N. 0. SCIT AMINES. 1269 



from an overdose of opium. The juice of an ounce of bark, 

 mixed with an ounce of ghi, acts as a brisk purgative." (Sur- 

 geon J. McCloghey, Poona.) " The root juice, in which burnt 

 borax and nitre are dissolved, is given with success in ordinary 

 cases of retention of urine. The juice of the flowers, mixed with 

 curds, is used in dysentery and menorrhagia." (Native Sur- 

 geon T. R. Moodelliar, Chingleput, Madras.) " The juice of 

 the root is used as an antidote to arsenical poisoning in the 

 lower animals. Mixed with ghi and sugar and administered 

 internally, it is said to be useful in gonorrhoea. " (J. Parker, 

 M.D., Poona.) 



Dr. Reginald Ashe, the Superintendent of the Jail at Mymen- 

 singh, has lately used with much success in the treatment of 

 diarrhoea and dysentery flour made from the plantain. * * The 

 plantains are cut just before ripening, they are skinned with 

 a sharp wooden knife, so as to avoid blackening, then cut into 

 thin slices, sun-dried, pounded in a mortar and sifted through 

 muslin. The line powder or flour should be stored in air-tight 

 glass bottles. The issue is 2oz. for each meal cooked in 

 a brass vessel with a little water. Dahi or butter-milk can 

 afterwards be added. The taste of the plantain powder is 

 slightly astringent, but fruity and palatable. There is no doubt 

 of the high nutritive value of the plantain. The flour is said 

 to be easily digested, it is well worth trying for patients with 

 chronic bowel complaint who cannot digest milk, L M. G., 

 July 1900. 



N. b.—K. R. Kirtikar once obtained some of this powder from Kanara, but 

 he used it only for congies and not for medicinal purposes. The congy with 

 sugar is very agreeable and easily digestible. 



Regarding the use of plantain in Diabetes, see my brochure 

 on Diabetes and its Dietetic Treatment, 8th Edition, 1917, 

 Panini Office, Allahabad. (B. D. B.) 



" Plantain leaf is the cleanest and nicest dressing for [a 

 blistered surface that I know, and is also useful in covering 

 other dressings. A piece of plantain leaf introduced into the 

 helmet on a hot clay forms an effectual protection from the sun's 

 rays, without appreciably adding to the weight of the head- 

 dress." (H, DeTatham, Watt's dictionary.) 



