308 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



2. The bark has astringent, antiperiodic, and alterative properties, and 

 may be used as an infusion in the same way as the leaves. 



8. The oil, I think, is the most active medicinal part of the plant. Ex- 

 ternally, it has stimulant, antiseptic, and alterative properties and is very 

 useful in chronic syphilitic sores and indolent ulcers, which show no tendency 

 to heal. If the effect of the pure oil be found too stimulating, it should be 

 diluted with equal parts of some bland oil or even a weaker strength may be 

 necessary. 



The oil is also extremely useful as a parasiticide in various cutaneous 

 affections, such as ringworm, scabies, and others, where the presence of any 

 kind of parasite may be suspected. It rapidly destroys the parasite and induces 

 a healthy action. When the parasite is in the deeper layers of the skin, it 

 will be necessary to rub the oil well in for perhaps 10 minutes or more at a 

 time. I have used this oil in mange in dogs and found it useful. 



Internally, the oil in 5-10 minim doses, once or twice a day, is useful in 

 chronic malarial fevers, in syphilis, leprosy and other diseases where an 

 alterative action is indicated. I have used it internally for the last 12 years, 

 chiefly in chronic malarial fevers, and have no hesitation in saying that it is 

 a drug of undoubted value in these fevers. Vide my "Record of Indian 

 Fevers," 1899, published, by Messrs. Thacker, Spink & Co. 



In the Indian Forester for June 1913, pp. 264-265, 

 Mr. T. P. Ghose, B. Sc, Assistant to Forest Chemist, Dehra 

 Dun, writes : — 



NEEM TODDY. 



In the December issue of the Indian Forester, Mr. Allen brought to 

 the notice of its readers the fact that leprous persons eagerly take the 

 exudation of Neem as a remedy against the hateful malady. This belief is 

 of very old standing, and has in fact originated from the old medical literature 

 of the Hindus. There can be no doubt about the fact that the leaves and 

 bark, and *also the oil out of the seeds, have specific medicinal properties. 

 Dr. Watt in his Dictionary of Economic Products has collected opinions of 

 various medical men, both Europen and Indian, about the medicinal properties 

 of the different parts of this tree. From all these it can easily be gathered 

 that the bark is a good febrifuge, and is especially useful in periodic fever, 

 also in thirst and nausea. The leaves as well as the oil are very useful in 

 skin diseases. They are also a germicide and an antiseptic. Since so many 

 parts of this tree are medicinal, specially when some of them have specific 

 action on the skin, it is but natural that people should ascribe some valuable 

 medicinal properties to its spontaneous exudation. It is not every day that 

 the Neem begins spontaneously to exude the toddy, and therefore the rarity 

 of the occurrence adds a good deal to the importance of this product in 

 popular estimation. 



A sample of toddy received from Rai Bahadur Har Swarup, Conservator of 

 Forests, Gwalior State, was chemically examined to find out its constituents 

 and to ascertain whether there is any active principle that might produce the 

 effects popularly ascribed to it. The toddy was a milk-like whitish emulsion 



