ARECA CATECHU 235 



general stimulant as well. It probably does possess these 

 properties but they are reversed in the case of persons who use 

 it immoderately for they lose appetite, become salivated, and the 

 whole organism degenerates. The carbonized and powdered fruit 

 is used as a dentifrice but its virtues are doubtless identical 

 with those of any vegetable charcoal, i. e., absorbent and anti- 

 septic. 



One unaccustomed to the use of bonga and chewing it for 

 the first time, usually experiences a most disagreeable combi- 

 nation of symptoms ; constriction of the oesophagus, a sensation 

 of heat in the head and face, the latter becoming red and con- 

 gested ; at the same time dizziness and precordial distress are 

 experienced. The same phenomena occur in certain persons 

 after eating palmito salad or the tender central portion of the 

 bonga and of other palms. 



The flowers are eaten in salad like the above-mentioned 

 palmito. The seed is astringent and tsenifuge ; for the latter 

 purpose it is given internally as a powder in a dose of from 16 

 to 24 grams. Its action is uncertain. The catechu which is 

 obtained in India from the Bonga differs from that obtained 

 from the Acacia Catechu and is a tonic analogous to rhatany 

 and cinchona. 



The seeds contain about 14^> of a fatty crystalline material 

 which melts at 39, and after saponification yields a crystalline, 

 fatty acid that may be regarded as a mixture of lauric and 

 muriatic acids. They also contain about 14^ of a red, amor- 

 phous tonic material which, after drying, is but slightly soluble 

 in cold or hot water. 



The lower part of the petiole of the leaves is thin and broad, 

 ensheathing the trunk, is as tough as pasteboard when dry and 

 is used in the Philippines as wrapping paper ; Dr. Bholanauth 

 Bose and other physicians of India use it as a material for 

 splints in fractures, a practice which might well be imitated in 

 Manila and especially in the country. 



