ficient for a dofe. It is firft carefully cleared from the membranaceous parts, the rudiments of the feminal leaves, that adhere to the centre of it; by which precaution, it is found to act lefs roughly, and then rubbed with a little rice gruel, or taken in a bit of the plantain fruit."

Curcuma longa, et zedoaria.

"From the roots of feveral fpecies of curcuma, that are found in Bengal, the natives prepare a farinaceous powder, which they call Tikhur. It is in every respect fimilar to the powder prepared from the root of the maranta arundinacea, or arrow-root, and is often fold for it in the Calcutta shops.

"

Datura metel-analogous to stramonium.

"The foporiferous and intoxicating qualities of the feeds are well known to the inhabitants; and it appears from the records of the native courts of justice, that these feeds are ftill employed for the fame licentious and wicked purposes, as they were formerly, in the time of Acosta and Rumphius. "

Eupatorium ayapana-Virtues lately exaggerated, now depreciated, perhaps unjustly.

Gentiana chirayita. (Roxb.)

"This species of gentian is indigenous in the mountainous countries to the northward of the Ganges, but does not grow in the low er parts of Bengal. The dried herb, however, is to be met with in every bazar of Hindustan, being a medicine in the highest repute with both the Hindu and European practitioners. It possesses all the stomachic, tonic, febrifuge, and antiarthritic virtues which are ascribed to the gentiana lutea, and in a greater degree than they are generally found in that root, in the state in which it comes to us from Europe. It may therefore, on every occasion, be advantageously substituted for it. The efficacy of the chirayita, when combined with the caranja nut, in curing intermittents, has been already mentioned. It is found equally powerful in exciting and strengthening the action of the stomach, and obviating flatulency, acidity, and redundancy of phlegm, in dyspepsia and gout. For restoring the tone and activity of the moving fibre, in general debility, and in that kind of cachexy which is liable to terminate in dropsy, the chirayita will be found one of the most useful and effectual remedies which we can employ.

"The parts of the plant that are used in medicine, are the dried stalks, with pieces of the root adhering to them. A decoction of these, or, which is better, an infusion of them in hot water, is the form usually administered. Spirituous tinctures are also prepared from the plant, with the addition of orange-peel and cardamom seeds; and those who consider such tinctures as of any avail, will find these very agreeable bitters. The most useful purpose, however, to which the tincture can be applied, is that of being added to the decoction or infusion, with the view of rendering them more grateful to the stomach.

Hyperanthera morungo, root- similar to horse-radish. The legumes, blossoms, and leaves, are all esculent. The seeds are the ben nuts of old pharmaceutical writers.

Their expressed oil" is used externally, for relieving the pain of the joints, in gout and acute rheumatism. This oil is remarkable for resisting rancidity; and, on that account, has been selected by the perfumers, as the fittest for being impregnated with the odour of jessamines, violets, tuberoses, and other flowers, which yield little or no essential oil, but impart their fragrance to expressed oils."

Jatropha curcas-Seeds analogous to those of the Croton tiglium, but milder, two or three being taken for a dose.

Justicia paniculata-Intensely bitter. Basis of the drogue amere of the Malabar coast.

Ligusticum ajawain. (Roxb.)—Ajava seed of Dr Perceval; aromatic.

Melia azedarachta et sempervirens-Leaves a nauseous bitter, without astringency.

Menispermum cordifolium-Decoction of the leaves febrifuge and tonic in gout; young leaves emollient.

Menispermum verrucosum. (Roxb.)-Intense bitter, used in the Malay islands for the cure of intermittents.

Mirabilis jalapa-root weakly purgative, and uncertain. Nigella Indica-Seeds a principal condiment in curries, on account of their agreeable flavour and taste.

Ocimum pilosum (Roxb.)

