70 MR. W. E. ARMIT ON MEDICINAL PLANTS 
subsisting on half-cooked victuals, whenever we were fortunate 
enough to shoot a kangaroo or catch some fish. As a conse- 
quence fever and ague soon put in an appearance, rapidly fol- 
lowed by dysentery. I was fortunate in escaping both; but 
several troopers succumbed, and I found it difficult to proceed. 
My corporal told me that quinine was useless, and offered to 
show me a *bujdgeree" (splendid) plant which would stop the 
dysentery at once. He did so; and it proved to be the common 
Grewia polygama, Roxb., the seeds of which Leichardt mentions 
as producing a subacid drink when boiled. 
Collecting a quantity of the leaves, I returned to camp, and 
gave each of my patients about an ounce of the liquid decoction, 
which was of a pale sherry-colour. I repeated the dose every 
four hours throughout the night; and the sixth dose completed 
a radical cure. 
Since then I have tried this remedy in scores of cases ; and I 
have never known it to fail in any case, however serious. I have 
made it a rule to inform the carriers and travellers I meet of 
the sure cure they have always at hand, in case it may be 
required; and all are unanimous in extolling its truly magical 
properties. 
The importance of possessing a specific against the most insi- 
dious disease to which Europeans are subject in tropical coun- 
tries cannot be underrated ; and as the plant grows abundantly 
throughout N.E. and N.W. Queensland, it comes within the 
reach of all. 
It would be interesting to introduce it into general practice, 
and thus test its value either in extract, tincture, powder, or 
decoction. It is so plentiful—a very weed, in fact—that large 
quantities could easily be procured for experimental purposes ; 
and I shall be most happy to forward a supply of the dried 
plants to any gentleman wisbing to test its efficacy. 
My next discovery was due to a miner who had poisoned his 
hand while at work in a claim on the Etberidge Gold-fields. An 
ugly ulcer had formed on the knuckle of the third finger of his 
right hand; and it resisted every attempt he made to heal it. At 
last he came to me; and I prescribed iodide of potassium, a char- 
coal poultice, and total abstinence. 
One of my men brought me a branch of Careya arborea, Roxb, 
He proceeded at once to make a pulp of a quantity of the 
leaves, which I placed on the ulcer, forcing the pulp well into its 
