1140 



INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Fruit a capsule of three 2- valued cocci, J- T 7 a in. diam., obscurely 

 6-lobed, globose, fleshy, pale-yellow, dehiscent when dry, 

 sometimes reddish when ripe, acid, astringent, and bitterish, 

 3-celled, 6-seeded. 



Uses : -The fresh juice is cooling, refrigerant, diuretic 

 and laxative. The exudation from the incisions on the fruit 

 is used as an external application in inflammation of the eye. 

 (Dutt.) 



In the fresh state they are round, of the size of a gall-nut, 

 with six valves projecting externally ; pulp fleshy, acidulous, 

 enveloping white angular seeds, and possessed of purgative 

 properties. In the dry state they are roundish, sub-hexagonal, 

 wrinkled, of a blackish-grey colour, slightly aromatic odour 

 and acidulous astringent taste. In the latter state, they are 

 employed in the process of tanning, and are highly valued as 

 an astringent in bowel complaints. Bontius {Diseases of India, 

 p. 200) testifies to their value in the treatment of diarrhoea and 

 dysentery, in the hospitals of Batavia in his day. Antiscorbu- 

 tic virtues have also been attributed to them by Dr. D. McNab 

 {Calcutta Med. Phys. Trans., vol. viii., and Calcutta Quart. 

 Med. Journ. 1837, vol. L, p. 306) ; but Dr. Irvine {Med. 

 Topog. of Ajmeer, p. 118) is of opinion that they do not possess 

 any peculiar virtue in this respect, and that they are not 

 superior to any other acid vegetable astringent. He mentions 

 that they contain a large proportion of gallic acid. The 

 flowers of this tree are employed by the Hindu doctors for 

 their supposed refrigerant and aperient qualities (Ainslie, 

 Mat. Ind., vol. ii., p. 244). The bark partakes of the astrin- 

 gency of the ripe fruit. Dr. M. Ross reports having prepared 

 from the root, by decoction and evaporation, an astringent 

 extract equal to catechu, both for medicinal purposes and in 

 the arts ; he adds that chips of the wood or small branches 

 thrown into impure or muddy water, clear it effectually ; hence 

 the wood is much employed by the natives in making well 

 rings. This point is worthy of further inquiry. (Ph. Ind.) 

 In the Concan, the juice of the fresh bark, with honey and tur- 

 meric, is given in gonorrhoea. (DymocL) 



