AliOWEM 545 



on account of its styptic and astringent properties. Tlie 

 petiole is slightly roasted and the juice expressed. W"o 

 have seen purulent discharge from the ears in children 

 stopped by a single application. The tubers chopped fine, 

 tied in a cloth and heated, are used as a fomentation in 

 rheumatism. 



Medicinally manaka is said to be useful in anasarca, in 

 which disease it is used in the following manner. Take of the 

 meal qf the root-stock eight tolas, rice-meal sixteen tolas, 

 Water and milk forty-eight tolas each ; boil them together till 

 the water has evaporated. This preparation is called Mana- 

 manda^ and is given as an article of diet to the patient, nothing 



else being allowed during its administration except milk. 

 [Chakradatfa.) 



I 



As a vegetable, the root-stock is peeled, cut in small pieces 

 and well boiled to remove its acridity ; it is then mixed with 

 other vegetables and cooked with the usual condiments. 

 Dr. D. Basu {DictEcon. Prod, Lid.,!., 178) remarks— ''I have 

 never used it solely as a medicine ; but as food taken frequently, 

 it seems to act as a mild laxative and diuretic. In piles and 



h 



ae. 



abitual constipation it is useful/^ Surgeon- Major R. S. 



-iJutt {idem) states that it is a very agreeable vegetable during 



^convalescence of natives from bowel complaints; it is h'ghfc 



9tid nutritious and somewhat mucilaginous. The ash of the 



^oot-stocks mixed with honey is a popular remedy for 

 aphth 



Description. — The root-stock occurs in large round 

 pieces, a foot or more in length, and covered externally by the 

 trown dried remains of the leaf petioles and their sheaths. 

 Internally it is white, opaque, and starchy, and when fresh has 

 ^n acrid odour which is lost on drying. Pulped and washed 

 It yields a large quantity of pure white starch. 



Ghemical cofnposition. — The acridity of this plant has been 

 own by Pedler and Warden [Jr., A4aUc Sue, B.,.gal, 

 *oL IjVTI.^ Part II.) to be due to the large number of aciculur 

 ^HistaLs of oxalate of lime contained in its tis^suus. 



Ill -69 



8h 



