484 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



is poured off and a second is added. A very excellent preserve 

 is imported from Cnracoa, made from the unripe pods, preserved 

 in sugar, with the addition of spices. (Curtis' Botanical Magazine 

 for February 1st, 1851). 



Use : — The ripe fruit is regarded as refrigerant, digestive, 

 carminative and laxative, and useful in diseases supposed to be 

 caused by deranged bile, such as burning of the body, costive- 

 ness, intoxication from spirituous liquors or dhatura, &c. The 

 shells of the ripe fruit are burnt and their ashes used in medi- 

 cine as an alkaline substance, along with other medicines of the 

 sort. The pulp of the ripe fruit, as well as a poultice of the 

 leaves, is recommended to be applied to inflammatory swellings 

 (Butt's Hindu Materia Medica). Mahomedan physicians consider 

 the pulp to be cardiacal, astringent and aperient, useful for 

 checking bilious vomiting, and for purging the system of bile 

 and adust humors ; when used as an aperient, it should be given 

 with a very small quantity of fluid. A gargle of Tamarind water 

 is recommended in sore- throat. The seeds are said to be a good 

 astringent ; boiled, they are used as a poultice to boils ; pounded 

 with water they are applied to the crown of the head in cough 

 and relaxation of the uvula. The leaves crushed with water and 

 expressed yield an acid fluid, which is said to be useful in bilious 

 fever and scalding of the urine ; made into a poultice, they are 

 applied to reduce inflammatory swellings, and to relieve pain. 

 A poultice of the flowers is used in inflammatory affections of 

 the conjunctiva ; their juice is given internally for bleeding 

 piles. The bark is considered to have astringent and tonic 



properties (Dymook). 



Analysis was made of the entire seeds, and also of the kernel without the 

 brown covering. They had the following composition : — 



Water 



Albuminoids 

 Pat ... 



Carbohydrates ... 

 Fibre,.. 

 Ash ... 



Nitrogen 



Phosphoric anhydride 



Seeds. 



Kernels. 



10-50 



9-35 



13-87 



18 06 



4-50 



6-60 



63-22 



62-88 



5*36 



•66 



2-55 



2-45 



100-00 



100*00 



222 



2-89 



•40 



•55 



