156 SANSKRIT MATERIA MKjDK'A. 





CASSIA FISTULA, Linn. 



Sans, *ttw$j Aragbadha. 3«W4T, Sutarnaka. 

 Vent. AmulttUi Hind. Sondhdli, Beng. 



Cassia fistula is indigenous to India and is an old medicine 

 of the Hindu Materia Medica. "The tree is uncommonly beautiful 

 when in flower, few surpassing it in the elegance of its numerous 

 long pendulous racemes of large bright yellow flowers, intermixed 

 with the young lively green foliage/ 1 Hence I believe its 

 Sanskrit name of R&jataru or the king of trees. 'Die pulp of 

 the fruit is used as a mild cathartic. The root ia also described as 

 laxative, and useful in fever, heart diseases, retained excretions, 

 biliousness, etc. 



Aragbadhddi. 1 The compound decoction which passes by this 

 name is a very commonly used purgative in native practice. To 

 prepare it, ta,ke of the pulp of Oassia fistula, Picrorrhiza Kurroa 

 (kafuki), chebulic myrobalans, long pepper root and the tubers 

 of Gypcms rotundas (mustaka), about sixty -four grains each, water 

 thirty-two tolas, and boil down to eight tolas. Half of this 

 quantity, or in strong constitutions the whole of it, is given for 

 a dose. The root of Cassia fistula euters into the composition of 

 numerous compound prescriptions. 



CASSIA SOPHOKA, Linn, Sans. <*\<mi y KammarJa. Tern. 



K'Hkusiindd, Beng. Kdsundd, Bind. 



CASSIA TORA, Linn. Sans, ^mi Chakramarda. Vern. 



Ghdkuwlia, Beng. Chakaxud, Hind. 



CASSIA ALATA, Li . Sam. jigp, Dadrughna. V&rn. 



Uddmardan, Beng. and Hind. 



The leaves and seeds of these three plants are used in skin 

 diseases, and enter into the composition of numerous prescriptions 

 for them. Kdsamarda signiBes destroyer of eMgh. It is described 

 as expectorant and useful in cough and hoarseness, but it does 

 not appear to be much used in these diseases. 



*K WIVING || 



Wff'W. I 



