Kanhoba Ranchoddas Kirtikar

“ The flowering plant, up till the time of ripening, contains narcotine, papaverine, codeine, and morphine in all its organs, with the exception of the hairs. The latex varies in composition in different parts of the plant. Narcotine, codeine and morphine are found in all the organs of the ripe plant. Narcotine is produced— from the albumin of the seeds, and is found in seeds which have germinated in nitrogen-free soil. This alkaloid is present in moderate amount in very young plants; the quantity is much greater in the flower-heads than in the unripe seed-capsules. ”

“ The medicinal value of the plant is due to a small quantity of Berberine. It is used as an alterative and tonic, and has enjoyed the reputation among ancient Hindu writers of being an aphrodisiac; but as a drug it being never prescribed alone as an aphrodisiac, its reputation as such is of a doubtful nature. The dose of the infusion is one to three ounces. There is a starch obtained from the roots and stems of the plant which goes under the name Gulweliche-satwa (the starch of Gulwel) , which is similar to Arrow-root in appearance and effect. ”

“ The seeds are valuable in expelling round worms, and also as a rubefacient and vesicant in all the complaints in which mustard is used. The leaves are also useful in the same way as a local stimulant, and the juice possesses a curative influence over some cases of otalgia and otorrhœa. The seeds are used internally in powder with sugar, aud externally in the form of a poultice or paste by bruising with vinegar, lime-juice or hot-water, and their juice for the use of the ear is pressed out by bruising them without water. ”

“ The late M. C. Periera of Bandra, an Assistant in the Bombay Medical Stores, used to prepare a tincture of the bitter bark. In exhibiting a specimen of the Tincture at the Therapeutical Section of the International Medical Congress of Australasia, held in Melbourne in January 1889, Surgeon Major K. R. Kirtikar said thus:— " The tincture contains a volatile oil which is said to act as an antiseptic and stimulant to the mucous membrane of the bronchi. The dose of the tincture is a drachm and a half, thrice daily in water or honey." ”

“ A certain person says, 'I do not belong to any School, there exists no living master from whom I would take lessons, and as to the dead, I have never learnt any thing from them,' which, if I am not mistaken, means, 'I am a fool on my own account.' What else is this extravagant desire for originality, but, as we have said, an exaggeration of individual energy, a want of equilibrium, the sin, in fact, of pride? ”

“ In the Indian Forester for October 1915, Mr. R. S. Troup, I. F S., has contributed a note on the cultivation of Podophyllum Emodi. According to him the plant can be cultivated easily from seed or from pieces of rhizome, but owing to the very slow growth of the rhizomes it is by no means certain to what extent the plant can be cultivated j with profit. He has summarized the following facts from his experiments:— (1) that Podophyllum can be grown successfully either from seed or from sections of rhizomes of any size down to under 1/4 in. ”

“ The existence of one or two plants of C. religiosa in each Hospital and Dispensary will certainly save them from the cost of the supply of Europe mustard for external use. The plant grows well with ordinary care."
"The fresh root-bark of this plant is also a very good rubefacient and vesicant, but it is rather too dear and not procurable in large quantities. The bark of the stem is very thick (from 1 to 2 inches when fresh, and from 1⁄2 to 1 inch when dry) , greenish brown on the outer side, and grey or pale-white internally and on the inner side, and almost tasteless and odourless. ”

“ Moodeen Sheriff reports favourably of an infusion of the petals as a demulcent and refrigerant drink in fevers (Ph. Ind) .
In Bombay, the roots are dried and sold in the shops as a substitute for Althœa. In the Concan, the fresh root-juice of the wild flower variety is given, in doses of two tolas with milk, sugar and cumin for gonorrhœa, and the root powdered is given with an equal quantity of lotus-root and the bark of Eriodendron anfractuosum, in the same manner, for menorrhagia, the dose of the three being 6 mâssâas each. ”

“ The tree yields, when tapped, a large quantiy of white opaline resin, which is burnt as incense. An oil is extracted from the fruit which is used for burning and to adulterate with ghee. The fruit is formed into flour and eaten by the poorer classes in times of scarcity (Kanjilal ) .
This is the principal tree of the Siwalik Division. In Nepal, it attains 100-150 ft., with a clear stem, to the first branch of 60-80 ft., and a girth of 20-25 ft. (Brandis) . Within the limits of the Siwalik and Jaunsar Flora, it is seldom more than 80 ft. in height, and 6 ft. ”

“ It is known that opium is more active therapeutically than its morphine content would indicate- Experiments are now described, indicating that this is due to the narcotine contained in the opium. The effect is not of an additive character, but apparently the narcotine strengthens the narcotic and tonic action of the morphine and lessens the injurious action of the latter on the respiratory centre. The most effective mixture appears to be one of equimolecular quantities of the two alkaloids. ”

“ Age apparently affects its activity, the freshly prepared oil proving more energetic and uniform in operation than that which has been long on hand. Applied to herpetic and other forms of skin disease, it is reported to exercise a well-marked soothing Influence, according to Dr. Bonavia and others (Indian Med. Gaz. 1866, vol. i., p. 206) . As a local application to indolent and ill-conditioned ulcers, the expressed yellow glutinous juice of the plant is held in much esteem by the natives. ”

“ Habitat:—Not indigenous, but cultivated in gardens in North India.
Vern.:—Todri Surkh, Lahoori shuboo (H) ; Khueri (B) .
Stem shrubby, erect, bushy, branched in a determinate manner; branches angular, leafy, hoary, with close bristly silvery hairs, chiefly directed downwards, like those on both sides of the leaves; though some point the contrary way, on the leaves as well as the siliqua, being perfectly distinct from others. ”

