JIIMUSOPS ELENGI 157 



large doses should be avoided as they contain a small propor- 

 tion of hydrocyanic acid. The proper dose is 5—6 mashed 

 seeds in sweetened water. They contain, in addition to the 

 above, a fatty substance' of the consistency of butter. 



The trunk bark is tonic and febrifuge ; Mr. Bernou ' has 

 isolated from it a crystalline alkaloid, sapotine, soluble in ether, 

 chloroform or alcohol, but not in water ; a large per cent, of 

 xapoianie acid and two resins. 



T^e trunk exudes, when incised, a milky resin, closely re- 

 sembling guttapercha and possibly susceptible of the same uses. 



Botanical Descriptiox. — Trees, about 11° high, with 

 leaves lanceolate, keeled, entire, glabrous. Flowers pure 

 white, solitary or by twos, terminal, very long peduncles. 

 Calyx, 6 sepals, 3 within the others, inferior persistent. Cor- 

 olla j ug-shaped, the border divided into 12 parts, the 6 smaller 

 ones alternating and within the others. Stamens 6, inserted 

 near the border of the inner petals and opposite the outer 

 circle. Filaments very short. Style long. Stigma obtuse, fruit 

 globose, resembling a small pear, russet brown, crotvned with 

 the hardened style, more than 10 compartments, each contain- 

 ing a seed. Seed oval, flattened, joined to a central fleshy axis. 



Habitat. — Common all over the Archipelago. Blooms in 

 April. 



Mimusops Elen^, L. 



XoM. Vui/;. — Kcihihi, Tag. 



Uses. — Its flowers are fragrant and generally well known. 

 The trunk bark is astringent, and in decoction is given by 

 mouth for fevers and diarrhoea. Locally is used as an injection 

 for blenorrhcea, as a gargle for sore throat or relaxed uvula, and 

 a mouth wash to harden the gums. Horsfield states that the 

 Javanese use it as a tonic and antiperiodic. In India an 

 aqueous distillate is employed as a perfume and therapeutically 

 as a stimulant. In Concan they chew the green fruit for tooth- 

 >L' Union Pharm., Vol. XXIII., p. 291. 



