1162 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Bombay " the plant had a reputation as an expectorant, hence 

 the native name khokli (cough)." (Dymook, Mat. Med. W. Ind., 

 588.) " Dr. George Bidie furnishes the following remarks : 

 'The expressed juice of the leaves is in great repute, wherever 

 the plant grows, as an emetic for children, and is safe, certain 

 and speedy in its action. Like Ipecacuanha, it seems to have 

 little tendency to act on the bowels or to depress the vital 

 powers, and it decidedly increases the secretion of the pulmonary 

 organs. Probably an infusion of the dried leaves or an extract 

 prepared from the green plant, would retain all its active pro- 

 perties. The dose of the expressed juice, for an infant, is a 

 teaspoonful.' ' (Pharm. Ind.) A decoction of the leaves is given 

 in ear-ache ; a cataplasm of the leaves is applied as a local 

 application to syphilitic ulcers, and as a means of relieving the 

 pain of snake-bite. (Drury.) According to Nimmo the roots 

 " attract cats quite as much as those of valerian." (Voigt, 160 ; 

 Treasury of Botany.) 



"Much used by Mahomedan practitioners in treating cases 

 of acute mania in early stage. The fresh juice (3i) with (6 gr.) 

 chloride of sodium dissolved in it and dropped in both nostrils 

 every morning, followed by cold shower-baths for three morn- 

 ings regularly, proves highly successful. Thus it is supposed 

 by them to act as a ' brain purge,' so called probably owing to 

 a quantity of mucus and other matter escaping from the nostrils 

 immediately after the application of the above recipe. I 

 have given it internally; it acts as an anthelmintic and 

 laxative." (Surgeon E. W. Savinge, Rajamundry, "Juice of 

 the fresh plant emetic, laxative ; dose one to four drachms, 

 according to age. Fresh leaves ground into a paste, made into 

 a ball, to the size of a large marble and introduced into the 

 rectum, very useful in relieving obstinate constipation of 

 children." (Apoth. Thomas Ward, Madanapalle, Cuddapah.) 

 " The juice or the bruised leaf is applied to the skin to allay 

 the irritation caused by the bite of the centipede." (Surgeon 

 Ruthnam T. Moodelliar, Chingleput.) 



" The juice of the fresh leaves mixed with lime is applied 

 in painful rheumatic affections." (Surg.-Maj. John Lancaster, 