“ Burnt cotton is applied to sores and wounds to promote healthy granulation ; dropsical or paralysed limbs are wrapped in cotton, after the application of a ginger plaster ; pounded cotton- seed, mixed with ginger and water, is applied in orchitis. Cotton is also used as a moxa, and the seeds as a laxative, expectorant, and aphrodisiac. The juice of the leaves is considered a good remedy in dysentery, and the leaves with oil are applied as a plaster to gouty joints ”

“ The plant is certainly astringent and aromatic; taken internally, it occasionally acts as a purgative, but not powerfully. In country districts, it is sometimes used still as a medicine, and oil, in which the shoots or flowering tops have been steeped, is sold by herbalists as " oleum hyperial." ”

“ In India, the cotton seeds are employed to procure abortion. Cotton root-bark is officinal in the United States Pharmacopœia, also a fluid extract of bark ; it appears to have first attracted attention from being used by the female negroes to produce abortion. It acts like ergot upon the uterus, and is useful in dysmenorrhœa and suppression of the menses when produced by cold. A decoction of 4 ozs of the bark in 2 pints of water, boiled down to one pint, may be used in doses of 2 ounces every 20 or 30 minutes, or the fluid extract may be prescribed in doses of from 30 to 60 minims. ”

“ Dymock (and perhaps fresh and better-washed) ; but I have no doubt that the starch has some medicinal property in it from the minute traces of berberine which the plant is supposed to contain. I think also that this drug is useful where there is an acid diarrhœa, due to an acidity of the intestinal canal or acid dyspepsia. It is useful in relieving the symptoms of rheumastism. There is another preparation of this plant—the succus (juice) , fresh prepared from the fresh plant. It acts as a powerful diuretic. It is prescribed by ancient Hindu physicians in gonorrhœa with advantage. ”

“ There seems every reason to expect that the Indian species, which differs from C. racemosa only very slightly, will be found to possess all its medicinal virtues. C. racemosa is chiefly prescribed in the form of tincture and employed in rheumatic affections, dropsy, the early stage of phthisis, and chronic bronchial diseases. ”

“ The resin acts like all other resins as a stimulant to the intestinal canal. I am not sure whether the crystallisable substance, mangostine, which Schmidt has obtained from the rind, has any particular therapeutic property. It is worthy of a trial, as the preparations are largely used by the Natives of Western India in chronic cases of the intestinal canal. Waitz recommends a decoction of the powdered rind as an external astringent application. ”

“ Menstrual disorders, and notably the varieties of dysmenorrhœa, are very prevalent in this country, and it seems nature has supplied it with a simple efficacious medicine by endowing the roots of an indigenous plant with such singular virtues. ”

“ Betaine can be obtained from the aqueous extract of the root of Althœa officinalis after removing the asparagine by precipitating it with nitric acid and sodium phosphomolybdate; the free base obtained by treating the precipitate with barium hydroxide forms colourless crystals, is soluble in water and alcohol, and insoluble in ether. The hydrochloride is easily crystallised, and does not change on exposure to the air. With potassium dichromate solution and hydrochloric acid, betaine does not exhibit any colour reaction. ”

“ The large leaves are used as cool bedsheets, in high fever, with much heat and burning of the skin (Dutt's Materia Medica of the Hindus) . The seeds are used to check vomiting, and given to children as diuretic and refrigerant. The milky viscid juice of the leaf and flower stalks is used in diarrhoea. The petals are said to be slightly astringent.
The large root stalks are cut into 1 foot pieces, and sold under the name of Bhishi; they afford a cooling, refreshing dish, when cooked in milk or cocoanut juice, with salt or sugar. ”

“ The flowers beaten up with oil are also applied to fœtid discharges from the nostrils. According to Rumphius, the flowers are useful as a diuretic in renal diseases and in gonorrhœa. Rheede states that the dried root and root-bark, mixed with curdled milk, are useful as an application to abscesses, clearing away or maturing the inflammation, and that, prepared as an infusion, it is a valuable emenagogue. ”

“ Prior to 1900 it was believed that the " chaulmoogra oil " was obtained from its seeds. But now it is known that, that oil is obtained from the seeds of Taruktogenos Kurzii. Chaulmoogra oil, at the ordinary temperature, is a solid (m. p. 22-23°) the oil from the seeds of Gynocardia odorata is a liquid. Furthermore, Chaulmoogra oil is optically active and consists chiefly of the glycerylesters of members of the Chaulmoogric acid series, whereas the oil from gynocardia seeds is opticially inactive, and contains neither Chaulmoogric acid nor its homologues. ”

“ Moodeen Sheriff describes the properties, and used A. officinalis and A. rosea collectively. According to him, they are demulcent, refrigerant and emollient. The mucilage of the petioles, stem and roots is generally a very useful adjunct to other medicines in dysentery and mucous diarrhœa, and, in some very slight cases, it is sufficient by itself to relieve these diseases to a great extent. Tormina and tenesmus are the symptoms which are most relieved by it. The decoction of the dry root and seeds is useful in irritable and inflamed states of the pulmonary and genito-urinary mucous membranes. ”

“ Ainslie writes thus of P. quadrifida which posesses the same properties: — "The bruised fresh leaves of this acid and pleasant-tasted purslane are prescribed by the Tamool practitioners as an external application in akki, erysipelas; an infusion of them is also ordered as a diuretic in dysuria, to the extent of half-a-tea-cupful twice daily." He further mentions that in Jamaica, P. oleracea is employed as a cooling and moistening herb in " burning fevers." Bruised, it is applied to the temples to allay " excessive heat " and pain, and that the juice is " of use in spitting of blood." ”