URTICAOE^. 345 



tr. Mussi separated from fig sap a digestive ferment which he 

 named *^cradina," irom krade {KpaSr))^ the name given by the 

 Greeks to the part of the fig with which they associated the 

 digestive property. It contains nitrogen, and differs from 

 pepsin in maintaining its digestive power in an alkaline liquor, 

 and from papain or papayotin in being insoluble in water, 

 not precipitated from solution by alcohol or lead acetate, and 

 in its activity not being diminished in the presence of hydro- 

 chloric acid. 



The following species of Ficus are also considered to have 

 medicinal properties ; 



Ficus Rumphii, BL King F/c 54, L 673, 84t; Wighe 



Ic, t. 640,— Pakar (Zfmc/.)» Gai-asvat {Beug.), Pair, Ashta 

 {Mai\), a native of the hill slopes of North-Westcrn and Central 

 India, is a tree having much the appearance of the Pipal ; 

 leaves on very long petioles (6 to 8 in.), broad-cordate, with a 

 short and sudden acumination, rather membranaceous with 

 waved margins, finely reticulated beneath, perfectly smooth ; 

 fruit paired, sessile, round, smooth, black, of the size and 

 appearance of a black cherry. The juice is used in the Concan 

 to kill worms, and is given internally with turmeric, pepper 

 and ghf, in pills, the si^e of a pea, for the relief of asthma ; it 

 causes vomiting. The juice is also burned in a closed vessel 

 with the flowers of Mudar, and four gimjas' weight of the 

 ashes mixed with honey is given for the same purpose. 



Ficus retusa, Linn. King Fie. 50, t. 61, 62, 84p; mg/it 



Ic, t. 642, — Kamrup {Hind 



Ma) 



Himalay 



cinally in rheumatism, the leaves and bark being pounded and 

 applied as a poultice. In the Concan the following prescription 

 is in use for flatulent colic : — Take of Nandruk leaf -juice, Tulsi 

 leaf- juice, and ghi, equal parts; boil until all the water has 

 evaporated ; do this again 21 times with fresh quantities of the 

 juice of the two plants ; the residuum may then be applied to 

 the belly, and fomentation with a hot brick be practised. 



III. — 44 



