iff • A CATALOGUE OP INDIAN 



was discovered by the late Sir William Jones, who, valuable as his time 

 was, considered the subje6l as not unworthy of his inquiry ; and, with his 

 usual accuracy of research, proved, beyond all question, that the spikenard 

 of the ancients is the plant, called, by the Arabians, Sumhul-ul-Hind ; and:, 

 hy the Hindus ^ Jatamansi, See As. Res. 11. 405, and III. 105, 4.33. It is 

 a species of Valerian, and a native of Mapal and Britain. The perennial, 

 hairy portion of the stem, immediately above the root. Is the part whichs 

 when dried, is so highly esteemed as a perfume ; and which is also used in 

 medicine. The Hindu physicians prescribe it, chiefly, in diseases of the 

 bowels ; but, as it strongly resembles, in taste, smell and flavour, the offi- 

 cinal valerian, there is reason to expe<5l that it will be found equally effica- 

 cious with that root, as an antispasmodic, in epilepsy, hysteria^ and other 

 convulsive disorders » 



ViTEs: Tri FOLIA, ( W. ) Nisinda and SamVhalu/^^ II. 



Sind'huca and Sind'havora^ S. 



This eleg-ant shrub is very generally cultivated in Hindustan, as well 

 on account of its beauty, as it's valuable medicinal qualities. It delights in 

 a watery situation, and is readily propagated by cuttings.* 



The leaves of the JVisindahdiVQ a better claim to the title of discutient^ 

 than any other vegetable remedy with which I am acquainted. Their 

 efficacy in dispelling inflammatory swellings of the joints, from acute 

 rheumatism, and of the testicles, from suppressed gonorrhoea, has often 



{') SiamMiuloo or Sum&loo, 

 * The following' curious remark of Acosta, on the facility with which this tree is culti- 

 vated^ shews the high estimation in which the Nisinda was held in his time ; " Adeo fre« 

 " quens est hujus arboris lisus ad medendum in illis regionibus, ut nisi Deus preecisos ramos 

 ^^ multiplici faetura renasci faceretj jam diu fuissent consumptae arboresj aut certe maximi 

 " pretii nunc essent/' Aroraato Libo trans, by Clusius^ po SSTg 



