of the bark and met with success, after every other medicine had been tried.
He employed a decoction (Bark two ounces, Water Oii. boiled to Oi.), Doses of four drachms, four times a day, with the addition of one drop of Tr. Opii to each dose. Dr. Gibson states that he has employed it extensively as an antiperiodic. It has, however, fallen into disrepute, principally, according to Sir Walter Elliot, who regards it as one of the most valuable medicinal products of India, from the comparatively or wholly inert bark of Wrightia Unctoria, R. Br., a tree very similar in general appearance to H. antidysenterica, and known by very similar native names, having been often confounded with it. This bark and its properties are well deserving of the notice of future investigators. It may be prescribed in decoction (eight ounces, water two pints boiled to one pint), in doses of one ounce and a half or two ounces twice or thrice daily ; but Mr. Odoy Chund Dutt prefers a watery extract of the rootbark, of which the average dose is about three grains,in combination with half a grain or more of opium. The boat-shaped seeds (Anderjow of the Taleef Shereef, No. 75), are also highly valued by the natives of India in dysenteric cases. They are narrow, elongated, about half an inch in length, of a cinnamon brown colour, convex on one side, concave and marked with a longitudinal pale line on the other, easily broken, of a bitter taste, and heavy unpleasant odour. They are often confounded with the seeds of Wrightia tinctoria, Roxb., to which they bear a general resemblance. According to Ainslie (Mat. Ind., vol. ii., p. 483), an infusion of the roasted seeds is a gentle and safe astringent in bowel complaints, and is given to allay the vomiting of cholera. In the Taleef Shereef, the infusion is said to be effectual in arresting haemorrhage from piles. Anthelmintic virtues are also assigned to them. During the last cattle plague epidemic at Backergunge (Bengal) they were extensively employed, being regarded as possessing certain specific virtues (Indian Med. Gaz., 1866, vol. i., p. 352). The results are not stated.
The seeds are considered by the Arabic and Persian writers as possessed of carminative and astringent properties, and are