"I have given the rihan a place in the catalogue, on account of the peculiar quality of its seed, which, when infused in cold water, forms a mucilage much used by the natives as a demulcent in catarrhs. From the slight aroma which it possesses, it lies easier on the stomach than most other vegetable mucilages. It is a favourite medicine with the native women, who take it after parturition, and suppose that it relieves the after-pains. "

Phyllanthus emblica, fruit-a species of myrobalans.

Plantago Ispaghul (Roxb.)--Seeds mucilaginous.

Plumbago zeylanica et rosea-roots extremely acrid, used as vesicatories.

Punica granatum-Our readers will remember the account of the efficacy of pomegranate bark in tænia, published in the Ninth Number of this Journal by Dr Buchanan. Dr Fleming now informs us, that tænia is not a common disorder in Bengal; but that since Dr B.'s communication, several cases of it have occurred to Dr Hunter and Dr Shoolbred, in which the bark of the pomegranate root was used, and without having failed in a single instance.

Rubia manjith (Roxb.)-analogous to madder.

Sida cordifolia, rhombifolia, et rhomboidœa (Roxb.)--mucila ginous.

Strychnos nux vomica-nuts sometimes added by distillers to arrack, to make the spirit more intoxicating.

Strychnos potatorum.

"The seeds of the strychnos potatorum, though never used in medicine, are highly valuable, and serviceable, to both Europeans and natives, from the quality which they possess, of clearing muddy water, and rendering it potable; to which the trivial name of the tree, first given to it by Konig, alludes. One of the seeds is rubbed very hard, for a minute or two, round the inside of an earthen vessel, into which the water is poured and left to settle. In a short time, the impurities subside, and leave the water perfectly limpid and tasteless." Swietenia febrifuga-Bark astringent and febrifuge.

Terminalia belerica (Roxb.), et chebula-furnish different kinds of myrobalans.

"Those chiefly used in medicine, are the har, and the zengi har. The har is the dried ripe fruit. It is the largest of the myrobalans, of an oblong ovate shape, marked with five furrows and five ridges alternately. It is sometimes used medicinally as a gentle purgative, but more frequently employed for domestic purposes, particularly by the dyers, who consume large quantities of it for preparing the cloth to receive the colours. See As. Res. IV. 41.

It

"The zengi har is the Indian, or black myrobalan of the pharmaceutical authors. It differs from the other kinds, in having scarcely the rudiments of a nut, being the fruit dried in a half ripe state. is of an oblong, pointed shape, about the size of a pistachio nut, of a deep black colour, and a firm, compact substance. Its taste is bitterish, and strongly astringent. The zengi har is, as far as I can learn, more frequently used in medicine, by the Hindus, than any of the other myrobalans, being very generally employed by them as a purgative. It operates briskly, but without occasioning heat or irritation. Persons liable to redundancy of bile, habitual costiveness, or any other complaint which requires the frequent use of gentle laxatives, will find this one of the most convenient which they can use.

Terminalia citrina (Roxb.)-Its fruit is the myrobalanus citrina of the shops; it is chiefly used as a mordant in fixing the colours of the chintzes.

Valeriana Jatamansi—Indian nard; analogous to the officinal valerian.

Vitex trifolia.

"The leaves of the nisinda have a better claim to the title of discutient than any other vegetable remedy with which I am acquainted. Their efficacy in dispelling inflammatory swellings of the joints, from acute rheumatism, and of the testicles, from suppressed gonorrhoea, has often excited my surprize. The success with which the natives employ them in these complaints, has induced some European practitioners to adopt the practice, and I hope it will come into general use. The mode of employing the leaves is simple. A quantity of them, pulled fresh from the tree, is put into an earthen pot, and heat

ed over the fire, to as great a degree as can be borne without pain. They are then applied to the part affected, in as large a quantity as can be conveniently kept on by a proper bandage, and the application is repeated three or four times a-day, until the tumor is difpelled."

In the notes upon the imported drugs there is also some useful information. Dr Fleming praises the China root, from his own experience, (and it was formerly much used in the hospitals of Bengal), as at least equal to sarsaparilla, either as an auxiliary to mercury, or as improving the health after the use of that remedy.

