1008 
INDIAN MEDICUW PLANTS. 
root are employed externally for tumors and certain skin 
diseases (Ph. J. July 25, 18S5, p. 87). The bark is also 
employed by Indian and Arabian physicians (Balfour). “ The 
expressed juice is an excellent laxative, ckolagogue and 
anthelmintic. It is used as an injection into the rectum in 
cases of ascarides. It is also a valuable bitter tonic, and the 
natives believe that its presence cures scabies in the locality ” 
(Dr. Thornton, in Watt’s Dictionary). 
Chemical composition.— Approximate analysis of the leaves gave the follow- 
ing result 
Ethereal extract 
Alcoholic „ 
Aqueous „ 
Alkaline „ 
Organic residue 
Inorganic „ 
Moisture ' ... 
Ash soluble in water 
„ „ in acid 
Sand and silicates 
Total 
Total 
Sodium chloride in ash 
10 81 
16-40 
15 20 
8-97 
38-47 
6-93 
4-22 
100-00 
16-83 
72-86 
10-30 
100-00 
5 58 
The leaves of C. inforunatum yielded no volatile constituent when boiled 
with water. The ether extract contained a quantity of resinous matter, 
and gave up the bitter principles when heated with water ; the extract was 
of a less fatty consistence than that from the C. inerme leaves. The spirit- 
uous extract was also much larger than in the previous sample, and was 
differently constituted, i asmuch as it almost entirely consisted of a tannin, 
giving a green colour with ferric chloride. These leaves contain much more 
soluble organic matter than the former, but the percentage composition of 
the ash shows that the soluble inorganic salts are much smaller. The ash 
of these leaves amounted to 12 3 per cent (Hooper, in Pharm, Record, Aug. 
lsr, 1888). 
966, C. siphonanthus, Br., h.f.b.i., iy . 595. 
Si in. : — Siphonanthus indica, Willd.. Roxb. 481. 
Sans. Brahma yastika. 
Vern. : — Barangi ; Arnah and Arni (H.) ; Bamanhati (B. > ; 
Arni, dawa-i-mubarak, arnah (Pb.) ; Bharangl (Bomb.) ; Sarnm 
enter (Dec.). 
