Encyclopedias & Dictionaries | Monier-Williams: A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (p. 253) m. Oleander (Nerium odorum) MBh. Suśr. Mṛicch. VarBṛS.; a species of Soma Suśr. ii, 164, 15; a sword, L.; a particular spell (for recovering a missile of mystic properties after its discharge) R.; the thumb; a cemetery, L.; N. of a Nāga MBh. i, 1557; of a Daitya, L.; of a town on the river Veṇvā (founded by Padma-varṇa) Hariv. 5230 (cf. kara-vīra-pura below); of a town on the river Dṛishadvati (the residence of Candraśekhara) KapS.; of a mountain BhP.; (ā) f. red arsenic, L.; (ī) f. a woman who has borne a son, a mother, L.; a good cow, L.; N. of Aditi T.; (am) n. the flower of Oleander, L.; -kandasaṃjña m. a species of onion; a bulb (= tailakanda), L.; -karambhin n. N. of a wood Hariv. 8954 (v.l. karavīrākara); -pura n. N. of a town founded by Padma-varṇa (cf. karavīra) MBh.; -bhujā f. Cajanus indicus, L.; -bhūṣā f. = -bhujā T.; -māhātmya n. N. of wk.; -vrata n. a certain rite; --r kara n. N. of a wood Hariv. Tamil Lexicon, University of Madras (p. 122) araḷi: 1. Oleander; 2. Fetid tree Tamil Lexicon, University of Madras (p. 1613) cevvalari: Red oleander, l. sh., Nerium odorum-carnea Dymock, Warden, Hooper: Pharmacographia Indica (vol. II, pp. 398-400) Nerium odorum, Apocynaceae Fig.- Oleander (Eng.) In Sanskrit medical works two varieties of Karavira are mentioned, namely, Svetapushpa, "white-flowered"; and Raktapushpa, "red-flowered." Other well known Sanskrit names for the Oleander are AsvamÄraka "horse killer," and Pratihasa, "laughing." In the Nighantas both kinds are described as hot and poisonous; they are said to be of use as an external application to swellings, leprosy and skin diseases such as itch. The flowers of the red and white Oleander are much used by the Hindus in religion ceremonies. De Gubernatis states that the N. Oleander is called in Italy Ammazza cavallo or Ammazza l'asino, and remarks that this accounts for the dread of its presence shown by the ass of Lucian and Apuleius. (Myth. des Plant. ii., 259.) For external application the Hindus make a strong decoction of the root and boil it down with oil and cow's urine until the water has been driven off, other drugs are usually added, such as Plumbago root, Embelia seeds, &c. The root of Oleander beaten into a paste with water is recommended by Saraugadhara to be applied to chancres and ulcers on the penis. According to Chakradatta the fresh juice of the young leaves is dropped into the eyes in ophthalmia with copius lachrymation. In Arabic and Persian works the plant will generally be found described under the name of Difli; other names are Sum-el-HimÄr and Kharzahrah, which both signify Asses'-bane; it is identified with the Nerium of the Greeks. (Nerium Oleander, hardly different from the Indian plant. Conf. Dios. -*- iv., 80. It was also called by the Greeks and Romans Rhododaphne and Rhodadendros.) The Mahometan physicians describe it as a most powerful resolvent and attenuant, only to be used externally; taken internally it acts as a poison upon men and animals. A decoction of the leaves is recommended to reduce swellings, and oil prepared from the root bark in skin diseases of a scaly nature in leprosy. MÄŤr Muhammad Husain says that the Oleander is poisonous to insects, and that it cures itch. He also states that the leaves though poisonous to all four-footed animals are a counter-poison against serpents. The latter statement appears to be copied from Pliny. (Hist. Nat. 24, 2.) Ainslie informs us that the bark of the root and leaves are considered by the Vitians as powerful repellants, applied externally. The active principles of N. odorum are powerful heart poisons. 0.0016 grams of Neriodorein injected hypodermically into a large healthy frog caused in 14 minutes diminution of the heart beats from 70 to 12 per minute, followed by a temporary rise to 60; after the lapse of five minutes longer the heart ceased to beat. This cessation of the heart action was closely followed by cessation of the respiration. According to Fraser (Trans. Royal Soc. Ed. xxiv.) oleander like digitalis, &c., produces at first irregularity and acceleration of the hearts action, then a diminished frequency caused by protraction of the ventricular systole, and, finally, stoppage of the contractions by cessation of the dilation of the ventricles, which remain contracted, white and perfectly empty.
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