416 SCTTAMINEM 



Chemical compomtion. — The fatty matters dissolved out of 

 tins tuber by ether consisted of a fragrant liquid oil, and a 

 solid AA bite crystalline substance separated by petroleum etlier. 

 The alcoholic extract, amounting to 2*7Q per cent., contained 

 some white ti'ansparent prisms of an alkaline nitrate, and a 

 few nodules of a circular- shaped crystals of a yellowish colour. 

 This extract contained a small quantity or alkaloid^ and some 

 sweet body reducing Fehling's solution. A large quantity of 

 starch is present, and 4' 14 per cent, of gum. The tubers dried 

 at lOO^C lost 4' 11 per cent, of moisture, and jdclded 13 '73 

 per cent- of mineral matter. 



KiEMPFERIA ROTUNDA, Limu 



Yig.—Rosc. Scit, t 97 ; Bot. Mag., t. 920 and 6054; JFiy/d 

 Ic.f t 2029 ; RJicedc, Hort. MaL xi., t. 9. 



Hab. — Throughout India, often cultivated. 



Vernacular. — Bhurae-champa [RincL), Bhin-champa [Beng,)^ 

 Bhin-champo {Gnz.)j Bhin-chapha {Mar.), Konda-kalava (TeL), 

 Malan-kua {MaL) 



History, Uses, &C. — This plant, called in Sanskrit 

 Bhurai-champaka, *^ ground champaka," from the sweetness of 

 its flowers resembling that of the champaka (Michelia), though 

 not mentioned in the E.aja-nirghanta, is one of the commonest 

 domestic remedies of the Hindus. Its small globular pendu- 

 lous tubers, at one time supposed to be the " round zedoary '* of 

 the druggists^ are used throughout India as a local application 

 to tumours, wounds, and swellings of all kinds. Rheede states 

 that in Malabar the whole plant, when reduced to powder, and 

 used in the form of an ointment, is considered to be of wonder- 

 ful efficacy in healing fresh wounds, and that, taken internally, 

 it is thought to remove any coagulated blood or purulent matter 

 that may bo within the body ; he adds that the root is a useful 

 application to anasarcous swellings. In Western India the 

 tubers are used as a popular local application in mumps* {Gal- 



Tuberous roots were used by the ancients for the same purpose. Cf. 

 Scrib. Larg, Comp. 4ri. 



