B0RAS3CTS MAMLLTPORlria. 249 



medicinally. The terminal bud of the tree is esteemed as a 

 nourishing, strengthening and agreeable vegetable. The same 

 remark-applies to the tops of tdl palm and date trees. The root 

 of the eoooa-nut is used as a diuretic as also in uterine diseases. 

 Codoanut oil is said to promote tlie growth of hair. It is muoh 

 used as a hair-oil by the lower olasses of native women. For this 

 purpose ft is scented by steeping in it a number of fragrant 

 vegetable substances sold in packets under the Bengali name of 

 Mdthdijhasd. The ashes of the leaves are used in medicine. They 

 contain a great deal of potash. The fresh juice of the tree is 

 considered refrigerent and diuretic. The fermented juice 

 constitutes one of the spirituous liquors described by the ancient 

 writers. The cleared shell of the nut or portions of it are burnt 

 in a fire and while Fed hot, covered by a stone cup. The fluid 

 deposited in the interior of the cup is rubefacient and is an 

 effectual domestic remedy for ringworm. 



Karikelakhanda} Take of the pounded pulp of cocoa-nut, 

 half a seer, fry it in eight tolas of clarified butter, and afterwards 

 boil in four seers of cocoa-nut water till reduced to a syrupy 

 consistence. Now add coriander, long pepper, bamboo manna, 

 cumin seeds, nigella seeds, cardamoms, cinnamon, fejapatra, the 

 tubers of Cy perns rotundus (mnstaha ), and the flowers of Memo, 

 ferret* ( n&gaJees&ra ) one tola each in fine powder and prepare a 

 confection. Dose, two to four tolas, in dyspepsia and consumption. 



BORASSUS FLABELLIFORMIS, Linn. 



Sans. 



:*BTT 



F, 



• * 



The properties of the various parts of this noble palm are 

 described in detail in Sanskrit works. The root is cooling and 

 restorative. "The saccharine juice obtained by the excision of the 

 spadix or young flowering branch," is when freshly drawn, 



32 



