540 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[January i, 1885. 



natural anil renewed barks are shown, and in some instances 

 root bark and shavings as well. A box of the tools used in 

 collecting and harvesting the bark illustrates the process of 

 renewing the bark, which is rendered more easy to understand 

 by au album of photographs which represents the collection 

 of cinchona, as well as that of cinnamon and of other pro- 

 ducts. The tools consist of an American box shaver, a cast 

 iron concave and a convex shaver, and a small and large 

 peeler for stripping off the baric. An ordinary pruning saw 

 and a large pruning knife are also used in the process, but 

 as they are not special tools they are not shown. 



Tlefore the visitor has remained a few seconds in front of 

 this exhibit lie becomes sensible of a delicious fragrance, the 

 source of which is not at first apparent ; it proceeds, how- 

 ever, from a window-screen close by which is made of the 

 roots of kus kus {Andropogon muricatus), used in Ceylou 

 anil India, when sprinkled with water, to cool and perfume 

 the air, but in this country the root is better known under 

 the name of " vittie vayr " or " vetivert," and chiefly used 

 as a preventive of moths. Eeside the collection of cinchona 

 barks there is a number of other barks used in medicine by 

 the natives, whose names and uses for these barks are not 

 devoid of interest. As but little is known on these points, 

 Mr. Alexander kindly allowed the use of his notes for the 

 purpose of recording such information here. To these a few 

 additional notes have been added, which have been enclosed 

 in brackets. 



1. Acacia concinna " Hingooroo-wel." — The decoction of 

 the bark is used for ulcerated throat. [In other sections of 

 the Indian Department these fruits are shown as a tanning 

 material.] 



2. Acacia stipidata, "Mara." — Used for swellings. 



3. Artocarpus inteyrifolia, " Oos." — The inner bark of the 

 root of the Jack tree, which is of a rich orange colour, is 

 used in dyeing the robes of the priests. 



4. Alstonia scltolaris, " Rookatana." — In Oeylon this bark 

 is used in the treatmeut of cutaneous and scrofulous dis- 

 eases. [In the Philippines it is used in fever and in India in 

 dysentery.] 



5. Bombax mala.ba.rica, " Kata imbil." — An astringent gum 

 is obtained from the bark. 



6. Briedclia retusa " Kata-kela." — The sap from the bark 

 is used in the treatment of sores. 



7. Barrinytonia racemosa. — The decoction of the bark is 

 considered to be a good tonic. 



8. Careya arhorea, " Oahatta." — Used in medicine as an 

 astringent. It is considered to be one of the best tanning 

 barks in Ceylon. [The bark being fibrous is also made into 

 a rough cordage, and in some parts of India is said to 

 be prepared for use as a slow match. According to Dymock, 

 it contains much mucilage and is used for preparing 

 emollient embrocations.] 



9. Celtis dysanocyton, " Gooranda." — A piece of this 

 bark hung up near a dwelling-house is used as a charm 

 to drive away evil spirits. This bark when broken has 

 a disgusting odour, like that of human fasces, which is 

 also possessed by the wood [and is probably due to the 



. presence of uaphthylamiue], 



10. Cinnamon. 



11. Calosanthes indica, "Jobilla." — Said to be used as 

 a dye. [In India, however, it is held to possess powerful 

 diaphoretic and slight anodyne properties. Dr. Evers 

 treated twenty-eight cases of acute rheumatism with the 

 bark, and in all the results were most satisfactory. He 

 considers that when combined with opium it is a much 

 more powerful sudorific than the compound ipecacaunha 

 powder. The dose of the powdered bark is 5 to 15 grains 

 in infusion (Dymock, 'Mat. Med. of W. India,' p.. 457.] 



12. Cassia Fistula, " Ahalla." — A decoction of the bark 

 is used as a purgative. 



13. Caseaiia ceybanica, u Walwaraka." — The bark is 

 used as an anthelmintic. 



1-1. Cyminosma pedunculated, " Ami keuda." — The extract 

 of the bark is used aa an application to bruises and sores. 



15. Crutceva Roxburgii, " Luruwarana." — Said to yield 

 a medicinal oil. 



16. Eugenia revoluta, ""Welle damba." — Used for bruises. 



17. F.uyenia assitnilis, " Kosdamba." — The juice from 

 the bark is considered to be cooling and is used for rub- 

 bing over the skin. 



