118 Proceedings of Societies. [March, 



9. — A report by J. C. Boswell, Esq. on an Opiate recently used at Penang. 

 This medicine was made by digesting solution of tartaric acid in water on the 

 dregs remaining after the tincture of opium has been prepared. Only a small 

 quantity of this Penang Opiate was received, and it was tried by Mr, Twining, who 

 reported that it appeared to possess considerable efficacy ; its anodyne and soporific 

 properties being estimated at about half the strength of Vinum Opii. 



10. — Mr. Royle's paper, in pursuance of his proposal formerly laid before the 

 Society, with a view of promoting the collection of a complete cabinet of specimens 

 of the Materia Medica of Hindustan. The author considers his inquiries merely 

 as preparatory to a complete investigation of the Materia Medica of India ; which 

 investigation he would wish to comprise, not only an inquiry as to the plants which 

 produce each article; but would desire to see the real properties of the medicines 

 ascertained by the most careful experiments, which, of course, can only be accom- 

 plished by the united labours of the Members of the Society, at some remote period : 

 for the present, Mr. R. brought for inspection of the Society arranged specimens 

 of nearly a thousand articles of Materia Medica, with an herbarium, containing the 

 plants, from parts of which many of the articles are produced ; and for the pur- 

 pose of facilitating the labours of others, he stated the mode which he adopted to 

 procure the specimens now laid before the Society. In the first place, he collected 

 the various articles of Materia Medica procurable in the ba-zars, and then employed 

 Kubarees to bring in the plants which produced the respective medicines ; by this 

 means he was enabled to ascertain the Botanical names of many of the plants 

 indigenous at several stations. 



In investigating the medicinal properties of the several articles, the author 

 observes, that we may be somewhat guided by the sensible properties of the 

 medicines : and no slight assistance may be obtained by reference to the natural 

 families to which the plants belong — for instance, the Convolvulaceae afford the 

 Jalap, the Scaminony, the Toorbud, (Convolvulus Turpethem) and several Indian 

 purgatives. The Asclepiadse afford emetic medicine, as the Ipecacuanha of 

 America, and Asclepias Vomitoria, and Asclepias Asthmatica. The Coniferae in 

 India, as in Europe, yield Turpentine. The Euphorbiaceae yield Euphorbium 

 and the Jatropha Curcas (Barbadoes Nut), and in India, the Castor Oil and the 

 Croton Tiglium ; the latter affording an acrid oil of highly active properties. 

 The Labiatse in both countries possess aromatic and heating properties • while 

 many of the Solaneae are poisonous. The Gentianeae being all bitter • the 

 Rubiaceae, mostly astringent, and the Umbelliferae, aromatic. In fact, a very 

 extended accordance may be observed in the sensible and medicinal properties of 

 a large proportion of each of the natural families into which plants are divided. 

 In preparing his MSS. the author states that he commenced by adopting the 

 alphabetical arrangement of the Persian authors, inserting first the Asiatic names 

 and synonymes : then the Greek names, followed by the Botanical name, the class 

 and order, according to the Linnaean system, and the natural order of the plant ■ 

 after which he notices the country whence the article is said to be procured, the 

 part of the plant which is used, and the medical properties ascribed to it by the 

 Hakims, or stated in their books, with some general remarks tending to identify 

 the article. Separate lists contain the medicines belonging to the mineral and 

 animal kingdom. 



The 100 specimens of Materia Medica promised formerly by Mr. Royle, are 

 deposited in the cabinet : and Members of the Society, at the different stations, 

 are invited to collect and contribute such articles as may be peculiar to that part 



