1324 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



is used under the name of mutel as an application to burns 

 and rheumatic swellings ; sometimes black-pepper is added to 

 it. ' In the Thana Gazetteer a somewhat different process of 

 preparing mutel (? muthel) oil is given. " To make muthel, 

 dried kernels are cut into thick pieces and boiled in water. 

 The pieces are then crushed in water and the whole boiled 

 again over a slow fire, when the oil rises to the surface and is 

 skimmed off." 



Cocoanut oil is said to promote the growth of hair ; " hence 

 it is much used as a local application in alopecia and in loss 

 of hair after fevers and debilitating diseases." " The oil is 

 given in plethora and as a vermifuge in Jamaica. It is given 

 while fasting, warmed and with a little sugar, in flux. An 

 emulsion of the oil and kernel is prescribed in coughs and 

 pulmonary diseases generally. Pound the kernel with water, 

 place it to settle, and skim off the cream. This is preferable 

 to the expressed oil." 



" Cocoa-nut oil was proposed by the late Dr. Theophilus 

 Thompson (Proceed of Royal Society, 1854, Pt. III., p. 41) as 

 a substitute for cod-liver oil, and in this character it has been 

 favourably noticed by Dr. J. H, Warren (Boston Med. and 

 Surg. Journ., Vol. III., p. 377) and others. The substance 

 used in these cases was not the ordinary commercial oil, but 

 the oleine obtained by pressure from the crude oil (in the 

 solid state it is met with in England), refined by being treated 

 with alkalies, and then repeatedly washed with distilled water. 

 In his Lettsomian Lectures, Dr. Thompson gives the result of 

 his treatment with this agent in 53 cases of phthisis. Of the 

 first 30, 19 were much benefited, in 5 the disease remained 

 stationary, and in the remaining 6 the disease continued to 

 advance. Of the second 23 . 15 were materially benefited, 3 

 remaining stationary, and 5 became worse. Dr. Garrod (Brit, 

 and For. Med. Cbir. Rev., Jan., 1856) has shown that it exercises 

 a marked influence, almost equal to cod-liver oil, in increasing 

 the weight of the body. The great advantage of its employment 

 experienced by Dr. Thompson, Dr. Garrod, and also by the 

 Editor, who instituted some trials with it, is, that under its 



