THE POISONOUS PLANTS OF BOMBAY, 257 



" I have had several opportunities of observing the effects of 

 marking-nuts and my long observation leads me to believe that 

 Anacardium orientate is a specific dermato-irritant, its special 

 affinity being for the skin of the face, alae nasi, lobes of the ear, and lips 

 and to some extent the trunk and upper extremities. Of course 

 locally applied it may affect any part of the skin. The swellings over 

 the nose, &c, have a striking resemblance to leprosy, and this may 

 account for its recommendation for that disease in native medicine. 

 Indeed modern Homoeopathic therapeutics recommend it against 

 leprosy on account of its homceopathicity to that disease. It is said 

 also that long continued internal use of the drug causes failure of 

 memory and some forms of unsoundness of mind." 



In a further note Dr. Garde adds the following remarks : 



"Marking-nut is one of those drugs like Quinine, Nux- Vomica 

 Ipecacuanha for which certain individuals show a great 

 idiosyncrasy. I have seen people eating these nuts with 

 cocoanut kernel without any harm, and many have used a decoction of 

 about a dozen nuts quite safely. There are, on the other hand, some 

 people, especially children who get their face swollen simply by being 

 exposed to the effluvia of the nut, evolved when it is being broken for 

 external application. These effluvia have been known to affect this 

 way even from a considerable distance. The people of Gujrat and 

 Kathyawar are more sensitive to its action than the Dekkanees. 

 Darker races seem to resist its action ; and people of fair complexion 

 are very sensitive to its action." 



I am all the more grateful to Dr. Garde for these interesting remarks, 

 especially as he is convalescent from a serious illness, and has promptly 

 complied with my request in a very trying condition. Although I am 

 not prepared to accept his Homoeopathic views, I have let him speak 

 in his own way in extenso. There is one remark I would make, and 

 that is with reference to his observation that the long continued 

 internal use of the nut causes failure of memory, and brings on some 

 forms of unsoundness of mind. In the body of the paper I have 

 already observed that I have seen it used in a case of leprosy for 

 improving lost memory. I have also quoted from Masters the view 

 that it stimulates the mental powers, and especially the memory. 



