m% 



INDUS MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



individuals not for 24 hours. The bruised leaves had been 

 removed from all after half-an-hour. The pain occasioned was 

 absolutely agonizing until the blister rose. We should not be 

 justified in recommending these leaves for further trial ; they 

 cause more pain than cantharides. and are far inferior to the 

 Plumbago (lal chitra) in celerity and certainty of action" 

 (O'Shaughnessy). 



On the other hand. Dr. Dymock says that he has made 

 several experiments with an ethereal tincture of the leaves, 

 which leads him to form a much more favourable opinion of 

 them. In several instances it blistered rapidly, effectually and 

 without causing more pain than the liquor epispasticus of the 

 Pharmacopoeia. 



"Ina recent correspondence with the Government of India, 

 the Surgeon-General of Madras recommended that this plant 

 should be excluded from the revised edition of the Pharmaco- 

 peia of India" (Watt). 



The juice of the plant is given internally in spleen ; but it 

 causes great pain, and the result is not certain (T. N. Mukerji). 

 oil. A. senegalensis, Lanik. h.b.f.l, ii. 570. 



Habitat : — Plains of the Punjab and of North- West Hindu- 

 stan. 



An annual, glabrous, erect herb, growing in damp places, 

 6-24in. Branches sharply quadrangular, Cauline leaves l-2in., 

 opposite, elongate-oblong, sessile, sub-auriculate at the base. 

 Gymes peduncled, compound. Bracteoles on the cyme-branches, 

 minute, linear. Calyx campanulate, with 4 or 8 green lines, 

 becoming indistinct in fruit, teeth 4, broad-triangular. Petals 

 0, or caducous. Stamens 6 or 8, capsule rtin. diam., globose, 

 becoming ultimately red, much exceeding the Calyx-tube. 

 Seeds half-ellipsoid, excavated on the plane face. 



Use : — Used as a blistering agent. 



512. Woodfordia floribunda, Salisb. h.f.b.l, 



ii. 572. 



8yn. : — Grislea tomentosa, Roxb. 317. 

 Sans. : — Dhataki. 



