Page:Illustrations of Indian Botany, Vol. 1.djvu/59

Rh ever, I believe, now growing in the Calcutta botanic garden, and is largely cultivated for its root in the Mauritius.

The extract of Guluncha may be procured from the bruised stems of both Cocculus verrucosus and cordif alius, two very nearly allied species, the former, the produce of the Eastern Islands, the latter, met with in every part of India. The young shoots of the latter are prescribed as a tonic and alterative by the native doctors, and Dr. Ainslie informs us, apparently from his own knowledge of the fact, that the root, in doses of from 15 to 20 grams is a powerful emetic; in which case, it would probably form an excellent substitute for Ipecacuanha. Those who propose making trials of the medicine, ought to collect the plant during the dry season, as it is found to become quite inert during the wet. Several other species of Cocculus are common on this coast, and probably all possess to a greater or less extent, similar properties. Anamirta ( Menispermum ) Cocculus, is abundant in Malabar, and also in the jungles of Courtallum. The seed of this plant is now ascertained to be an active irritating poison to quadrupeds and fishes, and is supposed to be so to man, as it communicates a poisonous quality to the flesh of fishes poisoned by it. They are not I believe used internally in medicine, but powdered and mixed with oil, they are used in Malabar in the cure of the inveterate cutaneous diseases, so common on that coast. These seeds have been repeatedly analysed : the kernel is oily with a nauseous and intensely bitter taste. On analysis it produced nearly half its weight of fixed oil, a concrete of the consistence of wax, an albumenous " Vegeto-animal" substance, a colouring matter, and a bitter crystalizable principle, to which the name of Picrotoxia (bitter poison) has been given, on which its poisonous properties depend, and which is so active, that 12 grains given to a dog killed it in about 50 minutes, notwithstanding the copious vomiting which it excited. What, renders this a more redoubtable agent is, the circumstance of its leaving scarcely any trace of its presence on the coats of the stomach. It seems a subject worthy of the attention of Chemists, to ascertain whether a similar principle exists in the seed of other species. Ceylon produces a large twining shrub, which Gaertner and Roxburgh have described under the name of Menispermum fenestratum, but which Mr. Colebrooke has with great propriety removed from that genus and constituted it the type of a new one under the name of Cosinium, the wood of which is yellow and bitter, and when sliced and infused in water for a few hours, is swallowed with the infusion, and recommended as an excellent stomachic.

The allied genera of Cissampelos and Clypea possess bitter and tonic properties analagous to the these found in Cocculus, and are used as such by native practitioners. The roots however of Cissampelos glabra Roxb. are stated by Roxburgh to be extremely acrid, but are not-withstanding used in medicine by the native practitioners. In the West Indies and America, where the true Ciss. Pareira is found, it is much employed as a tonic in diseases of debility, as well as in those affecting the urinary organs, and is there esteemed, and even called, a universal medicine. Sir B. Brodies in his lectures on diseases of the urinary organs recommends it as particularly valuable, in all cases where there is a copious discharge of urine with a ropy alcaline mucus. It is also serviceable in catarrhus vesicas.

. The number of genera referable to this order is large in proportion to the number of species ; four only of these have however, as yet, been found in the Indian Peninsula, viz. Anamirta — Cocculus — Cissampelos and Clypea, all readily distinguished by their male flowers. Anamirta, by having its stamens numerous and united into a globose head. Cocculus, by having them all free, and limited to sex, each embraced by a petal, or petaloid scale. Cissampelos, by having four stamens united into a quadrangular disk, a 4-sepaled calyx, and petaloid scales combined into a single, cup-like, petal, embracing the single filament. Clypea, by having the stamens united, and. forming a circular disk, surrounded by a 6-lobed calyx, and united, petaloid scales, as in Cissampelos. The seed in all are oblique, and curved, so as to bring the ends together like a horse-shoe. With reference to the species, I have nothing to offer in addition to what has been already said in our flora, with the exception, that Rheede's figure vol. 7, tab. 62, quoted for Cocculus suberorsus, or Anamirta Cocculus, is more properly referable to C. macrocarpus, and that vol. 7, tables 19, 20 and 21, quoted for C. malabaricus, and C. cordifolius, seem all referable to the same species, and I think have a strong general resemblance to Anamirta, but certainly want the panicled inflorescence of that genus. Neither of these however, are good figures of C. cordifolius. Our genus Clypea, embraces the elements of two