LAWSONIA ALBA 119 



with water it gives it a yellow color, and when boiled the tone 

 of the liquid becomes darker ; the addition of an alkali turns 

 it brown. In Persia they add indigo to this solution and use 

 it as a hair dye. 



The Hindoos apply the bruised leaves to the soles of the feet 

 of small-pox patients, their purpose being to prevent the spread 

 of the eruption to the eyes. They also use it locally in a dis- 

 ease known among them as " burning of the feet." Grierson 

 and Waring obtained good results in this disease by making a 

 paste of the bruised leaves and vinegar ; cases that resisted 

 such treatment yielded completely to a brisk rubbing of the 

 feet with a simple paste of the leaf. The decoction and the 

 bruised leaves are also used locally for contusions. 



The bark has been given in jaundice, hypertrophy of the 

 spleen, calculi of various sorts, leprosy and stubborn skin dis- 

 eases, as an alterative. In decoction it is applied to burns. 



An English physician, Dr. Newton, made an extract of the 

 leaves and flowers with which he pretended to cure leprosy ; it 

 w r as but one more useless drug in the long list used to combat 

 that terrible disease. The dose of the extract is a teaspoonful 

 daily, given in 2 doses. 



The juice of the leaves is given in sweetened water in some 

 countries as a remedy for spermatorrhoea. 



The flowers are given in decoction for headache and the fruit 

 is emmenagogue. 



Botanical Description. — A small tree, about 12° high. 

 Leaves opposite, lanceolate, broad, entire, glabrous and tough, 

 the edges turned downwards. Flowers yellowish-white, term- 

 inal in racemose panicles with opposite peduncles. Calyx in- 

 ferior, bell-shaped, 4 acute sepals. Corolla, 4 petals, longer 

 than the calyx. Stamens 8, inserted by pairs on the segments 

 of the calyx, alternating with and longer than the petals. An- 

 ther kidney-shaped. Ovary at the bottom of the calyx. Styles 

 of the same length as the stamens. Stigma obtuse. Seed ves- 



