tt. 0. AROIDEiE. 



1345 



many times shorter than the very long linear oblong sub truncate 

 cuspidate limb. Spadix equalling the spathe. (J. D. Hoooker.) 

 Appendage longer than the inflorescence. Ovary l-celled, stigma 

 sessile 3-4 cleft. 



Uses :— Medicinally it is said to be useful in anasarca. The 

 flour obtained by pounding the dried stems boiled with rice 

 flour until all the water has evaporated, is given to the patient 

 and no other food allowed. 



11 As a food taken frequently, it seems to act as a mild 

 laxative and diuretic. In piles and habitual constipation it is 

 useful." (Surg. D. Basu, Faridpur.) " The flour of old dried 

 stems is a valuable article of food for invalids. It is an excellent 

 substitute for arrowroot and sago in place of which I have used 

 •it in many instances." (Asst. Surg. Shib Ch. Bhutt, Chanda). 

 "The ash of the root-stocks mixed with honey is used in 

 cases of aphthae." (Asst. Surg. Anund Ch. Mukerji, Noakhally.) 

 — Watt's dictionary. 



In an interesting paper on the " Use of Manmanda in Indian 

 Therapeutics and its probable explanation," Dr. Lai Mohan 

 Ghoshal writes in Foods and Drugs for April 1913, as follows : — 



Composition and preparation of Manmanda.— The kochu of at least one 

 year's standing is taken, dried and pulverised into fine powder ; this is then 

 prepared with rice into pasty mass by boiling ; this paste is sufficiently 

 macerated and filtered through fine muslin. The filtrate is then allowed to 

 be taken as food. The composition of such a manda is the following :— 



Protein— 178 p. c. (increase in protein is due to to the addition of rice) ; 



Carbo-hydrate- 20*21 p. c; Moisture— 77*27 p. c; Fat— a trace only. 



The filtrate is a syrupy paste, slightly aciid or unpleasant in taste; 

 reaction for calcium oxalates can be obtained by filtering the paste through 

 a filter paper and evaporating the watery portion. 



This is all about the composition of man-kochu and the preparation of 

 manmanda. 



The cpaestion now arises, what is there in the manmanda that leads the 

 kabirajas to use the manmanda so indiscriminately in all sorts of oedeina and 

 dropsy. Generally from 4oz to a pint of the manda is given according to 

 the strength of the patient ; if the patieut is strong and the oedema is of 

 recent origin the treatment is mainly directed to the starvation of the 

 patient, strict regulation of water (sometimes it is altogether cut off) and 

 administration of about 8oz of the manda ; if the patient is weak and has 

 got a good deal of thirst associated with fever, manmanda about a pint is 



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