K. 0. SAPINfrACE^E. 363 



in asthma, and the result was pretty favourable. There was 

 more or less relief in almost every case of hemicrania and 

 asthma in which the solution was tried ; but the cases of hys- 

 teria and epilepsy benefited by it were very few. Although 

 the relief afforded by the solution is always temporary, yet it 

 is in many cases instantaneous. The quantity of the solution 

 must not be more than four or five drops in each nostril, for 

 in one case in which it exceeded ten or twelve drops, the irrita- 

 tion of the membrane was severe and lasted for one or two 

 days. Applied in the form of paste or poultice over the parts 

 stung or bitten by poisonous insects, as scorpions, centipedes, 

 &c., the pulp of soap-nut relieved the pain in two or three 

 cases to my own knowledge. When bruised and agitated 

 in water, it forms suds like soap, and in this condition is 

 an efficient detergent and very useful for washing and cleaning 

 the body, linen and hair. The kernel of the seeds is sweetish, 

 nutrient, and yields an oil on expression, which is a very good 

 substitute for almond oil. 



I have been using the pericarp of soap-nut in my practice 

 for several months, and have just (August 1887) discovered 

 it to be the one of the best, cheapest and commonest emetics 

 in India. While it is as safe as ipecacuanha and several 

 other vegetable emetics, it is decidedly more speedy in its 

 action than all those drugs. It is however, required to be 

 employed in a much larger dose than ipecacuanha ; but this is 

 no disadvantage, for it is always administered in the form of 

 a draught, and this draught is less nauseous and unpleasant 

 than that of ipecacuanha and many other emetics. As an 

 emetic, the soap-nut well deserves to be brought into general 

 use by the medical profession. 



Soap-nut is supposed to be a good anthelmintic in some 

 native medical works, in four or five grain doses ; but this is not 

 really the case. I have used it in very large doses f 3 j to 3 ij) 

 in many cases, and its emetic action was sometimes accom- 

 panied by one or two loose motions. But 1 have neither seen 

 nor heard of any of my patients passing a single round or any 

 other abdominal worm on any occasion. The root of the 



