JATROPHA CURCAS 215 



Fenugreek seeds is a highly prized remedy for chronic dysen- 

 tery, mentioned by Ainslie. The leaves are bitter and tonic 

 and in Bombay they are in common use in gonorrhoea to cor- 

 rect the acidity of the urine. Bruised and mixed with salt they 

 make a sort of jelly frequently used as an application for itch ; 

 without salt the same is used for contusions. 



The dose of the leaf juice of both species, for internal use, 

 is 15 grams a day in divided doses. 



A decoction of the entire plant well dried and powdered, is 

 given for jaundice in doses of 5 grams a day. 



The milky juice of the stem is useful in the local treatment 

 of ulcers. The bruised root is employed in Concan for neu- 

 ralgia. 



Botanical Description. — P. Niruri is an herb with straight 

 stem. Leaves alternate, pinnate with stylet in place of the 

 odd leaflet. Leaflets nearly oval, glabrous, 2 stipules at the 

 base. Flowers monoecious, greenish, axillary; the staminate 

 growing along the common petiole above the pistillate. Stami- 

 nate : Calyx, 5 lanceolate, entire sepals ; no corolla; 1 filament 

 with 1 anther. Pistillate : Calyx and corolla as above ; ovary 

 free, 3 biovulate cells ; style with 2 stigma-bearing branches. 

 Fruit capsular, globose. 



P. urinaria may be distinguished by its sessile flowers and 

 reddish stem. 



Habitat. — Very common in Manila and all over Luzon. 



Jatropha Curcas, L. 



Nom. Vulg. — Tuba, Tag.; Kasla, Vis.; Tawatawa, Hoc. 

 (Seeds called " English Physic Nuts " in India.) 



Uses. — The milky juice of the trunk and branches is a 

 drastic purgative, too active for safety as a physic. Mixed with 

 water it is used as a wash for atonic ulcers. 



The seeds yield 25-30 per cent, of a yellowish oil, more 

 active than castor oil as a purgative but less certain. Ten or 



