812 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS, 



By the Mahomedan writers the juice is described as caustic, 

 a purge for phlegm, depilatory, and the most acrid of all milky 

 juices. Medicinally, it is useful in ringworm of the scalp and 

 to destroy piles ; mixed with honey, it may be applied to aphthae 

 of the mouth ; a piece of cotton dipped in it may be inserted 

 into a hollow tooth to relieve the pain. Hakim Mir Abdul 

 Hamid strongly recommends it in leprosy, hepatic and splenic 

 enlargements, dropsy and worms. The milk is a favorite appli- 

 cation to painful joints, swellings, &c, the fresh leaves also, 

 slightly roasted, are used for the same purpose. Oil, in which 

 the leaves have been boiled, is applied to paralysed parts, a 

 powder of the dried leaves is dusted upon wounds to destroy 

 excessive granulation and promote healthy action. 



In want of virility the following prescription is in vogue. 

 Take 125 of the flowers, dry and powder, then mix with one 

 tola each of cloves nutmegs, mace and pellitory root, and make 

 into pills of six massas each. One pill may be taken daily 

 dissolved in milk (Dymock). 



The root, bark, and juice of this plant are used in medicine 

 for their emetic, diaphoretic, alterative, and purgative pro- 

 perties. In the treatment of dysentery, the dried bark of the 

 root is stated to be an excellent substitute for Ipecacuanha. 

 The bark, root, and dried milky sap may be used in small doses 

 in certain cutaneous affections, such as leprosy and secondary 

 syphilis ; the root-bark, in large doses, is an emetic It is 

 administered to promote secretions, and is stated to be useful 

 in enlargements of the abdominal viscera, intestinal worms, 

 cough, ascites, anasarca, &c. The flowers are considered diges- 

 tive, stomachic, tonic, useful in asthma, catarrh, and loss of 

 appetite. The powder of the root in 3 to 5 grains promotes 

 gastric secretion and acts as a mild stimulant and may be given 

 with carminatives in dyspepsia. It is also given as a febrifuge. 



773. C. proeera, Br., h.f.b.i., iv. 18. 



Sans. : — Alarka. 



Vern. : — Spulmei ; Spalmak ; Pashkand (Trans. Ind.) Ak 



