MATERIA MEDICA OF MADRAS.

VEGETABLE KINGDOM.

RANUNCULACEÆ.

*Aconitum ferox, Wall. 1, 2, 3 and 4.

     Habitat.—Himalayas.

     Part Used.—The root.

     Synonyms.—Indian aconite root, Eng. Racine d'aconite d'Inde,
Fr. Bachnág, Duk. and Hind. Vasha-návi, Tam. Vasanábhi Tel.
Bísh, Arab. and Beng. Bísh-nág, Pers. Valsanábhi, Malyal. Vasa-
nábhi, Can. Vachnág, Gus. Vachanábhi, Cing.

     Local Sources.—Met with in every large bazaar of India.

     Price.— Wholesale, Rs. 6 per maund; retail or bazaar, As. 12 per
pound.

     Physiological Action.—The white and the reddish-brown varieties
of the Indian aconite root, which I shall describe presently, can be
used internally. They are a good nervine and alterative tonic and
sedative in medicinal doses, but a very virulent poison in larger ones.
The former is somewhat milder and more uniform in its action than
the latter. The activity of aconite root is due to a mixture of alkaloids,
the chief of which is aconitine.

     Therapeutic Uses.—Very useful in diabetes mellitus and insipidus,
spermatorrhœa, incontinence of urine, paralysis, and some neuralgic
affections; also, to a less extent, in leprosy and some other skin
diseases.

     Preparations.—They are best used in the form of powder with some
inert or farinaceous substance as follows: —

     Take of the white variety of the Indian aconite root in powder one
ounce, arrowroot or wheat flour seven ounces. Mix them thoroughly,
pass the powder through a fine sieve, rub it lightly in a mortar, and
keep it in a bottle. The powder of the reddish-brown variety is to be
prepared in precisely the same manner as the above. The roots can
also be employed in the form of tincture, but the powders I have just
described were so cheap and convenient, and proved so useful that I
did not think it necessary to resort to any other form.

     Dose.—Of the powder of the white variety, from two to eight
grains, gradually increased, three times in the twenty-four hours; the
average and usual dose being four grains. Of the powder of the
reddish-brown variety, from two to six grains, gradually increased,
three times in the twenty-four hours; the average and usual dose being
three grains. Eight grains of each powder contain one grain of the

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