Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/755

Rh It is reported to have been used very successfully by Dr. Mascarel in cases of dropsy (La France Medicale, Oct. 8, 1889). He reduces the dried plant— stems, leaves and flowers — to a coarse powder, and gives it in doses of one tablespoonful, beaten with an entire egg (yolk and white). He gives but one dose on the first day ; but on each of the following days he adds a tablespoonful, until seven or eight doses are being taken during the twentyfour hours. The diuresis is said to continue until œdema permanently disappears.

Very little is known about the chemistry of this genus. Volatile oils have been obtained from 4 American Species but with the exception of Solidago canadensis, L, nothing is known about their chemistry. Chemical Abstracts, Feb. 20 p. 521.

Syn. — Artemisia maderaspatana, Roxb. 600.

Vern. — Mustarû (Hind.) ; Namuti(Beng.) ; Afsanteen (Arab) ; Baranjâsif kowhi (Pers.) ; Mashi pattiri (Tam.) ; Douana (Kan.) ; Nelampala (Mal.) ; Savi (Tel.)

Habitat. — Throughout India, from the Punjab eastwards and southwards.

Annual, stems numerous, spreading from centre, prostrate, 6-12in., hairy branched, buds white woolly. Leaves numerous, 1½-2½in., sessile, deeply, sinnuately pinnatifid, with 2-4 pair of opposite or sub-opposite lobes, smaller towards the base, terminal part larger, all coarsely serrate, dentate, pubescent. Heads yellow, ⅜-½in., depressed, globose, on short pedicels, usually in pair on leaf opposed peduncle ; involucre-bracts oval, obtuse, thick and rigid, pubescent. Corolla-tube campanulate above, persistent, lobes acute ; pappus hairs connate into a cylindric fimbriate tube. Achenes glandular, 1/10in., long including the pappus tube.

Uses. — The leaves are regarded as a valuable stomachic and to possess deobstruent and antispasmodic properties, and are prescribed in infusion and electuary in cases of obstructed menses and hysteria. They are also sometimes used in pre-