70 CUCURBITACE. 
pei allowed to drain, saffron, leer cardamoms and mela 4 
sugar are then added. ‘4 
In insanity, epilepsy and other nervous diseases the fresh — 
juice of the fruit is given either with sugar or as an adjunct 
other medicines. According to Dr. Savinge of Rajamundry 
has been used with success in diabetes, 4 ozs. of the juice with 
100 grs. each of saffron, and the bran of red rice, are giv 
morning and evening and a strict diet enjoined. 
The fruit of B. cerifera is sub-rotund, 12 to 15 inches 
diameter, hairy when young, smooth with a whitish bloom wh 
ripe. 
TRICHOSANTHES PALMATA, fvzb. 
Fig.—Wight Ill., tt. 104, 105, 
Hab.—Throughout India. The fruit and stem. 
Vernacular.—Lal-indrayan (Hind.), Kaundal {Mar.), Mé4 
(Beng.), Koratti, Shavari (Tam.), Avagude (Can.), Kakapalam 
(Mal.), Avaguda, Abuvva (7'el.), 
History, Uses, &c.—Sanskrit writers describe Mahé. 
kéla as a kind of gourd with an exterior resembling an orange, 
but with pulp like cowdung. Mahikala is also a name of 
Ganesha, the god of wisdom, the causer and remover ol 
obstacles, the son of Shiva and Parvati. This gourd is useda 
a ear ornament (kundala) for the figure of Ganesha or aa 
which is dressed up and seated in state in every Hindu house 
once a year, to bring good luck to the inmates. At this sez 
large quantities of the fruit are brought for sale in the aise 
The plant and fruit are considered medicinal. According 
Ainslie, the fruit pounded and intimately blended with wa. 
cocoanut oil is considered a valuable application for cleani 
and healing offensive sores inside the ears, and is also used 
cure ozena. The root is said by Wight to be used asa c 
medicine, especially in inflammation of the lungs. In the 
gal Dispensatory it is stated that numerous trials were 
