Dhustura,

Unmatta.

Vern. Dhuturά, Hind, and Beng.

Sanskrit writers do not make any distinction in the properties of the two varieties of Datura, and in practice both are indiscriminately used. Sometimes the white flowered variety is specified, as for example in a prescription for insanity, quoted below. Dhatura leaves are used in smoking by debauched devotees and others accustomed to the use of ganja. The seeds are added to the preparations of bhang (leaves of Cannabis sativa) used by natives, for increasing their intoxicating powers. The use of the powdered seeds in sweet-meats, curry powder, etc., for the purpose of stupi-fying travellers and then robbing them, is well known.

The seeds, leaves and roots are all used in medicine. They are considered useful in insanity, fever with catarrhal and cerebral complications, diarrhoea, skin diseases, lice, etc.

Svalpajvarankusa.1 Take of mercury, sulphur, aconite, ginger, long pepper and black pepper, each one part, dhatura seeds two parts; rub them together with lemon juice and make into four-grain pills. These pills are used in fever attended with catarrh or cough. Several other preparations of composition similar to the above, are in use under the names of Nava jvarankusa, Kalari, Jvarankusa, etc.

The root of Datura alba (svetonmatta) is boiled in milk and this milk is administered with the addition of clarified butter and treacle in insanity.2 A metallic preparation called Unmadankura rasa and composed of the sulphides of mercury and copper together with a number of other substances and dhaturά seeds, is also used in this disease. The fresh juice of the leaves alone, or mixed with opium, is a common domestic application to inflamed parts.

In inflammation of the breasts, a paste composed of turmeric and dhatura fruits is recommended to be applied.1 An oil prepared in the usual manner with the paste and juice of dhatura leaves, is applied to the head for destroying lice.2 An oil prepared by boiling dhatura seeds, and sesamum oil, with an alkaline water made from the ashes of Colocasia Indica (mάnaka), is used in psoriasis.3

In the Bengal Dispensatory (page 469) it is stated that "we are indebted to the native practitioners of India for a method of using stramonium in spasmodic asthma, which is certainly found of great benefit in numerous cases. We allude to the practice of smoking the leaves or dried stems." The smoking of dhatura leaves is prescribed at present both by English and native practitioners in spasmodic asthma, but I have not met with any written prescription for it in Sanskrit or vernacular medical works, nor does the Taleef Shereef allude to the practice as known to the Mussulman hakims. It would seem therefore that this use of the drug is of recent origin.