N. O. PEDALTNEiE. 951 



into a short thick stalk, broadly ovoid, bluntly 4*angled 

 with tlie spines from the angles, pericarp very tough, fibrous 

 woody. 



Uses :— The fresh leaves and stems, briskly agitated in cold 

 water, speedily convert it into a thick mucilage, nearly of the 

 consistence of the white of a raw egg, inodorous and tasteless, 

 An infusion, thus prepared, is a highly prized remedy amongst 

 the people of Southern India, in gonorrhoea and dysuria. Facts 

 communicated to the Editor, leave little doubt that in these 

 cases it is a remedy of considerable value, and that as a diuretic 

 its action is speedy and marked. Dr. Ives (Voyage to India, 

 p. 466) speaks very favourably of the virtues of this plant, 

 under the name of Ghanti-gura or Gocrow (Gokeroo, Hind.) ; and 

 he adds to his own testimony that of Dr. Thomas, as to the 

 power of the mucilage to cure gonorrhoea without the aid of any 

 other medicine. Water thus rendered mucilaginous, soon 

 returns to its original fluidity, and it therefore requires to be 

 freshly prepared each time before its exhibition. Its virtues 

 are well deserving of further investigation. To the fruits, demul- 

 cent and diuretic properties are assigned, and they are exten- 

 sively employed as such by the natives (Ph. Ind.). 



The fruits are possessed of antispasmodic and aphrodisiac 

 properties. The decoction of the fruit is useful in irritation of 

 the urinary organs. The juice is a good gargle and the plant 

 makes a good poultice (Dymock.) The juice is used in aphthse 

 as a local application (Dr. Emerson). Of late years it has been 

 introduced into European medicine as a remedy for sperma- 

 torrhoea, incontinence of urine, and impotence [Practitioner, 

 XVII. 381). " The juice of the fruit is an emmenagogue ; it is 

 employed in puerperal diseases, and to promote the lochial 

 discharge. Leaves are used as a cm-ry in splenic enlargements. 

 Decoction of the root is antibilious" (Dr. Thompson, in Watt's 

 Dictionary.) 



Chemical composition.— The fruits contain a greenish-coloured fat, a small 

 quantity of resin, and an alkaloid in the alcoholic extract. The mucilage 

 separated by water is precipitated by acetate of lead solution and alcohol, 

 and in these respects resembles the mucilage of gum arabic. The ash of the 

 airdried fruit amounts to 5*43 per cent. (Pharmacographia Tndica, III. 36). 



