N. 0. PLUMBAGINEJE. 739 



Roxburgh says: — "The specific distinguishing marks be- 

 tween two species, according to my observation, depend on the 

 racemes and bracts, color not being a specific mark." 



Uses : — Mentioned by Sanskrit and Mahomedan writers as an 

 abortifacient and vesicant. 



The bruised root of this plant is, in its natural state, acrid 

 and stimulating, but when tempered with a little bland oil it 

 is us^d as an external application in rheumatic and paralytic 

 affections ; it is also prescribed internally in small doses for the 

 same complaints, in combination with some other simple pow- 

 der (Ainslie.) 



The vesicant properties of the root of this plant wore known 

 to the old writers, but it was O'Shaughnessy who first tried 

 this drug in between three hundred and four hundred cases, 

 and found out that the root-bark, being rubbed with water into 

 a paste and applied to skin, raised blisters within twelve or 

 eighteen hours; and that it can be used as a cheap substitute 

 for Cantharides, with the additional advantage of causing no 

 irritation of the genito-uriuary organs. When administered 

 internally it acts as a stimulant, and in large doses as an acro- 

 narcotic poison. " It is one of the articles in use amongst the 

 natives for procuring abortion. For this purpose, the scraped 

 root-bark is introduced per vaginam into the os uteri." Death 

 is often the inevitable consequence of the use of this substance 

 in the manner specified. The root is also used as a powerful 

 sialogogue. In South India, the dried root is highly valued as 

 a remedy for secondary syphilis and leprosy (Pharm. Ind., p. 

 169). See K. R Kirtikar's remarks in his Poisonous Plants 

 of Bombay. 



Dr Waring found that it caused more pain than an ordin- 

 ary blister, and that the resulting vesication was less uniform, 

 and not always easily healed. From what I have seen of its 

 use, lam inclined to support Dr. Wiring's opinion (Dymock). 



"The milky juice is useful in ophthalmia" iAsst.-Surg. T. N. 

 Ghose. The milky juice is useful as an external application 

 for scabies (Surg. Mukeiji.) Its vesicating properties have been 

 successfully utilized in curing certain cases of leucoderma 

 (Surgeon-Major Gray, in Watt's Dictionary). 



