18 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
The alkaloid Atisine of Broughton, from experiments made 
on rabbits, appears to be non-poisonous. (Dymock). Dr. Dymock 
says that Atis is an ingredient in Bdl-Ooli, a pill given to infants 
to keep them quiet, which contains thirty-one drugs, of which 
three are narcotics, viz., Bhang, opium and Datura, and the 
remainder bitters, aromatics. (Ph. Indica, p. 15, Vol. I.) 
Part used : — The root. 
Use : — The root is officinal in the Indian Pharmacopoeia. 
Tonic and antiperiodic properties are attributed to it. 
17 . A. Soongaricum, Stapf. 
Stapt writes : — “Of all the Indian species of Aconitum whioh I have seen, 
this comes nearest to the 4. Nupellns xrt Europe ; and if that species is taken 
in a broad sense, 4. Sooiigaricum might perhaps be included in it as a variety, 
the principal differences being in the small size and 'shape of the tnbers and 
the peculiar long-beaked helmet. The long, linear, usually entire laciniae of 
the leaves also are unusual in A. Napellus ; still they occur occasionally. 
The frnits and seeds may possibly, when known, add other distinctive 
characters.’’ (1. c. p., 142.) 
Vernacular name — unknown 
Habitat Alpine region of the mountain ranges of Gilgit 
and Turkestan. 
Roots : — Biennial, paired ; tuberous : daughter- tuber conic, 
slender, 2-2'5 cm. long 07 cm. thick, with very few root-fibres, 
brown externally, fracture horny, brown,- taste faintly sweetish 
bitter, followed by a very slight tingling sensation, cambium 
continuous, forming a scarcely sinuous ring in cross-section ; 
mother-tuber similar, more or less shrunk. Innovation-bud 
conic, about 5 mm. long; scales scarious, soon decaying or 
sprouting. Stem erect, simple, moderately robust, quite glabrous, 
rarely slightly pubescent in the upper part, up to 7 dm. high. 
Leaves scattered, lowest usually decayed at the time of flowering, 
intermediate remote, upper more approximate, glabrous ; petioles 
more or less widened at the base ; lower up to 12 cm. long, 
upper 1-2 cm. long ; blades more or less cordate-orbicular or reni- 
form in outline, with a wide or narrow sinus, 2 — 3 cm. deep ; 
5 — 9 cm. from the sinus to the tip, 8 — 12 cm. across, 5-partite to 
the very base or in the outer incisions almost to the base ; inner 
3 divisions similar, rhomboid in outline from a narrow cuneate 
