1318 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



Ovary 3-4-celled. Fruit a large subglobose brown drupe, 6in. 

 in diam. or more, with 1-3 obcordate fibrous pyrenes, enclosed 

 by the enlarged perianth. Seeds oblong, 3-lobed at the top ; 

 albumen uniform, hollow. (Cooke). 



Uses : — The juice of this plant is used as a stimulant and 

 antiphlegmatic. The ash of the dry spadix is used as an antaeid 

 in heartburn. The saccharine juice, when freshly drawn, is 

 exceedingly sweet, and, if taken regularly for several mornings 

 in succession, acts as a laxative. The light-brown, cotton-like 

 substance from the outside of the base of the fronds, is employed 

 by the Cinghalese doctors as a styptic to arrest haemorrhage from 

 superficial wounds. The fresh juice is also useful in inflam- 

 matory affections and dropsy. Vinegar, toddy and a spirituous 

 liquor are made from this tree. The juice slightly fermented is 

 used in diabetes. The ash of the spadix is given internally 

 in bilious affections. This ash is also used in preparing dyes. 



The ash acts as a powerful blister and applied on enlarged 

 liver and spleen in combination with some other demulcents. 

 The pulp of the ripe fruit is applied externally in skin diseases. 

 Palm sugar is antibilious and alterative and used in hepatic 

 disorders and gleet. The juice is diuretic and prescribed in 

 chronic gonorrhaea (T. N. Mukherje). " The root is cooling and 

 restorative. The ashes of the flowering stalk said to be useful 

 in enlarged spleen." (U. C. Dutt.) 



" A useful stimulating application, called toddy poultice, is 

 prepared by adding fresh-drawn toddy to rice-flour till it has 

 the consistence of soft poultice, and, this being subjected to a 

 gentle fire, fermentation takes place. This, spread on a cloth 

 and applied to the affected part, acts as a valuable stimulant 

 application to gangrenous ulcerations, carbuncles and indolent 

 ulcers." (Ph. Tnd.) 



The expressed juice of the leaf-stalk and young root is used 

 in cases of gastric catarrh and to check hiccup. The fermented 

 juice sometimes acts as a drastic purgative. An extract of the 

 green leaves is used internally in secondary syphilis. The ash 

 of dry spadix is largely used as an antiperiodic ; it is feebly so. 

 (Watts Diet.), 



