Medicinal Properties of Thistle-Ovl. 225 
much more useful oil than for the mere purposes of burn- 
ing. 
ae time ago I read in Simmonds’s ‘Commercial Pro- 
ducts of the Vegetable Kingdom, page 626, that in “ Nevis 
(one of the Caribbean Islands), the oil of Arxgemone Mext- 
cana, called ‘ thistle-oil; is sold in one-ounce phials at a 
quarter of a dollar each (that is, about 8 annas an ounce). 
The usual dose for dry belly-ache-is 30 drops upon a lump 
of sugar, and its effect is perfectly magical, relieving pain 
instantaneously, throwing the patient into a profound and 
refreshing sleep, and, in a few hours relieving the bowels 
gently of their contents. This oil seems fitted to compete 
in utility with the far more costly and less agreeable oil of 
croton.” Mr. Simmonds further states that “Dr. Hamilton, 
of Plymouth, recently brought under the notice of the pro- 
fession the medical properties of the prickly poppy, or 
Mexican thistle (Argemone Mexicana).” 
Knowing that this plant grows plentifully all about 
Lucknow, and in fact, in most parts of India, I determined 
to make some experiments with the oil of its seed, in order 
to ascertain whether the oil from the East Indian plant 
had the same effects as that of the West Indies. I got a 
quantity of seed collected, and had the oil extracted. I 
tried it in various cases of colic accompanied with constipa- 
tion. It often gave relief and moved the bowels, but these 
effects are not always produced. Sometimes, too, a second 
dose is required. [understood thatin Upper India natives 
were in the habit of using it for an affection of the skin 
which they call déd. I tried the oil externally in all the 
dids which came under my notice, and I cannot remember 
one in which the itchiness was not removed, and the affec- 
tion cured. The ddd is askin affection which appears about 
the waist, where the “dhotee”* is tightly bound, and 
occurs mostly among Hindoos. The oil is rubbed twice or 
thrice a day on the affected part. A short time ago a 
patient came into my hospital with a pustular eruption all 
around his waist, and patches of it on his right thigh. It 
was very painful and troublesome. I got the seed of this 
plant pounded and mixed with a little flour and water, and 
made into a soft paste. This was plastered all over the 
pustular eruption ; it had a very good effect. In about a 
* Cotton cloth with which natives cover the middle part of their 
bodies. - 
NEW SERIES.—VOL. I. U 
