is taken at an advanced stage." I may 

 observe that whether or not there be danger to the mother or to the 

 foetus ultimately, the initial use of any part or product of this plant for 

 the purposes of abortion has crime at its bottom, within the meaning of 

 the Indian Penal Code, and as such it is specially worthy of notice here. 



In support of all that I have said above, I feel bound to refer to the 

 researches of C. J. H. Warden and L. A. Waddell. (Pharm. Journ., 

 3rd Series, XVI, 167-70.) " In India, under the name of ' Madar, ' 

 two plants belonging to the !N. 0. Asclepiadace^e, are known, 

 the Calotropis gigantea or Asclepias gigantea, and the Calotropis 

 procera or C. Hamiltonii. The former is one of the commonest weeds 

 throughout India, and is most abundant in the Lower Provinces and 

 Eastern India ; while the C. procera, which most closely resembles it, 

 is found chiefly in the drier parts of North and Central India" 

 ("Year Book of Pharmacy," 1886, p. 153).* 



1 cannot conclude this paper without referring to the most modern 

 results of the three learned writers who have contributed to bring out 

 the most standard work of the day in Anglo-Indian Pharmacology, 

 under the name of the " Pharmacographia Indica." (See p. 428 — 437, 

 Vol. II, 1891, Bombay.) It is said, in this grandest work up to date on 

 the Pharmacology of Indian plants, that Calotropis is not mentioned 

 by Greek or Roman writers, but some Mahomedans give Ejakiyns as 

 its Yunani name ; this appears to be a corruption of the word %«9£o,* 

 " most holy," or " under divine protection," and was probably applied to 



* I bavs found it in the Satara District since writing this paper.— (K, R. K.) 



