1835.] 



Observations on Muclar. 



75 



through the extreme vessels. It is inadmissible where the 

 affection is inflammatory or the eruption pustular. He 

 cannot recommend it as a substitute for mercury in the other 

 complaints for which Mr. Playfair recommends it, but he 

 considers it an admirable ally. Where mercury has been 

 used, but cannot be pushed further, the Mudar rapidly re- 

 cruits the constitution, heals the ulcers, removes the botch- 

 es from the skin, and perfects the cure. The Bark 

 of the root is the only part used in medicine, and 

 should be gathered in March, April, and May. When well 

 dried it is easily reduced to powder, of which the dose is from 

 three to ten grains." Since these remarks were published 

 several additions to our stock of information regarding this 

 plant have been made, to which I have not access at pre- 

 sent.* I more particularly refer to a paper on the sub- 

 ject by the late Dr. Duncan junior in the Edinburgh Medi- 

 cal and Surgical Journal for the year 1829-30, detailing the 

 result of trials made by him in the royal infirmary of that 

 place with remarks on its chemical analysis. 



The native Doctors in this part of the country inform me, 

 that the juice of the root causes violent vomiting and purging 

 when taken in considerable doses ; that they are in the 

 habit of using the milky juice of the stem as an embroca- 

 tion to discuss swellings caused by sprains and bruises, and 

 also for relieving rheumatic pains. A more mischievous 

 use of it is to induce abortion ; it is said to produce the ef- 

 fect in the course of a few hours. The fact of this criminal 

 employment of local stimulant applications by the natives 

 I have long known, but did not know before that the Mudar 

 was so applied. Poultices of the boiled leaves are applied to 

 discuss glandular swellings, particularly about the neck, 

 caused by cold. It is evident from this account that 

 they have a very imperfect knowledge of its most valuable 

 medical properties. This is not to be wondered at, consi- 

 dering their love of polypharmacy, which induces them to 

 combine into a single prescription the most heterogeneous in- 

 gredients. Of the compound forms in what they use the milk, 

 the simplest I could discover, was a liniment composed of 

 equal parts of it and Margosa oil boiled together. The juice 



* S<je note at the end of this paper. Ed. 



