Kupilu,

Kulaka,

Vishamushti.

Vern. Kuchila, Beng. Hind.

Nux vomica has been introduced into Hindu Medicine at a recent period. There is no generally recognized Sanskrit name for it. In some recent Sanskrit compilations it is mentioned tinder its vernacular name kuchilά, a term which is not to be found in standard Sanskrit dictionaries. Sarangadhara and other writers give some prescriptions containg a drug named vishamushti, which is generally interpretted to mean in these places, nux vomica seeds; but vishamushti according to the Bhavaprakasa has an edible fruit and is called Kareruά in Hindi. In this work the Sanskrit term kupilu with its synonyms, kulaka, vishatinduka, mar-Icatatinduka, etc., is said to be the Sanskrit synonyms for kuchila-and this translation is followed in some Hindi medical books, as for example in the treatise on the properties of drugs, compiled by Pundit Keshava Prasada Dvivedi of the Agra College. This interpretation however is not accepted in Bengal, for neither Wilson nor Sir Raja Radhakunta Deva has given kuchila as the Vernacular for kupilu, nor does this term or any of its synonyms above mentioned, occur in any Sanskrit medical prescription. In our account of this drug we will according to the practice of ous kavirajas in Bengal interpret vishamushti as kuchilά.

The Strychnos nux vomica is indigenous to most parts of India. I found it to be common in the jungles about Manbhom. The ripe fruits of the size of apples, have a beautiful orange colour and contain a bitter gelatinous pulp, within which the flat and curiously umbilicated seeds are found imbedded.

Nux vomica seeds produce a sort of intoxication, for which they are habitually taken by some natives as an aphrodisiac. Those who do so gradually become so far accustomed to this poison that they often come to take one seed daily, which is cut into small pieces and chewed with a packet of betel leaf. Medicinally the seeds are used in dyspepsia and diseases of the nervous system.

Samiragaja kesari. Take of nux vomica, opium and black pepper equal parts, and make into two-grain pills. These are given with the juice of betel leaves in diseases of the nervous system.

Sulharanayoga.1- Take of chebulic myrobalan, long pepper, black pepper, ginger, nux vomica, assafoetida, sulphur and rock salt, equal parts and make into four-grain pills. These are given with warm water in dyspepsia with pain after meals, and in diarrhoea. Sarangadhara gives the following prescription in which the term vishamushti is usually understood to mean nux vomica. Take of mercury, sulphur, aconite, ajowan, the three myrobalans, sarjika (impure carbonate of soda), yavakshάra (impure carbonate of potash), rock salt, plumbago root, cumin seeds, sonchal salt, sea-salt, baberang, black pepper, long pepper and ginger, equal parts, vishamushti (nux vomica seeds) equal in weight to all the above ingredients and make into pills of the size of black pepper corns with lemon juice. These pills are given to promote the appetite and increase the digestive power.2