244 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



and the center soaked over night with a little sugar candy. 

 The following day the water in the bottom of the jar is col- 

 lected and used to paint the cornea. 



The variety Dendrocalamus sericens, Munro (J3. mitis, Blanco), 

 Taywanah, Tag., is also used in medicine. Its abundant sap is 

 given internally in the treatment of phthisis. 



All of the above species and the Dendrocalcihius flagellifer, 

 Munro (i?. levis, Blanco), ^o/io. Tag., produce at their joints a 

 hard porcelain-like substance, friable, of opaline color, called 

 " bamboo stone " or " tabashir " in India, where, as well as in 

 the Philippines and Indo-China, it has great repute among the 

 popular remedies. It is given in venereal diseases, hiccough, 

 hemorrhage, fevers and other diseases. As a matter of fact, it 

 is an almost inert substance, the imaginary virtues of which 

 originated, doubtless, in the apparently remarkable fact that a 

 stone (?) was produced inside of a vegetable. 



The analysis of M. Guibourt is as follows : 



Silicon 96.04 



Water 2.94 



Lime and potassium 0.13 



Organic material Traces. 



