434 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
peduncle rather longer than the petiole. Calyx f-^in. ; teeth 
lanceolate, sub-equal, twice the tube. Corolla fin., red, 
bluish or white. Pod lfin. long, oblong, winged on the 
back, glabrous, 4-5-seeded. 
Uses. — The expressed oil of the seed is powerful and a 
dangerous cathartic (O’Shaughnessy). 
It has long been known to produce toxic symptoms when 
used for a prolonged period. This condition, known as lathy- 
rismus, has been investigated by Ur B. Suchard. The chief 
effect produced is upon the muscles of the lower extremities, 
especially on those below the knee. In horses also paralysis 
of the hinder extremities takes place, and death has followed 
from bilateral paralysis of the laryngeal recurrent nerves and 
consequent asphyxia. The laryngeal affection has not, how- 
ever, been observed in the human subject ( Lancet , June 30th, 
1888, p. 6312). 
380. Glycine Soja, JSieb and Zucc, h.f.b.i., 
ii. 184. 
Syn. : — Dolichos Soja, Linn., Roxb. 563. 
Vern. ■ — Gari-kulay (B.) ; Bhat, bhatwan (H.) ; Hendedisom 
horec (black-seeded), puddisomhorec (white-seeded variety) 
(Santal) ; Tzu-dza (Naga) ; Seta, kala-botmas (Parbat) ; Musa, gya 
(Newar) ; Khajuwa (Eastern Terai'. ; Bhut (Kumaon). 
Eng. — The Soya Bean. 
Habitat. — Tropical Himalayas, from Kumaon to Sikki'm 
Khasia and the Naga hills. 
An annual, stout, suberect, climbing upwards, stem densely 
clothed with fine ferruginous hairs. Leaves long-petioled. Leaf- 
lets 3 membranous, ovate, acute, rarely obtuse, 2-4 inches long. 
Racemes few-flowered, congested, sessile. Calyx f in, densely 
hairy. Calyx-teeth long, setaceous. Corolla reddish, little exsert- 
ed. Pods usually only 2-3, developed in the axil of each leaf, 
linear-oblong, recurved, densely pubescent, lj-2 in by f-f in., 
3-4 seeded, subtorulose. 
Use. — A decoction of the root is said to possess astringent 
properties (Watt). 
