u 



offer witli somewhat of scorn. He was, he said, a vederale 

 (doctor) himself, and could get his arm right. Fortunately for 

 him there happened to be a solitary Elamborekka tree in the 

 jail compound, and he had the bark of it applied in the manner 

 above detailed. It seemed impossible that he could escape 

 amputation, but two months afterwards he was in the field 

 superintending his labourers with a sound and apparently 

 strong limb. For the truth of this statement I can vouch, 

 having seen the battered arm, and also seen the man after 

 recovery.' " 



The name of the above authority is not stated, but we may 

 take it for granted that the account is perfectly reliable, seeing 

 that it has been accepted by the Editors. 



Dr. Watt, in his " Dictionary of Economic Products of 

 India," makes reference to Litsea chinensis, stating that the 

 bark, which is feebly balsamic and mucilaginous, is one of the 

 best known and most popular native drugs. In India, besides 

 being employed as a demulcent and mild astringent in diarrhoea 

 and dysentery, it is said to be used fresh ground with water 

 and milk as an emollient, and applied to bruises, as well 

 as a styptic for wounds. Further, we are told that it is a 

 local anodyne for venomous bites. (Watt mentions that L. 

 zeylanica, our " Wild Cinnamon, and the Sinhalese dawul- 

 kurundu is also employed for snake bite.) The oil from berries 

 of L. chinensis is employed in India as an ointment for 

 rheumatism, while in China and Java candles are made 

 from it. 



Mr. E. Hoole, of Kandy, is good enough to write to us with 

 reference to this tree : — " The tree is found growing in the 

 Peradeniya Botanic Gardens, and the coolies there seem to be 

 aware of its medicinal properties. The bark, which is 

 glutinous, is used as an external application to bruises and 

 fractures generally, after being made into a poultice with 

 kurakkan (Eleusine coraccana)." 



In the list of drugs (with their uses) prepared for the Paris 

 Exhibition, this tree is referred to, and it is stated that the 

 bark is used in dislocations ; also in bruises to produce disper- 

 sion of extravasated blood. 



Dr. O'Shaughnessy, in his " Bengal Dispensatory and Phar- 

 macopasa (1841)," speaks of the bark as a favourite application 

 to bruises and wounds. Here, then, is a tree, the medicinal 

 properties of which are well worth the attention of local 

 medical men. 



