162 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



caducous lobules. Corolla white, twisted, cylindrical, with 

 salver-shaped limb divided in 5 rhomboid lobes, throat stellate 

 and woolly. Stamens 5. Filaments joined to the corolla, their 

 ends thickened. Anthers arrow-shaped. Ovary, 2 uniovulate 

 locules. Style, same length as stamens. Stigma thick, conical, 

 lobulate. Two drupes joined at the base (one usually aborted), 

 brown, large, oval, fleshy, with woody fibrous nut of a single 

 flattened seed. 



Habitat. — Luzon. Blooms in July. 



Plumeria acutifolia, Poir. (P. alba, Blanco.) 



Nom. Vulg. — Calackuche, Sp.-Fil.; KalatsuUi, Kalasusi, Tag. 



Uses. — This tree, beloved for its fragrant flowers, has a wide 

 therapeutic use in India and the Philippines. The bark is a 

 bitter hydragogue cathartic and is given in decoction (5-10 

 grams to 200 water) principally for dropsy ; however the milky 

 juice of the trunk is preferable for this purpose, given in emul- 

 sion in doses of 0.50-0.80 grams. The bark and the tips of 

 the branches are given as an emmenagogue. 



The bark of the root and of the trunk is an excellent remedy 

 for blenorrhagia. The fresh bark is thoroughly comminuted 

 and mixed with sweetened water in the proportion of 60 grams 

 to 4 liters ; this mixture is put in the sun for 4 days, and 

 shaken from time to time. It is then strained and given in 

 doses of 4-5 glassfuls a day, at the same time with refresh- 

 ing and emollient drinks, and prolonged tepid baths. At first 

 this preparation exerts a purgative action, but later acts upon 

 the urinary organs, rapidly lessening the suppurative process in 

 urethritis. The bark may also be associated with wine or beer, 

 in the proportion of 30 grams to the liter, the dose being 2-4 

 small cupfuls a day and Dr. Grosourdy employs the extract of 

 the bark in doses aggregating 0.20-0.25 gram a day, gradu- 

 ally increased till at the end of a week 6 grams are taken daily 

 (Dr. J, Amadeo). 



