ALEURITES MOLUCCANA 217 



Aleurites Moluccana, Willd. (A. triloba, Forst. and Blanco.) 



NOM. VULG. Lumbdn, Kapili, Tag.; Belgaum or Indian 

 Walnut, Indo-Eng. 



USES. The kernels are rich in oil which is used for illumi- 

 nation and the manufacture of soap. For industrial purposes 

 it is superior to linseed oil, according to the report of the Mad- 

 ras Drug Committee. 



Dr. O'Rocke states that in doses of 1-2 ounces it acts as a 

 gentle and sure purgative, producing copious bilious evacua- 

 tions after 3-6 hours, without causing nausea, colic or other 

 similar effects. The municipal physician of Sampaloc, Seilor 

 Xerez, states that he has frequently used this oil in Manila, as 

 a purgative, and he agrees perfectly with Dr. O'Rocke as to 

 its effect. 



D. Anacleto del Rosario, the distinguished Filipino chemist, 

 tells me that he once witnessed a case of poisoning by the fruit 

 of the lumbdn, the patient being a native boy. Doubtless the 

 milky juice, so active in all the Euphorbiacea3, was the cause 

 of the symptoms. It is true that the kernel causes colic and 

 copious alvine discharges. 



Nellino's chemical analysis of the seeds is as follows : 



Water 5.25 



Fatty matter 62.97 



Cellulose 28.99 



Mineral matter 2.79 



The ashes contain the following matters : 



Lime 28.69 % 



Magnesia 6.01 " 



Potash 11.23 " 



Phosphoric acid 20.30 " 



The oil is yellow, syrupy, transparent, odorless, insipid. 

 BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. A tree with leaves bunched or 

 clustered, 3-5 lobulate with as many nerves. Petioles about 



