596 GRAMINEM 



nursiDg infants, is apt to arise from over-feeding. Loaf-sugar^ 

 eaten freely^ is said to arrest the development of alcoholic 

 intoxication, perhaps hy retarding gastric absorption. A 



& 



rectum 



successfully to destroy ascarides of that part. In powder it is 

 very efficient as a remedy for aphthse of the mouth, in repress- 

 ing the exuberant and stimulating the indolent granulations of 

 ulcers, in removing opacities of the cornea, and in curing 

 granular eyelids. Sugar has been claimed by Fischer to be an 

 efficient antiseptic dressing for wounds. He associated it, 

 however, with other antiseptics ; but Windelschmidt states 

 that for small wounds sugar is equal to iodoform as a dressing 

 {Med. NewSy xliii., 462). In chronic laryngitis, when inhaled 

 by a sudden aspiration from a tube extending to the root of 

 the tongue, it may be used with advantage alone or mixed 

 with other powders. In the same manner it may be employed 

 as a snufi in chronic ozaena. The fumes from burnt sugar 

 destroy offensive effluvia, and are conveniently disengaged by 

 sprinkling sugar upon burning coals or on a hot shovel. 

 (Stille and Maisch.) We have already referred to the use of 

 sweetmeats by opium-eaters to counteract the effects of the drug 

 (p. 96, Vol. I.). 



Cultivation. — -The sugar-cane season comprises nearly a 

 twelvemonth. The land chosen is usually a good loam or 

 light clay manured. The leafy ends of the preceding season's 

 canes are cut off, or the whole cane is chopped into pieces so as 

 in any case to include two nodes or joints, and these, to the 

 number of about 20,000 per acre^ are planted in furrows in 

 January and February. The land is irrigated occasionally 

 from this time to the commencement of the rains. The 

 harvest begins in the beffinnino^ of Dpfipmbftr. and the cutting 



crui 



January 



:incr the few mills xmder 



th 



by primitive, and, therefore, rude processes. The average 

 outturn per cent, of cane in the North- West Provinces is stated 



canes 



