DH. AITCIIISON OX TITi: FLORA OF LAITUL. 77 



a large export article to Kulu, collected from wild plants, never 

 cultivated. 



The bulbs of No. 95, Allium (unnamed), and No. 96, Allium 

 ceroceplidlum^ L., are also ex])orted in some quantity. 



Medicines. — Many of the indigenous plants are used in medi- 

 cnie, some with good reason, others again simply because tiie 

 natives have been in the habit of using them. 



As emollient applications to bruises, swollen joints, &c. we have 

 No. 50, Codonopsis ovata, Benth.; of this the thick tap-root is the 

 officinal part j of No. 81, Mi/ricaria elegans^ Eoyle, the leaves are 

 used. 



In fevers they use a decoction of No. 57, Gentiana teneUa,'FrieSj 

 besides several other Gentians, the officinal parts being the 

 leaves and stems. The Mission, from the roots of No. 62, Genti- 

 ana decumhens^Jj,^ made a decoction, but had not required to try 

 its efficacy after it was made. The natives throw away the root 

 part, not making any use of it. 



The bulbs of No. It52, Aconitum lieteropliylliim, Wall., are largely 

 used and exported to Kullu, chiefly as a febrifuge, called in Lahul 

 "Bonga" (Tib.). 



In lung- complaints the jelly made from the fruit of No. 294, 

 mppopliae rliamnoides, L,, is strongly recouimended by the 

 Tibetans, much in the same way, and no doubt for similar rea- 

 sons, that black-currant jelly is such a popular household remedy 

 in Scotland. 



Parts of No. 93, Todopliyllum Emodi^ Wall., No, 121, Saxifraga 

 ligulata^ Wall., No. 196, Pedicularis Ilool'erianay Wall., No. 2G3, 

 Dolomicea macrocepliala, DC, and No. 290, Ephedra Gerardiana^ 

 Wall., are said to be used; but for Avhat diseases or reasons we 

 cannot say. The Ehubarbs are not used medicinally, although the 

 young stalks and leaves are eaten as vegetables. No. 112, Eheiim 

 JEmodi, Wall., " Lachu," would no doubt prove a useful purgative ; 

 as, although this plant has been cultivated in the Mission garden 

 as a substitute for European Ehubarb, it does not as yet seem to 

 have lost its purgative property. 



Sug^r, " Kara," wholly an article of importation, is chiefly used 

 medicinally, no doubt partially to correct the flavour of their 

 coarse drugs. In the houses of the poor it is quite unknown ; and 

 not seldom are the missionaries applied to for a little bit of 

 sugar in cases of disease where a European would not think 

 of sugar being able to do any good. 



Scent, — The plant of No. 149, Delphinium JSrunonianum, Boyle, 



