432 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
The powdered seeds are taken as snuff in cases of violent 
headache arising from cold (Mr. Mukerji). 
The boiled seeds are said to possess powerful aphrodisiac 
properties (Surg. -Major Houston). 
The seeds reduced to a paste are used for contusions and to 
reduce inflammation. 
If the leaves are steeped in warm mustard-oil and applied 
over the seat of pain in rheumatism much benefit will be 
derived (Surgeon-Major W. Wilson). 
The juice of the fresh leaves, mixed with some bland oil, and 
applied externally, seems to relieve local pain (Surg.-Major 
B. Gupta). 
Abrin, which has been subjected to tryptic digestion and the proteids 
salted out, gives no biuret reaction ; its poisonous characters remain 
unaltered, and it agglutinates red blood corpuscles as intensely as the 
unaltered abrin which contains proteids. Abrin, whether united to proteids or 
not, gives a precipitate with antiabrin blood sel’um. Abrin corresponds on the 
whole with ricin, but differs from it, in that its agglutinating properties are 
resistant to pepsin— hydrochloric acid, even more resistant than its 
poisonous action. 
J. Ch. S. 1902, A I. 408. 
378. Cicer arietinum, Linn., h.f.b.i., ii. 176, 
Roxb. 566. 
V ern : — Chana, but (H.) ; Cbhola (B.) ; Chana, harbhara 
tBomb.) ; Kadalai (Tam.) ; Senagaloo (Tel.) ; Kadala (Malay). 
The vinegar — Chanakamla (Sane.) ; Chane-ka-sirkah (H.) ; 
Chana-amba (Bomb.) ; Kadalai-kadi (Tam.) 
Habitat : — Commonly cultivated in the Northern Provinces 
and Nilghiris, 
An annual herb, viscose, much-branched. Leaves pinnate, 
rigid, l-2iu., with usually a terminal leaflet. Leaflets close, 
oblanceolate or oblong. Stipules small, with a few long teeth. 
Corolla scarcely half as long again as the Calyx. Flowers in 
axils of the leaves ; peduncle £-fin. Calyx £-■§-, teeth linear, 
2-3 times the tube. Pubescence of pod short and fine. Pod 
oblong, f-lin., turgid, narrowed into the persistent style. Seed 
solitary generally ; exceptionally double one upon the other, 
without septal division. 
