DATU. MALAY. A governor under a sultan. DATUNI, the root of the Croton tiglium ; it is a very powerful purge, much used in prescription& DATURA ALBA. Rumph.
D. mete], Rhccde.
Jouz-mazil, . • ARAB. Sated dhatura, . HIND. l'a-daing-phoo, . Beam. Humata, Humatu, MALI. Nau-yang-hwa, . Cum.. Velle umate, . . TAAL Man-to-lo-hwa, „ Tella umati, . TEL. Sada (Mature, . HIND.
The Datura genus of plants is common in India, both wild and cultivated ; the colours of the flowers are white, yellow, purple, and blue. D. politica is reputed. to have contributed to the poisonous quality of the honey that was eaten by Xenophon's soldiers. Maim) lleber noticts Datum alba in his Walk in Bengal : ' While to the cooler air contest Tho broad datum barer her breast Of fragrant scent and virgin white, A pearl around tho locks of night.' Its beautiful long white flowers in Rohtak are used as an offering to the shrines of certain deities. Its value as a eumtive in asthma is known both to Europeans and natives, who smoke the seed in their hookahs when so afflicted. The white and purple species are alike used by thieves to stupefy victims, but the white is considered the most efficient. The victims are usually discovered in a state of insensibility, and breathing hard and heavily ; if removed, care should bo taken not to expose them to the heat of the sun, which is fatal.
The action of the poison is quicker in the hot weather than in the cold ; much, of course, depends on the individual constitution of the victim. But usually in hot weather it begins to act in five minutes, and coma supervenes within the hour ; in cold weather it begins to act in D. quarter of an hour or twenty minutes. The seeds are given with sweettneats, and the effects have been known to continue for two days, and still recovery take place ; cold effusion and strong stimulant emetics constitute the most effectual treatment. The vision often continues obscured long after the general recovery takes place. This state is best remedied by blisters to the temples cr nape of the neck, and by cold effusion. If given while the stomach is empty, a. much smaller dose may induce all the preceding symptoms and prove fatal. This is well known to the Indian poisoners, who suit the time of administration according to the purpose they Inean to serve.— Powell; Stewart.