TEE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY. 361 



things — either that (1) the vesicating principle is volatile and that it 

 had disappeared from the roots before they were experimented on, they 

 being bazar-bought, and consequently perhaps of old standing, at any 

 rate not quite so fresh as required ; for all the previous writers have 

 distinctly said that the vesicating property exists in the fresh root ; or 

 (2) that the vesicating principle is decomposed or chemically altered 

 during the process of experimentation. This may be supposed to be a 

 mere conjecture on my part ; and so it is. It is only as such that 

 I submit it for the consideration of the colleagues of Dr. Dymock — 

 Dr. Warden and Mr. Hooper — who helped Dr. Dymock in bringing 

 out the " Pharmacographia Indica," with the humble suggestion that 

 in their future experiments fresh root of Chitrak may be tried. The 

 bazar root though apparently fresh and moist, is necessarily old and, 

 in consequence, worthless for the purpose of accurate analysis. 

 It should be taken fresh from the ground. Besides I find that 

 Dr. Dymock and his colleagues had " to dry the root before it could 

 be powdered." ("Pharmacographia Indica," p. 334, vol.11.) It is 

 necessary that further researches should be made without drying the 

 root, for the blistering quality is supposed to exist in the roots of 

 plants of the entire genus Plumbago when they are fresh. In quoting 

 -the researches made by Prof. Pliickiger and Mr. T. E. Gerock on 

 P. europcea, Dr. Dymock observes that the Plumbagin which it con- 

 tains, or which is obtained therefrom, is " probably the product of a 

 rapid oxidation of some primary substance contained in the plant.''' (The 

 italics are mine — K. B. K.) May not this "primary svbstance" 

 I ask, be the vesicating agent which in Dr. Dymock's experiments 

 underwent rapid oxidation ? May not the inertness of the oil he 

 obtained from the root be due to such rapid oxidation as he conjectures ? 

 There is room for yet more accurate research in this direction. I have 

 only to repeat what Dr. Dymock has himself said with regard to the 

 action of the root of Plumbago rosea : — " Its action is well worthy 

 of accurate scientific investigation." (" Pharmacographia Indica," 

 vol. II., p. 331.) There is need for further observation as to what is 

 the chemical constitution of the blistering agent in this root. 



The root of Plumbago europcea has long been known in Europe, 

 and is used for various purposes. It is employed by beggars, says 

 Lindley (" Vegetable Kingdom," p. 641, 1847), ic to raise ulcers upon 



