Proposed constitutional Remedies for Leprosy. 459 



der, and in that state administered twice a day at considerable 

 intervals in doses of about 60 grains, the external sores being 

 at the same time rubbed with the oil pressed out of the seeds. 

 The cure must be persevered in without interruption for six 

 months, and must be from time to time aided by saline pur- 

 gatives. The first symptom of improvement shows itself in 

 an abatement of the prominence and redness of the eruption, 

 and the appearance of white scales all round it. This remedy 

 has long been known to the Chinese, but those who are 

 acquainted with the active curative principle contained in the 

 seeds of the Tscharul Mugra, keep the secret to themselves 

 in their own interest.* Dr. Hobson assured us that he had 

 cured two cases of leprosy taken early, and in a very mild 

 form, by the administration of these seeds, and had seen 

 several greatly improved by their use ; but this experienced 

 physician is, like others, distrustful of the efficacy of the seeds 

 of Tscharul Mugra in cases of fully developed leprosy, which, 

 according to his view, is pre-eminently a taint of the blood, — a 

 poison which can never again be eradicated from the system. 

 In cases of scrofrila, these seeds have been found serviceable. 

 Like their brethren of the London Missionary Association, 

 the various missions of the United States of North America 



* In'an old Chinese medical work occurs the following remarks upon the plant : 

 " Tae-fung-tzi. Taste, acrid and burning: imported from the South (this obviously 

 alludes to the Straits of Malacca). Acts as an alterative on the blood, and is accord- 

 ingly useful in cases of leprosy, when the blood is corrupted. The oil pressed from 

 the seeds is also used as a remedy in ulcers, eruptions, and psoriasis, and for killing 

 worms. This drug must be exhibited in the fonn of pills." 



