452 MEDICAL BOTANY, 



destroy vermin infesting the hair or skin. Merat and De Lens state that they 

 have used a solution of an extract from the leaves in the treatment of itch 

 with much success [Diet. iv. 599). Dr. Deslongchamps has administered 

 the bark internally in small doses in lepra and syphilitic eruptions with bene- 

 fit, but states that its use demands great caution, as an overdose will cause 

 the most unpleasant symptoms [Diet. Sci. Med. xxvii. 338). Dr. Tarbes of 

 Montpelier records two cases in which the leaves were given in intermittent 

 fever, and caused the death of the patients. The powder of the leaves has 

 also been used as a sternutatory ; it acts slowly but violently (Ferrein, Mat. 

 Med. i. 242). 



According to Orfila (Toxicol, ii. 301), this plant is an active acro-narcotic, 

 and the experiments of Dr. Grognier show that the wild plant is much more 

 potent than the cultivated. Even the wood is highly deleterious. In 1809, 

 when the French troops were near Madrid, some of the soldiers used branches 

 of the Oleander, deprived of their bark, as spits on which to roast their meat; 

 this caused the death of twelve of them (Lindley, 600). M. Robert, director 

 of the botanic, garden at Toulon, mentions a similar circumstance that took 

 place in Corsica. 



The N. odorum, of India, has much the same qualities. Ainslie (Mat. 

 Ind. ii. 23), says it is considered as a powerful repellent applied externally,* 

 and that the root taken internally is poisonous, and is resorted to by the 

 Hindoo women for the purpose of self-destruction. The flowers, which are 

 odorous, are said to have caused dangerous symptoms in persons who slept 

 with them in their chambers (Richard, Elem. Hist. Mat. ii. 143). 



Order 72.— ASCLEPIADACEjE.— Lindky. 



Calyx 5-clefl, persistent. Corolla monopetalous, hypogynous, 5-lobed, regular ; aestiva- 

 tion usually imbricated, seldom valvular. Stamens 5, inserted on the base of the corolla, 

 alternate with the segments. Filaments commonly connate. Anthers 2-celled, some- 

 times almost 4-celled, from the dissepiments being nearly complete. Pollen cohering in 

 masses, or in pairs, and adhering to the five lobes of the stigma. Ovaries 2. Styles 2, 

 often short, closely approximating. Stigma common to both styles, 5-angled, with corpus- 

 culiferous corners. Follicles 2, one often abortive. Placenta attached to the sutures, but 

 afterwards separating. Seeds numerous, imbricated, pendulous, almost always with a 

 coma. Embryo straight. Albumen thin. 



This extensive order is composed of shrubs and herbs, in most cases 

 abounding in a milky juice, sometimes twining, with entire, opposite, some- 

 times alternate or verticillate leaves, having cilioe between the petioles instead 

 of stipules. The greatest number of them are natives of South Africa, but 

 they also abound in all tropical climates. A few of the genera only are 

 found in extra-tropical regions. 



The plants, but more especially their roots, are acrid and stimulating, and 

 operate as emetics, purgatives, and diaphoretics. Periploca grcsca, a native 

 of Europe, and cultivated in the United States, furnishes a very acrid juice, 

 which is used in Greece as a wolf-poison, and the leaves to dress ulcers. Va- 

 rious species of Secamone are used ;. thus S. emetica has vomitive roots, and 

 those of S. thunbergii are said to be actively purgative. In Tylopkora asth- 

 raatica the root is emetic, and is used in India as a substitute for ipecacuanha; 

 Roxburgh speaks of it highly; and Dr. Anderson, of Madras, states that it 

 was employed very beneficially in dysentery ; in large doses it is emetic, and 

 in small ones frequently repeated, it purges; Burnett also says that it is erfi- 

 cacious as a diaphoretic in humoral asthma (Lindley, 626). Several native 

 species of Gonolobus afford a very acrid juice, which it is said was used by 