Gamir-The extract of the leaves of the uncaria gambeer (Roxb.) or the foculum deposited from a boiling infusion, which is by far the best. In appearance, and sensible qualities, it resembles the catechu, as also in its medicinal properties. Its taste is powerfully astringent, and at first bitter, but afterwards sweetish. Tried by the gelatine test, the gambir appears to contain more of the tannin principle than any other vegetable astringent; and, were it not for its high price, it would be a most valuable material for the preparation of leather.

Petroleum is very generally employed by the native practitioners, externally, as a stimulant in paralytic complaints, and in chronic rheumatism. In this last disease I can, from my own experience, recommend it as an efficacious remedy; having found much greater benefit from it than from the more costly cajeput oil, which I had previously used.

Copal seems to be the produce of the Vateria Indica.

Leeches are found in stagnant ponds and ditches in every part of India.

We shall conclude these copious extracts with the account of the meloe cichorei, an Indian substitute for cantharides.

« A very full and accurate defcription of this fpecies of meloe has been given in the 6th volume of the Afiatic Researches, by Colonel Hard, wicke, to whom we are indebted for this valuable aequifition to our Materia Medica. The infect abounds in every part of Bengal, Bahar, and Oude. In the rainy season, during which it is in its molt perfect ftate, it is found feeding on the flowers of the various fpecies of hibifcus and sida, and is readily distinguished by the three tranfverfe, undulated black bands on its yellow elytra, which conftitute its specific character.

"The meloe cichorei, when applied to the skin, produces effects precifely fimilar to thofe caufed by the Spanish bliftering fly, for which this infect will be found a perfectly adequate fubstitute, either as an external ftimulant, a rubefacicnt, or for raifing a complete blifter, according to the mode in which it is applied.

"The flies fhould be gathered in the morning or evening, and imme diately killed, by expofing them to the fteam of boiling vinegar. They fhould then be thoroughly dried by the heat of the fun, and afterwards put into bottles, to preferve them from humidity. "

After the numerous extracts which we have given from this paper, our opinion of its merits will be readily perceived; but we cannot help noticing the peculiar propriety with which it comes from the head of the Medical Board of that immense colony, for whose use it is intended. It thus acquires a kind of official authority, while its intrinsic value affords the gratifying conviction, that the gentleman who is placed in that high and responsible-situation is eminently qualified to fulfil its duties.

VI.

The Outlines of a New System of the Practice of Physic and Medical Surgery. By RICHARD REECE, M.D. Member of the Royal College of Surgeons. Large 8vo. pp. 310. don. 1810.

Highley, Lon

THE HE name of this Doctor is probably as familiar to most of our readers as that of Dr Brodum, Dr Senate, Dr Solomon, and other eminent professional characters, the ornaments of medical science, the great discoverers of all that is useful in the art, the true and disinterested benefactors of suffering and humanity. For who that has heard of the " Balm of Gilead," and the "Guide 10 Health," has not also heard of the " Medical Guide," and the "Dictionary of Domestic Medicine?" Who, that peruses the first and last pages of a London newspaper, (those repositories of so much modesty and truth), but finds his eye arrested by the name of Richard Reece, M. D., with his " Guide" or his "Dictionary," blazoned amid the unassuming merits of Mr and Mrs Williams the unrivalled oculists, of Dr Cavallo's electric girdle, and of Dr Senate's new Novel? However, these ladies and gentlemen do not lie within the pale of our criticism; and so long as Dr Richard Reece confined himself to their society,-so long as he addressed himself to every man who would be his own doctor, and who would of course never consult us, either in respect to diseases or books, we deemed it inexpedient to take any notice of his publications. But now, when he presumes to instruct the profession; when he comes forward as the founder of a system, and sends forth his precursors, in the shape of newspaper-advertisements, announcing the commencement of "a new sera in medical science, "the appearance of a new light, which