976 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



ing from certain humours. The spirit is prepared with this as a 

 chief ingredient and several other articles, and it is said to 

 strengthen the chest and throat. It has been known to cure 

 bleeding of the lungs by taking a sweetened decoction of 

 the plant, and the preparation is an excellent mixture for 

 children and others with bad coughs and colds. 



Dr. Rusby states that " it appears to be toxic to all forms of 

 life, in direct proportion to their lowness in the scale, and that 

 this property is unique among plants. * ® The leaves are found 

 to completely destroy the lower aquatics and to prevent their 

 re-appearance. Laid upon fruits and other perishable substances 

 they, to a great extent, prevent mould and decay. They check 

 the development of parasitic diseases on vegetation. The very 

 extended use of this plant in India in the treatment of tuber- 

 culosis and other respiratory diseases may be founded upon this 

 property." 



"It is probable," writes Dr. Watt, "we have in Adhatoda 

 an antiseptic at the door of every Indian peasant. An aqueous 

 solution of the alcoholic extract of the leaves was tried upon 

 flies, fleas, mosquitoes, centipedes and other insects, and in 

 every case the application met with poisonous results." 



There seems to be a wide field of usefulness for this remark- 

 able plant in the treatment of diseases depending upon the 

 presence of fungi, bacteria, etc. 



In the Second Report of the Indigenous Drugs Committee, 

 p. 35, we read. — 



" In the experiments so far done (see Pro. Indigenous Drugs Committee, 

 Vol. I., pages 387-418) Captain Childe, who used 30 minim doses of the 

 tincture, reported that it did well in cases of bronchitis, especially in chronic 

 bronchitis, but no benefit resulted in cases of phthisis. Lieutenant-Colonel 

 Nailer reported that the drug was administered in chronic bronchitis, bron- 

 chial asthma and phthisis, and that he would not recommend its use in such 

 cases. Lieutenant-Colonel Lee reported that it was a useful expectorant. 

 Major Crawford reported that the drug was tried in several cases in the form 

 of a tincture ; it acted well in the latter in the stages of acute bronthitis. 

 Assistant Surgeon W. D. Innes reported that the drug was used in cases of 

 chronic bronchitis, its action was not definite and not as effective as some of 

 the drugs now in ordinary use. Captain Stewart, who used half drachm in a 

 few cases of bronchitis and pneumonia, reported that it is as effective as ipeca- 

 cuanha. Major Frenchman, who used the ticture in doses varying from m. xx 



