Horsfield notices its use in cutaneous affections, and to alleviate the pain and swelling from confluent small-pox (Dymock).
Its claims as an antiperiodic have been examined by Dr. Berdenis Van Berkelow (Schmidt's Fahrbucher, May 24th, 1866, and Brit, and For. Med. Chir. Rev., April 1867, p. 527) ; and after a trial with it in twenty-two cases, quartan and tertian, he reports favorably of its action, and considers that from its cheapness it may advantageously be used as a febrifuge in pauper practice. The fact of its containing strychnia in considerable quantities indicates the necessity for great caution in its use. Whatever efficacy it possesses in this character is doubtless due to this alkaloid ; and as the proportion in which it exists in this wood is undetermined, and is likely to vary according to the season of collection, it is far safer to employ in its stead the alkaloid itself, a preparation of uniform strength, and which can be regulated with comparative ease. In the present state of our information, Lignum Colubrinum must be looked upon as a dangerous remedy (Ph. Ind.).
789. S. Nux-vomica, Linn, h.f.b.l, iv. 90; Roxb. 193.
Sans. : — Kupilu ; Kulaka.
Vern. :— Kuchlá (H.); Kuchila (B.) ; Kuchlah (Dec); Ettik-kottai (Tam.); Mushti-vittulu (Tel.); Kanni-rak-kuru (Mal.); Kájrá (Bomb.) ; Mushti-bijá (Kan.).
Habitat : — Throughout tropical India ; rare in Bengal, common in Madras.
A large, deciduous tree, attaining 40ft., with a straight thick trunk. Root thick, with a yellowish spidermis. Bark thin, dark-grey or yellowish-grey, smooth. Wood white when fresh cut, turning yellowish-grey on exposure, hard, close-grained, durable. No heartwood (Gamble). Leaves broadly elliptic or ovate, opposite, entire, shining, coriaceous, 3-6in. long, 3-5-nerved, glabrous ; base obtuse, arising from stout nodes. Petiole 1/5-½in. long, deeply-grooved. Flowers greenish white, many, small, appearing with young leaves, on short slender pedicels ; collected on a small terminal pubescent corymbose cymes, l-2in. diam., at
