r/2 : . A CATALOGUE OF INDIAN - 



as powerful a febrifuge as the Peruviaji bark. It has not, however, come 

 into use here ; nor^ while we have other approved remedies, is there any 

 occasion for having recourse to it; but I have given it a place in the cata- 

 logue, for the sake of captains and surgeons of ships, trading to the east« 

 ward, who, should their stock of bark at any time fail them, may, in all 

 the Malay islands, find a valuable substitute for it in the Piitra fValiu 



Mentha Vjrjdis. (W.) Po6?ma,0)H. 



M-URRAY. 11. 178. 

 WOODVILLE. III. 46-5. 



MiRABiLis Jalappa. ( W. ) Gul Ahhtts, ^. 



This is not an indigenous plant of Hindostan; but all the beautiful va- 

 rieties of it are now cultivated j as an ornament to the gardens, in Bengal. 



The officinal jalap was formerly supposed to be the root of this species 

 of Mirabilis; and hence it obtained its trivial name; but that valuable 

 drug is now ascertained to be the root of a species of Convolvulus. As 

 the Mirabilis, however, had so long retained the credit of affording the 

 jalap; and, with authors of the highest authority in botany, from Plumier 

 to LiNNi^us, I was desirous of discovering what degree of purgative qua- 

 lity it really possessed. With that view, having carefully dried and pow- 

 dered some of the root, I sent it, for trial, to the European and native hos- 

 pitals. Dr. Hunter's report, from the former of these, is as follows: 

 " We have tried the Mirabilis with thirteen patients. They do not com- 

 " plain of it'sbaing disagreeable to the taste, nor of it's exciting nausea 

 " or griping ; but it's operation, as a purge, is uncertain, and two drams 

 " of it sometimes procure only a single stool. It seemed to answer best 

 " with those who had bowel complaints." Dr. Shoolbred found the 



i') PoQ(kena, 



