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INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



of the young leaves, mixed with oil, is said to be used externally 

 in lumbago. The dry expanded petioles may be used as ready- 

 made splints. 



" Is useful in checking the pyrosis of pregnancy. ' Control 

 experiments ' made with tincture of catechu showed the superi- 

 ority of the nut, and would seem to demonstrate that this is 

 not merely due to astringent action ; possibly its property as a 

 nervine stimulant enhances its utility." (Surgeon G. King, 

 Madras.) " Used as an astringent for bleeding gums ; women 

 employ it both internally and locally for stopping watery dis- 

 charges from the vagina." (Asst. Surg. Jaswant Rai, Mooltan, in 

 Watt's Die.).* 



" The nut has been investigated by Her Jahns, who reports 

 that he has separated from it three alkaloids, of which arecoline 

 is the most important."— Ph. J., Feb. 2, 1889. p. 605. 



" Without doubt, arecoline is the physiologically active con- 

 stituent of the areca-nut, and the one on which its action against 

 tape-worm is dependent. In the opinion of Dr. Maume, the 

 physiological experiments indicate that the areca-nut may prove 

 a valuable article, since there can be no doubt that arecoline 

 hydro-bromide is capable of being utilized therapeutically on 

 account of its effect on the peristaltic action of the bowels, and 



* Mr. John R. Jackson, A. L. S„ Curator of the Museums, Kew, wrote in 

 the Pharmaceutical Journal for Feby 28, 1874 :— 



In some parts of China the nuts, bruised and powdered, are mixed with 

 the green food given to horses, and they are thus considered a preventive 

 against diarrhoea. In the north of China, small pieces of the nut are boiled 

 and the decoction is taken as a domestic remedy in various visceral affections. 



Though the use of the betel as a masticatory turns the teeth black, it 

 is said to preserve them from decay in a remarkable manner, and this may 

 be the reason why some English chemists have introduced the pulverized 

 charcoal into this country as a tooth powder. 



In Borneo the flowers, which are fragrant, are mixed with medicines and 

 used as charms for the cure of many diseases. In some parts of India, the 

 juice of the young tender leaves mixed with oil is applied as an embrocation 

 in cases of lumbago, and a decoction of the root is a reputed cure for sore 

 lips, so that, whatever may prove to be the value of the areca-nut as an 

 anthelmintic in this country, it is certain that the tree is much esteemed 

 for its numerous uses in the East. 



