398 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



about one scruple ; and that they also employ it in epilepsy and 

 hysteria, and consider it a valuable rubefacient in palsy and 

 chronic rheumatism. According to Fleming, the oil of the 

 seeds is used as an external application for rheumatism in 

 Bengal. 



In Bombay, a decoction of the root-bark is used as a foment- 

 ation to relieve spasm. In the Concan the bark of the wild 

 tree is ground with plumbago root, pigeon's dung and chicken's 

 dung, and applied to destroy guinea-worms. Four tolas of the 

 juice of the leaves of the cultivated tree are given as an emetic. 

 The gum is said to be used to produce abortion ; it would be 

 quite possible to use it as a tent to dilate the os uteri, as it is 

 very tough, and swells rapidly when moistened. The root is 

 accepted by Europeans as a perfect substitute for horse-radish 

 (Dymock/' The seeds (called by the French poisqueniques and 

 chicot, are used in venereal affections in Sindh (Murray). 



The fruit is administered by Hakeems in affections of the 

 liver and spleen, articular pains, tetanus, paralysis, &c. The 

 root is used for soreness of the mouth and throat ; and the gum 

 for dental caries (Honnigberger). 



The fresh root is stimulant, carminative, stomachic and 

 stimulant-diuretic ; and the flowers also possess a slight sti- 

 mulant property. The bark and root-bark used externally are 

 rubefacient and vesicant. 



I have found the root in the form of " compound spirit " 

 very useful in fainting, giddiness, nervous debility, spasmodic 

 affections of the bowels, hysteria and flatulence. The flowers 

 are often resorted to as an aphrodisiac by the Native medical 

 practitioners in Southern India ; but they have completely failed 

 in my hands, though I have tried them in very large doses. 

 They are at most a slight stimulant, but have not been found 

 useful even as such in any particular disease. Applied 

 externally, in the form of a paste, the fresh root-bark and the 

 bark act as a good vesicant and rubefacient. The former 

 is much superior to the latter in this respect (Moodeen 



Sheriff.) ' 



The seeds yield oil of ben, which formerly had a reputation of being a thin 

 oil suitable for fine machinery. Jamaica seeds consist of 40 per cent, of husks 



