Drugs and 



30 



pared to Chamomile in its effects, being stimulant and tonic in small doses, and 

 laxative when taken in quantity ; the hot infusion is emetic and diaphoretic, 

 and may be given with advantage in the cold stages of ague and in the state 

 of depression Avhich precedes acute inflammatory affections. The infusion may be 

 made with one ounce of the herb to a pint of water, to be given in two-ounce 

 doses every three hours. Mr. E. H. Edwards, formerly a planter in Ceylon, 

 writes to Mr. Westland of Matale, that he had successfully introduced the plant 

 into Hawaii, through Peradeniya, and adds, " I consider it to be the best cure 

 in the world for indigestion. In cases of skin affections, too, fomenting with 

 Ayapana leaves has a magic effect. I speak from experience. It makes a 

 splendid liqueur also." Baron von Mueller included "Ayapana" in his book on 

 Select Plants for Extra-Tropical Countries {1880). 



Analysis.— On the author ity of Mr. Hooper, already quoted, the drug has 

 been chemically examined by Dr. Warden, formerly Chemical Examiner to the 

 Government of Bengal, with the following result :— The odour of the plant is due 

 to a colourless volatile oil, lighter than water. The active principle is a neutral 

 substance soluble in ether and alcohol and crystallising in long needles. It 

 sublimes at a temperature of 159 to 160 deg., and condenses in beautiful bril- 

 liant scales and rhombic prisms. To this substance has been given the name 

 of Ayapanin. According to Dragendorff the plant contains the principle 

 coumarine, which is said to be obtained chiefly from Tonka-bean, and is used 

 in medicine and for flavouring a certain Swiss cheese. 



Description. — The plant belongs to the natural order Compositae, and is 

 known as Eupatorium Ayapana, Vent., or E. triplinerve, Spreng. It is not suffi- 

 ciently known in Ceylon to be given any vernacular name other than its Brazilian 

 one. In India it is said to be known, according to Warming, by variations of this 

 name, as " Ayapanie " by the Tamils, and " Ayapana " by the Hindoos. Dragendorff 

 gives " Allapa" as another vernacular name by which it is known, where, it is not said. 

 The name " Ayiya-pana " is given in Moon's " Catalogue of Ceylon Plants " (1824), but 

 this is for an Acanthaceous plant. " Akka-pana " is a well-known medicinal plant 

 (Bryophyllum ealyeinum or "Life Plant") amongst the low-country Sinhalese. It 

 may be interesting to know that " Ayiya-pana " and " Akka-pana " mean respectively 

 " elder brother's " and " elder sister's lamp." Eupatorium A yapana is a low, semi- 

 woody shrub, seldom exceeding 4 feet in height, with thin, tender branches, which 

 are inclined to throw out roots at the nodes ; leaves long and narrow, opposite, in 

 pairs, their bases almost uniting round the stem, about 4 inches long by f inch 

 broad, fleshy and lanceolate. The foliage generally is of a reddish colour, and when 

 bruised emits an aromatic odour. Flowers purplish, produced at the ends of the 

 branches. The plant is easily propagated by mature cuttings taken from near the base. 



Sarsaparilla — Smilax Officinalis. 



CULTIVATION IN CEYLON. 

 By Ivor Etherington. 



A correspondent writes asking for information regarding " the commercial 

 value of Sarsaparilla root, its cultivation and anything to help the sale of a ship- 

 ment." He has " rubber land scattered all over with this creeper, and there is a 

 large quantity. I feel sure several hundredweights can be harvested, and I hear 

 the market value is 37 cts. per lb. at Kandy. I find Jamaica Sarsaparilla is what is 

 always in the market and no other. I presume it grows wild in Ceylon, as I find 

 it almost growing like a weed." 



There is little published information available concerning the growing and 

 curing of this product, probably because its cultivation is limited, the demand 



