55 ^EGLE MARMELOS 



characters of both these fruits are, however, so different from those 

 of Bael fruit that they cannot well be mistaken for it. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Bael fruit is said to possess 

 astringent properties, and in India it is regarded as a valuable 

 and efficacious remedy in diarrhoea, dysentery, habitual constipa- 

 tion, and irregularity of the bowels. As tried, however, in this 

 country, it does not appear to be superior, or even equal in value, 

 to some of the other official vegetable astringents in common use. 

 Some of the difference observable in the remedial effects of Bael 

 fruit as used in this country and in India is doubtless due to the 

 fact of the dried fruit being here used, whilst in India it is 

 employed in a fresh state. 



OTHER PRODUCTS OF THE BAEL TREE. The ripe fruit, which is 

 known in India as the Bengal Quince, is said to have a very 

 agreeable odour and taste. It is described as a mild aperient, 

 and the juicy pulp when mixed with water and sweetened, is 

 employed as a refrigerant drink in fevers and inflammatory affec- 

 tions attended with thirst. A preserve and a jelly are also prepared 

 from the ripe fruit with sugar, and are said to be beneficial in 

 habitual costiveness. 



The bark of the root and stem, the flowers, and the expressed 

 juice of the leaves, are also employed medicinally by the natives 

 of India ; but they do not appear to possess any very marked 

 properties. 



Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii, pt. 2, p. 549 ; Per. Mat. Med., by B. & R., 

 p. 918 ; Pharmacographia, p. 116 ; U. S. Disp., by W. & B., 

 p. 168 ; Pharmacopoeia of India, p. 46 ; Pharm. Journ., vol. x, 

 1st ser., p. 165 ; Indian Ann. of Med. Sci., vol. ii, p. 233 ; 

 Pollock, in Lancet, July, 1853, and Martin, in Lancet, 1853, 

 vol. ii, p. 53; Bentley, in Pharm. Journ, vol. viii, 2nd ser., 

 p. 654. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE. 



Drawn from a specimen in the British Museum collected by Horsfield in 

 Java. 1. A flowering branch. 2. A stamen. 3. Calyx and pistil. 4. Section 

 of the same. 5. Section of ovary. 6. Transverse section of half-ripe fruit. 

 7. Ripe fruit. 8. Seed, 9. Section of the same. (2-5 enlarged.) 



