842 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



acuminate, 3-nerved from the base, or more often the lateral 

 nerves springing much higher. Petiole very short, ^in. Cymes 

 axillary, lin. diam., nearly glabrous, nearly sessile. Flowers 

 white, fragrant. Corolla i-Jin., campanulate, 2-4 times the 

 length of lobes ; tufts of white hair at the mouth, between sta- 

 mens. Anther-cells oblong, glabrous. Style long, cylindric 

 from a conical base, glabrous. Stigma small, distinctly 2-lobed. 

 Berry black when ripe, fin. diam. Seeds 1 or 2, hemispheric, 

 subpeltate, hardly discoid, i-fin. diam. 



Uses ' — " The use of the seeds, for the purpose of clearing 

 muddy water, is as old as Susruta, who mentions it in his 

 chapter on water. Medicinally, they are chiefly used as a local 

 application in eye diseases. The seeds are rubbed with honey 

 and a little camphor, and the mixture applied to the eyes in 

 lachrymation or copious watering from them. Rubbed with 

 water and rock salt, they are applied to chetnosis in the conjunc- 

 tiva " (Hindu Mat Med.) " The seeds of this tree are devoid of 

 poisonous properties, and are used in native practice as an emetic 

 (Ainslie), as a remedy in diabetes (Kirkpatrick), gonorrhoea 

 (Taleef Shereef), &c. Their cheif use, however, is as a means of 

 clearing muddy water, hence their Anglo-Indian name, Clearing 

 Nut. Looked at in this point of view, they may be regarded as 

 a valuable aid to medical officers and others during the marches 

 of troops in India in the rainy season, when little but muddy 

 water can be obtained. Dr. Pareira suggests that this property 

 depends upon the albumen and casein which they contain. If 

 the seeds be sliced and digested in water, they yield a thick 

 mucilaginous liquid, which, when boiled, yields a coagulum 

 ( albumen), and, by subsequent addition of acetic acid, it fur- 

 nishes a further coagulum (casein)" (Pharm. Ind.). Mahomedan 

 writers describe them as cold and dry, that when applied exter- 

 nally to the abdomen they relieve colic ; they also notice their 

 use to strengthen the sight and as a remedy in snakebite 

 (Dymock). 



The seeds used by the natives of Madras in diabetes and 

 gonorrhoea (Drury). 



Dr. Bidie doubts emetic properties of S. potatorum. 



