Roxburgh says: — "The specific distinguishing marks be- tween two species, according to my observation, depend on the racemes and bracts, color not being a specific mark."
Uses : — Mentioned by Sanskrit and Mahomedan writers as an abortifacient and vesicant.
The bruised root of this plant is, in its natural state, acrid and stimulating, but when tempered with a little bland oil it is used as an external application in rheumatic and paralytic affections ; it is also prescribed internally in small doses for the same complaints, in combination with some other simple powder (Ainslie.)
The vesicant properties of the root of this plant wore known to the old writers, but it was O'Shaughnessy who first tried this drug in between three hundred and four hundred cases, and found out that the root-bark, being rubbed with water into a paste and applied to skin, raised blisters within twelve or eighteen hours; and that it can be used as a cheap substitute for Cantharides, with the additional advantage of causing no irritation of the genito-urinary organs. When administered internally it acts as a stimulant, and in large doses as an acronarcotic poison. " It is one of the articles in use amongst the natives for procuring abortion. For this purpose, the scraped root-bark is introduced per vaginam into the os uteri." Death is often the inevitable consequence of the use of this substance in the manner specified. The root is also used as a powerful sialogogue. In South India, the dried root is highly valued as a remedy for secondary syphilis and leprosy (Pharm. Ind., p. 169). See K. R. Kirtikar's remarks in his Poisonous Plants of Bombay.
Dr Waring found that it caused more pain than an ordinary blister, and that the resulting vesication was less uniform, and not always easily healed. From what I have seen of its use, I am inclined to support Dr. Wiring's opinion (Dymock).
"The milky juice is useful in ophthalmia" (Asst.-Surg. T. N. Ghose. The milky juice is useful as an external application for scabies (Surg. Mukerji.) Its vesicating properties have been successfully utilized in curing certain cases of leucoderma (Surgeon-Major Gray, in Watt's Dictionary).