IS. Ficus laccifera, " Nugu." — The lac insect lives on 

 the bark 



19. Glycicarpus racemosus, "Balla."— The juice of the 

 bark causes great pain and swelling. 



20. Owrcinia Morella, " Gamboge."— The bark is used 

 as a yellow dye. 



21. Gmdina Rheedii, " At-de-Mettia."— The decoction 

 is given to women after childbirth. 



22. Phyllanthus emblica, " Metti."— The bark is used 

 in tanning, as well as the fruit and is considered one of 

 the best for the purpose. [In the Indian exhibit from 

 Cuddapah some very perfect fruits of this plant may be 

 seen.] 



23. Leea Staphylea, " Booroola."— The young stems are 

 used as a remedy for fever. 



24. Maca.ra.nya tomentosa, " Kenda."— Used for cuts and 

 bruises. 



25. NoMclea cordifolia, "Collong."— A cooling plaster 

 is made from an extract of the bark. 



26. Naaclca, sp., " Bakome."— The decoction is used for 

 venereal diseases. 



27. Paraminyyna monophi/lla, " Wallangeriga." — Used 

 as a dye. [In Goa, according to Dymock, it is used as 

 an alterative tonic] 



28. _ Pongamia glabra, " Madul Oarrandu." — The inner 

 bark is used in medicine [probably for cutaneous diseases.] 



29. Sapindus laurifolius, " Peuella." — The decoction is 

 employed as a tonic. 



30. Symplocos coronata, " Allu bombe." — Used in 

 ophthalmia. [S, racemosa is employed for the same pur- 

 pose in India.] 



31. Schleichera trijuga, "Cong." — Used in tanning. 



32. Tabernosmontana dichotoma, "Diwi Kaduru." — Used 

 as au application to bruises. 



33. Thespesia pupulnea, "Gau surria." — Used for bowel 

 complaints. 



34. Terminalia Ghebula, "Arallo." — Used for tanning. 



35. Tinospora cordifolia, " Bassa siuda." — The young 

 stems are used in fevers. 



36. Vitex altissima, " Melilla." — Possesses purgative 

 properties. 



The specimens of native oils exhibited include those 

 of Azadirachta indict/, Bassia lonyifotia or mee oil, Cana- 

 rium zeylancium, or kekune oil, ' Cal opbyllum IValkeri or 

 kina oil, and those of Qorypha umliraculijera, Dipterocarpus 

 ylandidosus, " Dorana," and D. ceylan'icus or hora, and 

 others which are better known. 



Coconut oil is represented under three varieties, — the 

 ordinary, an extra fine quality used for hair oil, and the 

 oil of the king coconut, which is a large variety of the 

 fruit. Arrack, vinegar, treacle, and numerous other pro- 

 ducts illustrate the value of the coconut palm to the 

 natives, and a similar series of one hundred aud seventy 

 articles shows the importance of the Palmyra palm, 

 Borassus flabelliformis, in native industries. Tapioca and 

 arrowroot are two of the products obtained from this palm, 

 and splints form another. The arrowroot, which appears 

 to be of fine quality, is obtained from the root. 



Besides the barks, of which a list has been given above, 

 there are a series of roots and herbs used in medicine 

 neatly arranged and numbered in separate compartments 

 in a show case. Many of these are familiar as well- 

 known English or Indian drugs. Others less known are — 

 Guilandina Bonduc (3), " Kooboora." — The root is used 

 in diarrluea. 



Flemingia strobdifira, (4), "Han Pilla." — Use not men- 

 tioned. 



diisiicia Adhatoda, " Paa Wetta." — Used in fevers. [In 

 India it is employed as an expectorant and antispasmodic] 

 Jasiniiiinii flexile. — The leaves and twigs are used for 

 toothache. 



Other remedies which do not seem to be used in India, 

 but concerning the properties of which there is no in- 

 formation available at present, are : — Layenandra laurifulia, 

 Ct/nactuiunn pauciftormn, Xylopia parviflora, or "Nattu," 

 Gymnema TOlundatum, or " Eerri angoona," Clematis 

 Gourtiina, Alternanthera sessilis, or " Mokoo-wana," 

 Pliaseolus mdiatus, or "'Wal-maa," Piliostigma racemosa, 

 or " Myla," Njimphira stellata, and Elettaria involucrata, 

 or " Arrata." The lastnamed root bears a close similarity 

 in colour and general appearance to galangal root, and, 

 were it not for the difference in flavour, might easily 

 pass for that drug. 



Other commercial products worth notice are a ver 



