1346 INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



allowed with stimulating drinks made of infusions of various drugs (panchan), 

 and a little hot water is allowed to be sipped at definite intervals. Salts 

 are entirely cut off. 



From what is stated above we see that about 4 to 10 grams of protein and 

 50 to 120 grams of carbo-hydrates are allowed by the administration of 

 manmanda according to the strength of the patient ; but in these we see 

 nothing that tends particularly towards the relief of oedema, although we 

 see that considerable improvement is done by this treatment. It must be, 

 then, that manmanda is administered not particularly for its nourishing 

 property, but for something else. It may be possible that it is administered 

 for the calcium oxalate that is present in the manmanda. This oxalate has 

 probably the property of relieving the oedema caused by the retention of 

 salts. It is now generally accepted that the oedema is mainly due to the 

 retention of salts, particularly sodium chloride ; and the oxalate has probably 

 the property of removing this retention and thereby relieving the conse- 

 quent oedema. The following experiments were done to show that the 

 calcium oxalate has such property when administered both in normal 

 individual and in oedematous persons :— 



Part II Experimental. 



Laboratory Experiments. — A solution of sodium chloride is precipitated 

 by a solution of oxalates ; the precipitation is more marked by the addition 

 of a solution of calcium oxalate. 



Experiments on healthy individuals. — Two persons were selected and their 

 urines were examined under normal conditions, and under different con- 

 ditions after the administration of calcium oxalates. * * * * 



From the above experiments we see that by the administration of calcium 

 oxalate, the chloride excretion is positively increased, the quantity of urine 

 as well as the urea excretion is also increased ; with 5 grams the quantity 

 of urine is rather comparatively decreased, but the increase in chloride 

 and urea excretion is maintained. The increase of cholorides is positively 

 more than what is ingested. Even with a diet having no chlorides, the urine 

 showed an excretion of 2 grams of the chloride. Watery part in this latter 

 case is considerably diminished, probably owing to less consumption of water 

 which is necessary only to maintain the osmotic equlibrium when salts are 

 ingested with the diet. Urea excretion is also less, for the reason that it is 

 difficult to take proper amount of food without salt and nitrogenous metabo- 

 lism is consequently rather low. 



Thus we see that with the administration of calcium oxalate the chlorides 

 and uera, particularly the former, are definitely increased. 



1319. Homdlomena aromatica, Schott., h.f.b.l, 

 vi. 532. 



Syn. : — Calla aromatica, Roxb. 630. 

 Vern. : — Kuschu gundubi (B.)» 

 Habitat : — Assam ; Chittagong. 



