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ON HEMIDESMUS INDICUS. 
ART. LXXIV. — ON HEMIDESMUS INDICUS. 
By Mr. Jacob Bell. 
(Syn. Periploca indica, Wild. Jlsclepias pseudosarsa, Roxb.) 
The root of Hemidesmus indicus has for some years been 
sold in this country under the name of Smilax aspera. It 
is imported in considerable quantities from India, where it 
is called country sarsaparilla, nannari, or nunnarivayr. 
Dr. Ashburner, who introduced it to the notice of the pro- 
fession in this country, gave it the name of Smilax aspera, 
on the authority of Ainslie; but it is evident that a misun- 
derstanding existed respecting the identity of the plant, as 
the roots are essentially different, which will appear from 
an examination of the specimens on the table. The Smilax 
aspera is a tough, cylindrical root, having very little taste 
or smell, and covered with a thin, smooth, brown bark, 
which also is insipid. The root of Hemidesmus indicus is 
also cylindrical, covered with a brown bark, and is similar 
in dimensions; but it is more tortuous, rugose, and is fur- 
rowed longitudinally. The bark is very thick, brittle, and 
aromatic, and constitutes above half the substance of the 
root. By bruising in a mortar, the bark crumbles off, and 
may easily be separated by sifting, as the wood, although 
not nearly so tough as that of Smilax aspera, is much less 
brittle than the bark. The aroma, which is very strong, and 
similar to that of new hay, resides chiefly in the bark; but 
even the wood possesses enough of this peculiar character to 
distinguish it from that of Sfnilax aspera. 
Mr. Garden, who examined the root of Hemidesmus in- 
dicus in the year 1837,* discovered in it a peculiar volatile 
substance, which he obtained in a crystalline form, and 
• London Medical Gazette, vol. xx., p. 800. 
