6 COMBRETACE A. 
myrobalans, it isemployed in a great number of diseases,and the 
kernel is sometimes used as an external application to inflamed — 4g 
parts. On account of its medicinal properties the tree bear 
the Sanskrit synonym of Anila-ghnaka, or ‘‘ wind-killing.’ 
According to the Nighantés the kernels are narcotic 
Mahometan writers describe Balilaj (the beleric myrobalan) as 
astringent, tonic, digestive, attenuant, and aperient, and useful 
as an astringent application to the eyes. As long as the doc- 
sweet smelling. It is uncertain what this fruit was, but it 
_ appears to have been something similar to that of the Afri 
oil palm (Hleis guineensis), the outer fleshy coating of which. 
yields an oil of the consistence of butter, having a rather plea- 
sant violet-like odour when fresh. The later Greek physician 
apply the terms pvpo8adavos and pvpeyrxos to Indian myrobalans. 
YT’. belerica produces a quantity of gum of the Bassora type, 
which is collected and mixed with soluble gums for sale as 
country gum. 
Description.—The fruit of the smaller variety 
myrobalan is nearly globular, and suddenly narrowed into a 
bert stalk, it is from 4 to # inch in diameter, fleshy, covered — 
with a close fulvous tomentum ; the stone is hard and pentago- _ 
nal, and contains a sweet oily kernel, having three prominent 
ridges from base to apex. In the larger variety the fruit. is 
ovoid and about double the size, and the flowers have a power- 4 
ful stercoraceous odour exactly resembling that of the wood 
of Celtis reticwlosa in which W. A. Dunstan has demonstrated 
the presence of skatole. The gum is mostly in vermicula: 
pieces of a yellowish-brown colour ; in watet it forms a bul cy 
gelatinous mass of insipid taste, 
Chemical composition—The percentage of tannic Bae 
| these Lo appears to vary a Hummel c 
