To the Editor of the Madras

SIR,

Literary and Scientific Journal.

I send you along with this, some observations on a plant, which has of late years justly claimed for itself,a considerable share of attention among the medical profession.-If such communications are in accordance with the plan of the Madras Journal, I trust you will give it a place in an early number, as I am anxious to make known to the medical establishment, the important discovery that the true Mudar is a native of the Peninsula; in the hope that some of those favourably situated for such enquiries, may put its qualities to the test of experience, and favour their brethren who take an interest in it, with the result.

To the observations on Mudar, I have added a few others on several species of the family of Asclepiadeæ; showing that we have still much to learn respecting the properties of this curious family of plants, and that we may expect from it, when better known, some very valuable additions to the Materia Medica; and I may here add, to the commercial resources of India. Some information of the latter description we already possess, in the works of that indefatigable naturalist Dr. Roxburgh, but we have still much to learn; which is only to be obtained from the united efforts of many, as no man, however diligent, can accomplish every thing, particularly at a time like the present, when even to keep pace with the stream of discovery, requires application of no ordinary kind. It has been my wish in that part of my essay, to endeavour to direct that stream into new channels, by collecting what is known into one view, and requesting others to come forward with their discoveries. and observations on a subject so deeply interesting to us all, as the alleviation of human suffering.

I take this opportunity of mentioning, that the present essay may be viewed as an imperfect specimen, of a larger work, which I have long contemplated, and for which I am now collecting materials, as rapidly as my other avocations will permit,-An Indian medical Botany.

The plan and object of this work is to give figures and descriptions of Indian medical, and otherwise useful plants,

grouped according to their natural affinities; embracing under each order, a succinct accounct of the properties for which it is remarkable, and under each species those which have been discovered as belonging to it individually; thus teaching, if I may so express myself, both the theory and practice of medical Botany, by reducing to a systematic arrangement, the numerous detached facts which during a long series of years have been accumulating; many of which are now nearly lost, from the multiplicity of works through which they are scattered. I am well aware that to complete such a work, requires leisure, and opportunities of consulting rare and costly volumes, that do not fall to my lot; but to form the ground work by reducing to system all that is easily accessible, is to lay the foundation of an edifice which others can easily complete.

Trusting that the example of Dr. Wallich of Calcutta, and of Mr. Malcolmson, both of whom have liberally offered their assistance, will be followed by my medical brethren generally, I shall cheerfully continue the labours I have commenced, in the hope of seeing them at no very distant period, crowned with success.

I remain, Sir,

yours &c.

ROB. WIGHT.

Bellary, 15th Nov. 1834.

III.

Observations on Mudar (Calotropis procera), with some remarks on the medical properties of the natural order Asclepiadea. By ROB. WIGHT M. D. Surgeon 33d Regt. N. I.

The attention of the profession was directed some years ago to the medical properties of the mudar plant, by seve ral papers on the subject published in Bengal, and in part republished in the medical periodicals of Europe. The writers of these papers, gave such favorable accounts of its virtues in the cure of disease, that many others were induced to try it, both in this country and in Europe. The trials made in the Carnatic, with the Mudar of the country, did not tend to confirm the favourable accounts given of it by the Bengal medical officers, nor did the effects produced, correspond with their accounts, or with those published in

Europe by medical men who had employed it there, from specimens of the medicine sent from Bengal. These very unexpected results, gave rise to a suspicion that the Bengal and Carnatic plants were different species, which was afterwards proved to be the case; first, I believe, by the late Dr. Buchanan Hamilton, who called the one Calotropis (asclepias) gigantea, the other C. procera-(the true Mudar of Bengal). It now only remained to determine, whether the C. procera was a native of the peninsula, and if so, the marks by which it might be distinguished from the other, which it so much resembles in general appearance, as to have been long confounded with it. It is the object of this communication to determine these points.

The Calotropis procera abounds in the ceded districts to the almost entire exclusion of the gigantea, and is found here in all soils, while the other is equally abundant on the coast. It is not improbable I think, that the procera will be found in every district where Trap formations are indicated by the presence of black cotton soil, and that it will be found in such situations in the Carnatic if not prevented by an unfavourable climate. This point however can only be determined by future observations, which will require to be made with some care, as the two plants are so much alike in their general aspect, that they cannot with certainty be distinguished unless in flower; and then they can be distinguished at a glance, even before the flowers are full blown.

Previous to detailing the characters of the genus and of these two species, it appears advisable to give some account of the natural order to which they belong.

The Asclepiadere rank in the Linnean Natural Order Contorte, and in Jussieus' eleventh class, characterised by having a monopetalous inferior corolla with distinct anthers. In the sexual system they were arranged by Linnæus in the class Pentandria, order Digynia, an arrangement that has been followed by most authors, though objected to by some, who thought that they would be better placed in Monadelphia or Gandria. The characters of this order first established by Mr. Brown, are: Calyx 5 cleft, corolla of one petal, variously cleft. Stamens 5, filaments usually flat,

surrounding the styles and ovaries. Anthers often ending in a membranous point, resting on the stigma, each edge extended into a projecting angle or wing, (very conspicuous in calotropis,) furnished within, with two pollen cells, opening laterally. Pollen, with a few exceptions, composed of 10 waxy looking masses, which when arrived at maturity are. attached either by their base or apex, (pendulous or erect) in pairs, to 5 small, dark shining glands, placed on the angles of the stigma, opposite to as many furrows (sulci) between the wings of the anthers, (these furrows perform an important function in the impregnation of the asclepiadeæ). Ovaries two, superior, one celled, with numerous ovules, styles united at the apex, into a single large stigma. Stigma nsually flattened or slightly convex, rarely terminating in a lengthened beak. Fruit a follicle, or Fruit a follicle, or one celled capsule opening on one side only. Seeds numerous, imbricated, compressed, often bound by a membranous margin, and with one or two exceptions, furnished with a tuft of down at the apex. Plants milky, herbacious or shrubby, twining or erect, leaves opposite, entire; peduncles lateral (from between the insertions of the leaves), flowers usually umbelled.

In addition to these more constant characters, the staminal column is often furnished with 5 variously shaped leaves, Nectaries Lin.-Staminal crown Brown. They are sometimes wanting on the stamens, and are then generally found on the corolla, alternating with its lobes. When present on the stamens, they are attached to the filaments. They vary much in their form and mode of attachment in different genera, and afford good generic characters when taken in connexion with the erect transverse or pendulous position of the pollen masses, and often the best specific distinctions.

Such are the usual characters of the true asclepiade. They differ from the Apocyneæ, with which Jussieu united them, principally in the form and structure of their stamens and pollen, but approach them by a sub-order Periplocea Brown, in which the pollen is granular, enclosed n 5 membranous sacks opening outwards, and not attached to the stigma by glands.