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 monoacious, 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 2530 per cent, of a yellowish oil, more 

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



