304 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



wounds and ulcers, and syringing out the vagina in the after- 

 treatment of parturition, &c. When the pustules of small or 

 cow-pox burst and begin to ulcerate, the Hindu medical practi- 

 tioners invariably recommend the application of the paste of the 

 fresh margosa leaves two or three times in the twenty-four 

 hours, and speak highly of its healing power. As the paste is a 

 slight stimulant and antiseptic, I thought the supposition of 

 Vythians is not without foundation, and therefore watched some 

 of the cases under its use and found the result to be good in 

 all the slight and ordinary cases. In some severe forms of 

 ulceration from small-pox, however, it proved quite useless, as 

 naturally expected. On the whole, the use of the paste is quite 

 justifiable in many slight and ordinary cases of ulceration from 

 the pustules of small or cow-pox. The aroma of the fresh or 

 recently dried leaves is sufficient to prevent the attack of insects, 

 and they are therefore often placed in books and clothes by the 

 natives of this country ; but they are much inferior to camphor 

 in this respect. 



" The flowers are useful in some cases of atonic dyspepsia 

 and general debility. The gum being bestowed with a slight 

 tonic action in addition to its demulcent property, it is a better 

 auxiliary to other remedies than Gum Arabic and feronia gum 

 in catarrhal and other affections, particularly when the latter 

 are accompanied by great debility. The toddy of the margosa 

 tree appears to be of great service in some chronic and long- 

 standing cases of leprosy and other skin diseases, consumption, 

 atonic dyspepsia and general debility, and although I have not 

 prescribed it myself, I am acquainted with several persons who 

 praise the drug very highly from personal use and observation. 

 It is, however, extremely scarce, and this is a great drawback 

 to its use and adoption into general practice. 



"Preparations. — Of the root-bark, bark and young fruit — 

 Decoction, tincture and powder. Decoction : Take of the inner 

 layer of the root-bark, cut into small pieces, four ounces ; 

 water, two pints ; boil on a slow fire till the liquid is reduced to 

 one pint, and strain while hot. The decoction of the bark is 

 prepared in precisely the same manner, and in both cases the 



