NEW DEUGS. 97 



"West Indies the whole plant is considered a good anti- 

 septic ; a decoction of the root has been used in dropsy. It 

 was introduced to notice in this country about 1884 for use 

 in the preparation of an astringent gargle. 



Gynocardia odorata. — A large tree of India bearing a 

 globular fruit about the size of a large orange, and contain- 

 ing numerous seeds, the oil of which is expressed and known 

 as Chaulmdgra oU. This oil has been used in India for a 

 very long time in skin diseases, affections of the joints, etc. 

 It was not, however, till 1878 that it began to attract 

 much attention in England, when experiments were made 

 in many of the London and provincial hospitals, as well as 

 in private practice, to test its eflB.cacy in rheumatic affections, 

 skin diseases, consumption, syphilitic affections, etc. ; it was 

 used both externally and internally, the latter in the form 

 of capsules. A certain amount of success seems to Lave 

 attended its use, but of late years it has ceased to attract so 

 much notice. 



Hagenia ahyssinica. — ^A handsome rosaceous tree 50 or 

 60 feet high, found over the whole table-land of Abyssinia. 

 Under the name of Kousso or Kosso the flowers have a 

 reputation as an anthelmintic. Notices first appeared as to 

 their medical properties in English periodicals during the 

 years 1839 to 1841, but no supply of the flowers reached 

 Europe till 1850, when a quantity was brought to London 

 and offered for sale at 35s. per ounce. Large quantities 

 were afterwards imported and sold at from 3s. to 4s. per 

 pound. It was not till 1864 that Kousso was introduced 

 into the British Pharmacopoeia. 



Hemidesmus indicus. — A twining shrub of the Ascle- 

 piadese, native of India and Ceylon. The roots are known 

 as Indian Sarsaparilla, and have been used for a long 

 period in native medicine in India. They are said to 

 have alterative, tonic, diuretic, and diaphoretic proper- 

 ties, and were introJuced into the British Pharmacopoeia 



H 



