as Alexipharmics or Snake-bite Antidotes. 159 
go into the bush to protect themselves from snakes. A. pan- 
dnriformis , Jacq., is the Raiz de Mato of Venezuela; A. 
fragr antis sima, Ruiz., is the celebrated Bejuco de la Estrella 
of Peru. Dr. Weddell was assured by the Bolivians in the 
province of Yungas that the crushed leaves of the Vejuco, 
A. brasiliensisy Mart., were an infallible cure for snake-bites. 
Senor Triana, the accomplished investigator of the flora of 
New Granada, found A. tenerdy Pohl., in daily use in similar 
cases as a never-failing remedy under the name of Matos. 
There are three species of Aristolochia in India which are in 
repute as antidotes for snake-bites. These are A. indica, L., A. 
bracteatdy Retz., and AAonga, L. The first was known amongst 
the early Portuguese settlers as Raiz de Cobra, and is v/idely 
distributed over India. The local name amongst the natives 
is Sapsun. Mr. Lowther, Commissioner at Allahabad, 
carried out some interesting experiments with the leaves of 
A. indicay L., as an antidote for snake-poison. In his opinion 
they have proved an infallible remedy. In the experiments 
cited by him, but too long to be reproduced here, the leaves 
were bruised and applied to the wounds, and were also reduced 
to a pulp and given internally: three medium-sized leaves were 
usually bruised and mixed with an ounce of water 1 . 
Having thus passed in review various instances in which 
species of Aristolochia have been considered specifics in the 
treatment of snake-bites, it only remains to mention a few 
other plants to which this power has been attributed. The 
Snake-wood of the East Indies ( Strychnos colubrindy L.) is in 
great repute as a remedy for the bites of snakes, as also in 
the treatment of skin-diseases. The Button Snake-root of 
North America is Liatris squarrosa , Willd., a perennial herb 
belonging to the Compositae. Its tuberous roots are con- 
sidered a cure for the bite of the rattlesnake, and hence called 
Rattlesnake-master. A similar power is ascribed to the 
large knotted root-stalks of the Black Snake-root, Cimicifuga 
racemosay Ell. The bitter and acrid root of Cissampelos 
1 Pharm. Journ. vol. xi. (3.) p. 41 1. 
