470 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



made into a confection known as Gul-kand and viewed as a 

 febrifuge. From 5 to 7 of the powdered seeds are prescribed 

 as an emetic, and the shell of the pod rubbed down with saffron, 

 sugar and rose-water, in difficult parturition (DymockJ. In the 

 Concan, the juice of the young leaves is used to cure ringworm 

 and to allay the irritation caused by the application of the mark- 

 ing-nut juice (Dymock). 



The root is given as a tonic and febrifuge (Bellew). Dr. 

 Irvine found the root to act as a strong purgative (Top. of 

 A j mere.) 



It is officinal in the Indian and British Pharmacopoeias. 



A poultice made of the leaves is said to relieve the chilblains 

 which are common in Upper Sind. It has been beneficially 

 used in facial paralysis and rheumatism when rubbed into the 

 affected parts. Internally, it is given as a derivative in paralysis 

 and brain affections. 



13y steam-distilling the finely powdered fruit of Gassia fistula, 

 a dark-yellow volatile oil, possessing a honey-like odour, is 

 obtained. The oil forms an amorphous mass at ordinary 

 temperatures, melts at 41°C, and has a faint acid reaction. 

 The water which distils over with the oil, contains normal 

 butyric acid. J. S. Ch. I. April 30, 1901, p. 386. 



418. C. occidentalism Linn. H.F.B.I., ii. 262. 



Syn. : — Senna occidentalis, Roxb 352. 



Eng. : — The Negro Coffee. 



Sans. : — Kasamara. 



Vern. : — Kasondi, bari-kasondi or kasunda (H. and Diik.) ; 

 Hikal (Bom.) ; Kalkashunda (B.) ; Nattam-takarais. peya-veri 

 (Tarn.) ; Kasindha (Tel.); Natram-takara (Mai.); (Kasundro Guz.) 



Habitat: — Scattered from the Himalayas to the Western 

 Peninsula, Bengal and South India. 



A diffuse, sub-glabrous undershrub, a few feet high, usually 

 only of annual duration. Leaves |-ft. long, with a single gland 

 placed just above the base of the common petiole. Leaflets 

 glaucous, foetid, acuminate, l-3in. long, glabrous or finely 

 pubescent, 6-10 ovate-oblong. Racemes short-peduncled, few- 

 flowered, corymbose, axillary and forming a terminal panicle ; 



