334 COCOA-NUT TREE. 



There are medicinal properties attributed to 

 different parts of the cocoa-nut tree in Ceylon ; 

 the root (the Tumu Haari of the natives of Tahiti) 

 is used by the native doctors, small pieces of it 

 being boiled with dried ginger and jaggery, and 

 the decoction given at stated regular periods, 

 and is considered highly efficacious in remittent 

 and intermittent fevers. When this decoction 

 is used as a gargle, it is mixed with the fresh 

 oil of the nut, and generally affords considerable 

 relief to the patient ; and has good effect, it is 

 said, in cases where pustules have formed in the 

 mouth or tonsils. The expressed juice of the 

 leaves, mixed with the fresh oil of the nut, is 

 considered a sovereign remedy in hemorrhoids. 

 The expressed juice of the nut, used as an ex- 

 ternal application, mixed with new milk, is re- 

 garded by the Singalese as a good remedy for 

 ophthalmic complaints. 



It has been asserted, I believe by Lord Va- 

 lentia, that cocoa-nut trees were injurious to the 

 air in the places where they grew. Dr. Davy 

 notices this in his excellent work on Ceylon, 

 and says, " Respecting the good effect of the 

 wind from the sea, there can be no doubt ; and 

 almost as little can be entertained respecting the 

 ameliorating effect of cultivation, and the benefit 

 derived from the shade of cultivated trees. Un- 

 fortunate would it be for the island, were the 



