1090 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS 



Mr. R. Modlen concludes a paper " on the Aristolochiacece as antidotes to 

 snake-poisons " in the Ph. J. for Nov. 20, 1880, p. 411, as follows : 



" Although we English pharmacists may never be in a position to test this 

 remedy, still it seemed to be one of sufficient interest to be noted. Strangely 

 enough, the only place in this neighbourhood (Oxford) where I have seen 

 an adder is the only locality for A. Clematis," 



According to the authors of the Pharmacographia Indica, the roots con- 

 tain an alkaloidal principle. 



N. 0. PIPERACE^E. 



1078. Piper longum, Linn., h.f.b.i., v. 83. Roxb. 

 52. 



Syn. :--Chavica Roxburghii, Miq. 



Sans. : — Pippali. 



Vern. ;— Pipul (H. and B.); Pippul-chittoo (Tel.) ; Pipili 

 (Tarn.); Bangali-pim-pali (Bomb.). 



Habitat :— Hotter provinces of India, from East Nepal to 

 Assam, the Khasia Mts. and Bengal, westward to Bombay 

 and southward to Travancore. 



Root-stock erect, thicker pointed, branched. Stems herba- 

 ceous, numerous, creeping below ; young shoots downy, branches 

 prostrate or creeping with broad, glabrous leaves. Flowering 

 shoots erect. Branches soft, angular and grooved when dry. 

 Leaves generally membranous. Lower leaves 2-3in., ovate, 

 cordate, often rounded ovate, acuminate, 7-nerved ; sinus rounded, 

 but narrow ; basal lobes equal ; petiole l-3in. Upper leaves 

 narrower, oblong, cordate, sessile, amplexicaul ; 2-5in. basal lobes 

 often unequal. Spikes simple, solitary. Flowers dioecious. Male 

 spikes l-3in., female J-fin. broad, 1-1 Jin. long, blackish-green, 

 shining, short, sub-erect. Fruit about toim cliam., in dense 

 cylindric, rarely globose spikes. 



Uses :— Like Black Pepper, it contains a volatile oil, an acrid 

 resin and piperine ; and, like it, it possesses stimulant car- 

 minative properties, but more powerful. Its chief use is as a 

 condiment. Dr. Herklots reports favourably of the follow- 

 ing Mahomedan nostrum in the treatment of beri-beri : Take 

 of Long Pepper, bruised, four ounces; Black Pepper and 



