STRYCHNOS NUN VOMICA. Linn.
Khanek-ul-kalb, . ARAB. Li,rnum colubrinum, LAT. Falus mahi, . . . „ Jliar-katchura, . MARE. Kha boung, . . . BERN. Vesba-musliti bijum, SAN. Kha gyee ? . . . , Kulaka, Kutaka, . . , Caniram, . . . CAN. Kudalea dornatta? SINGH. Snake-wood tree, . ENG. Gada-kadooroo, . . „ Poison-nut, , . . „ Yetti-cotay maram, Tam. Kuchila, . . , . HIND. Musadi, Illushti, . . TEL.
A middling-sized tree, with a short, crooked trunk, which grows in the East Indies. The seed is inodorous, but its tastoinsupportably acrid and bitter. It is very difficult to reduce the seeds to powder ; they must be first rasped, the raspings steeped in mucilage, then dried and powdered ; or the raspings should be exposed to the steam of water for an hour, then stove-dried, and powdered in a covered inortar. The bark is of an ash-gr. y colour ; is known to the European druggists under the name of the false angustura.' Dr. O'Shaugh nessy found the bark commonly sold in Calcutta under the name of Rohun, and substituted for the harmless bark of the Soymida febrifuga. It acts as a powerful exciter of the spinal cord, and as a tonic. By Europeans it is principally used in paralysis and neuralgia, also in muscular tremors and incontinence of urine ; and natives of India are now using strychnine as an excitatory agent.
The pulp of the poisonous fruits are the favourite food of the Buceros Malabaricus hornbill, and other birds. The bard and durable wood is used for many purposes by the natives. It is exceedingly bitter, particularly that of the root, which is used in intermitting fevers, and in cases of venomous snake-bites, when that of Naga musini, S. colu brina, cannot be had. The seeds are employed in distillation of country spirits, to render them more intoxicating. Its timber is strong and 'close grained, but never of large size ; wood hard, and of a white or ash colour, streaked with white ; specific gravity, 0.706, A cubic foot weighs 52 lbs. It is used for ploughshares, cart 11 heels, in Travancore for making cots, and is adapted for fancy work and cabinet-making. It furnishes one of the snake-woods of commerce. Iron tools are sharpened on blocks of this wood. White ants will uot touch it.—O'Sh. ; Boyle ; Roxb.