368  SAPINDACE ZL. 
Vernacular.—Ritha (Hind.), Ponndn-kottai (Tam.), Ringin, 
Ritha (Mar.), Aritha (Guz.), Kunkudu-kayalu (Tel.), Antala, 
Artala (Can.). 
Hab.—South India, cultivated in Bengal. “Whe feat 
History, Uses, &c.—The soapnut, in Sanskrit Phenila 
and Arishta, has probably been in use among the Hindus from the 
earliest ages as a detergent, and is stillused in preference to soap 
for certain purposes, just as the soapworts were formerly used 
in the West. Malachias (3) writes: ‘* He is like a refiner’s fire 
and like fuller’s Borith, &c. In the Septuagint (270 B.C.) Borith 
is translated ‘oa’ and in the Vulgate ‘ herba’; the old Eng- 
lish translation has ‘sope.’ Malachias’ description of» the 
purgation of the sons of Levi is exactly similar to the process 
to which the Indian goldsmith submits his ornaments. Both — : 
Hindus and Mahometans use it medicinally ; the latter give it 
the name of Banduk or Finduk-i-Hindi (Indian Filbert). In 
the Nighantas it is described as hot, and a preventive of con- _ 
ception. The following account ot its properties is extracted 
from the Makhzan-el-Adwiya :—“ The pulp of the fruit is at 
first sweetish to the taste, afterwards very bitter; it is hot and 
dry, tonic and alexipharmic ; four grains in wine and sherbet 
cure colic; one miskal rubbed in water until it soaps, and then 
strained, may be given to people who have been bitten by veno- 
mous reptiles, and to those suffering from diarrhoea or cholera- 
Three or four grains may be given by the nose in all kinds of 
fits producing insensibility. Fumigations with it are useful in 
hysteria and melancholy ; externally it may be applied made into 
a plaster with vinegar to the bites of reptiles and to scrofulous 
swellings. The rootis said to be useful as an expectorant. 
Pessaries made of the kernel of the seed are used to stimulate : 
the uterus in child-birth and amenorrhcea. One miskal of the 
pulp with one-eighth of a miskal of seammony acts as a good — 
brisk purgative.” Rheede describes the tree as anti-arthritic, — 
and says a bath is prepared with the leaves, and the root is 3 
administered internally. Ainslie mentions the use of soap-nuts : 
a Vytians as an ee in asthma. In India the 
