356 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



In 1874-1877 I used to see a row of some excellent, huge, 

 Land some Lorse-chestnut trees along the garden enclosing wall 

 of tLe Kensington Gardens, London (K. R K.) 



Uses : — The fruit and bark Lave for long been regarded 



as useful in the treatment of fevers as an anti-periodic. 



Esculine, in doses of 15 grains, is said to have been found 



useful in malarial disorders. 



Composition of the fruit, after drying. Shell=16"9%, kernelr=83'l%. 

 The kernel, shell and whole fruit, resp., show on analysis : ash 2, 8, 1*7, 26 ; 

 protein, 121, 5*7, 11*0 ; fiber, 2*1, 13% 4-0 ; oil, 6*3, 0*9, 5*3 ; carbohydrates, 

 74*5, 71*6, 74-0. The ash contains 12-3% P 2 5 . This nut contains no harmful 

 ingredient, but the relatively large proportion of bitter acid present renders 

 the material unpalatable. When ground and mixed with molasses these nuts 

 have been used as a substitute for oil-cake in cattle fodder. Drying, macerat- 

 ing, or boiling the nuts greatly reduces the bitter taste and increases the 

 nutritive value. One kg. of dried nuts is equivalent to 6 kg. of beet-roots. 

 Numerous methods are employed in separating the starch of chestnut. 

 Horse-chestnut oil is very similar to almond and mustard seed oils. The 

 following consts. were obtained: d 15 , 0*926; n, 1*4747; Sapon. no., 194*5; 

 I no, 95*4 ; R— M. no, 1'54 ; Hehner no., 92*9 ; acetyl no, 13*5. The acid prin- 

 ciple of this nut has not been clearly identified. 



Chemical Abstracts for Jan. 20, 1914. p. 384. 



312. M. indica, Colebr. h.f.b.l, i. 675. 



Eng. : — Indian horse-chestnut. 



Vern. : — Bankhor, gugu, kanor, pankar (H.) ; Gun, kanor 

 (Pb.) ; Kishing (Kumaon) ; Home, hanudum (Kashmir) ; Torjaga 

 (Trans-Indus). 



Habitat :— Western Himalaya, from the Indus to Nepal. 



A large, deciduous tree, with scaby sticky, buds. Bark 

 grey ; when old, exfoliating upwards in long flakes or thin bands, 

 which remain attached to the upper ends and hang down 

 outwards, having a straight appearance. Wood white, with a 

 pinkish tinge, soft, close-grained. A very handsome tree, reach- 

 ing 100 ft. or more in height, in suitable places, with perhaps 

 25 ft. in girth. Leaves opposite, digitate, ex-stipulate ; common 

 petiole 4-6 in. long. Leaflets 5-9 ; 6-10 by 2-3J in., the centre 

 ones the largest, oblanceolate, or oblong, acuminate, sharply 



