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2 and the pernicious consequences of the bites of serpents. To an
3 infusion of the root is ascribed a mild astringent virtue.
4 Achyr. asp. semina (I.) Cutaneous diseases, after a
5 serpent’s bite. Eruption in patches. Ophthalmia.
6 Pleurodynia. Salivation.
7 Aconitum dissectltm. Don. — is to be met with on the hills
8 of Cashmere; but, is not in use.
9 Aconitum ferox — grows in the Himalayah. The root is
10 officinal with both English physicians and the natives. The latter
11 report, that, in its natural state, the root is white ; and that when
12 immersed in the urine of cows, it becomes black ; it is lustrous
13 when broken, as it is met with in the bazaars.
14 It is used in leprosy, fever, cholera, rheumatism, &c. It is
15 supposed that the natives poison animals with it. When at
16 Lahore, I received from the English cantonment, for analysation,
17 a vegetable compound, which had been discovered in the artil-
18 lery department, in the form of a ball, where it, probably, had
19 been deposited for the purpose of destroying the cattle. I
20 ascertained the presence of this root in that mass. The collected
21 coarse pieces were white, of the like texture and pungency with
22 this root. The pungency of this drug differs from that of cap-
23 sicum, which is felt immediately on the tongue during mastication,
24 and is of shorter continuance ; whilst that of this root is not felt
25 until after a few minutes, when it is more intense, and affects
26 extensively both the mouth and throat.
27 Aconit. feroc. albi et nigri radices (III.)
28 Aconitum heterophyllum — is found in the Himalayahs.
29 The roots are officinal, but seldom used ; neither are they so
30 poisonous as the foregoing. The Hakims administer them as
31 tonic and aphrodisiac ; also in pectoral affections, as cough, &c.
32 Aconit. heteroph. radix (II.)
33 * Aconitum Napellus — is a well-known officinal plant of the
34 European mountains, cultivated also in gardens; and is used by
35 European physicians in gout, &c. The oriental Doctors are not
36 acquainted with it. I procured some of the extract of this plant