836 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Horsfield notices its use in cutaneous affections, and to alleviate 

 the pain and swelling from confluent small-pox (Dymock). 



Its claims as an antiperiodic have been examined by Dr. 

 Berdenis Van Berkelow (Schmidt's Fahrbucher, May 24th, 1866, 

 and Brit, and For. Med. Ghir. Rev., April 1867, p. 527) ; and 

 after a trial with it in twenty-two cases, quartan and tertian, he 

 reports favorably of its action, and considers that from its 

 cheapness it may advantageously be used as a febrifuge in 

 pauper practice. The fact of its containing strychnia in con- 

 siderable quantities indicates the necessity for great caution in 

 its use. Whatever efficacy it possesses in this character is 

 doubtless due to this alkaloid ; and as the proportion in which 

 it exists in this wood is undetermined, and is likely to vary 

 according to the season of collection, it is far safer to employ 

 in its stead the alkaloid itself, a preparation of uniform strength, 

 and which can be regulated with comparative ease. In the 

 present state of our information, Lignum Colubrinum must be 

 looked upon as a dangerous remedy (Ph. Ind.). 



789. S. Nux-vomica, Linn, h.f.b.l, iv. 90; 

 Roxb. 193. 



Sans. : — Kupilu ; Kulaka. 



Vern. :— Kuchla (H.); Kuchila (B.) ; Kuchlah (Dec); Ettik- 

 kottai (Tarn.); Mushti-vittulu (Tel.); Kanni-rak-kuru (Mai); 

 Kajra (Bomb.) ; Mushti-bija (Kan.). 



Habitat : — Throughout tropical India ; rare in Bengal, com- 

 mon in Madras. 



A large, deciduous tree, attaining 40ft., with a straight thick 

 trunk. Root thick, with a yellowish spidermis. Bark thin, dark- 

 grey or yellowish-grey, smooth. Wood white when fresh cut, 

 turning yellowish-grey on exposure, hard, close-grained, durable. 

 No heartwood (Gamble). Leaves broadly elliptic or ovate, 

 opposite, entire, shining, coriaceous, 3-6in. long, 3-5-nerved, gla- 

 brous ; base obtuse, arising from stout nodes. Petiole J-Jin. 

 long, deeply-grooved. Flowers greenish white, many, small, 

 appearing with young leaves, on short slender pedicels ; collected 

 on a small terminal pubescent corymbose cymes, l-2in. diam., at 



