118 DR. R. ANGUS SMITH ON THE 



germanische Chrestomatliie/ written by H. Ebel, A. Les- 

 kien^ Joliannes Sclimidt_, and August Schleicher : Weimar, 

 1869). 



In Colebrooke^s Essays we find that " sacrifices with fire" 

 are connected with '' the drinking of the milky juice of the 

 moon-plant or acid Asclepias'^j and furnish abundant 

 occasion for numerous prayers adapted to the many stages 

 of these religious rites/' 



This milkiness does not favour the idea of distillation ; 

 but as there are treatises on the preparation of the juice, 

 I dare say the usual plan may be known. A good deal has 

 been written on the plant, I believe. Indra and other 

 subordinate deities are made to say, "We have drunk of 

 the juice of the Soma and are become immortal, we have 

 attained effulgence, we have learnt divine truths. How 

 can a foe harm us ? How can age affect the immortality 

 of a deathless being "i" 



If, however, we inquire what is the quality of this drink 

 Soina, we get into some difficulties. At least, chemical 

 books give us most unsatisfactory information. We are 

 there informed that the juice is milky and contains a 

 crystalline substance called asclepiadine and asclepion, 

 bitter, purgative, and emetic. Now such a drink is not 

 that which the gods would be supposed to drink to 

 strengthen themselves against demons. 



From one of the Asclepiads [Pseudosarsa or Hemidesmus 

 indicus) a substance was obtained called Indian sarsaparilla. 

 Dr. Ashburner introduced it from India as improving the 

 general health, "plumpness and clearness and strength 

 succeeding to emaciation, muddiness, and debility, '^ The 

 Asclepiads are also said, in Pereira's 'Materia Medica/ to 

 possess stimulating properties. I cannot give more of the 

 properties of this plant; and I think that the mode in which 

 * Soma-lata, Asclepias acida or Cynanchum viminale 



