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562 individuals not for 24 hours. The bruised leaves had been removed from all after half-an-hour. The pain occasioned was absolutely agonizing until the blister rose. We should not be justified in recommending these leaves for further trial ; they cause more pain than cantharides. and are far inferior to the Plumbago (lál chitra) in celerity and certainty of action" (O'Shaughnessy).

On the other hand. Dr. Dymock says that he has made several experiments with an ethereal tincture of the leaves, which leads him to form a much more favourable opinion of them. In several instances it blistered rapidly, effectually and without causing more pain than the liquor epispasticus of the Pharmacopœia.

"In a recent correspondence with the Government of India, the Surgeon-General of Madras recommended that this plant should be excluded from the revised edition of the Pharmacopæa of India" (Watt).

The juice of the plant is given internally in spleen ; but it causes great pain, and the result is not certain (T. N. Mukerji).

Habitat : — Plains of the Punjab and of North- West Hindustan.

An annual, glabrous, erect herb, growing in damp places, 6-24in. Branches sharply quadrangular, Cauline leaves l-2in., opposite, elongate-oblong, sessile, sub-auriculate at the base. Cymes peduncled, compound. Bracteoles on the cyme-branches, minute, linear. Calyx campanulate, with 4 or 8 green lines, becoming indistinct in fruit, teeth 4, broad-triangular. Petals 0, or caducous. Stamens 6 or 8, capsule 1/12in. diam., globose, becoming ultimately red, much exceeding the Calyx-tube. Seeds half-ellipsoid, excavated on the plane face.

Use : — Used as a blistering agent.

Syn. : — Grislea tomentosa, Roxb. 317.

Sans. : — Dhataki.