1352 IKDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 



the effect of croton. Ts considered as an antidote in cases of 

 croton-poisoning." (Surgeon W. A. Lee, Mangalore.) 



" The burnt root acts as an astringent in infantile diarrhoea." 

 (Asst. Surg. Ruthnam T. Moodelliar, Chingleput.) " In 3-grain 

 doses it is very effectual in relieving the colic of small 

 children." (Surg.-Maj. John North, Bangalore.) 



" In Western India it is used externally as an application 

 on bruises and rheumatism rubbed up with the spirits made 

 from the Cashew-nut fruit." (Surg.-Maj. C. T. Peters, South 

 Afghanistan.) 



Powdered rhizome is used for removing fleas from water 



in which the rhizome is steeped for a day or more, and is given 



to fowls for the same purpose (K. R-. K.). 



Gildemeister and Hofflman (Volatile Oils (written under the auspices of 

 Schitnmel & Co.). 302) say that though the oil has been repeatedly examined 

 no satisfactory insight into its chemical nature has been obtained. It is used 

 in 'the manufacture of liquors and of snuff," but is less in demand than 

 formerly for medicinal purposes. Native Medical practitioners consider the 

 rhizome in large doses an emetic, in small doses tonic or stomachic and car- 

 minative. It is prescribed in cases of fever, rheumatism and dyspepsia, as 

 well as for flatulence even in infants. It is also a pleasant adjunct to tonic 

 or purgative medicines, and as an aromatic stimulant is recommended for 

 catarrh and distressing coughs. Dr. Childe, Second Physician to the Sir 

 Jamsetji Jijibhai Hospital, Bombay, tried an authentic tincture for malaria, 

 dyspepsia, dysentery and chronic bronchitis, and after careful experiment 

 pronounced it inert. Linschoten, who studied the cultivation of sweet-flag 

 in Gujarat and Deccan (a. d. 1598), mentions a preparation called arata (a 

 mixture of the rhizome of sweet- flag with garlic, cumin seeds, salt, sugar and 

 butter) which was used as a strengthening medicine for horses. Nicholson 

 (Man. Ooimbatore, 247) refers to its use in the treatment of foot and mouth 

 disease. [Of. also Taleef Shereef (Playfair, transl.) 1833, 34.]— (Watt's Com- 

 mercial Products of India, p. 24). 



The following constituents have been recognised in the essential oil of 

 Acorus calamus .-—Free normal heptylic and palmitic acids, eugenol, asaryl 

 aldehyde > esters of acetic and palmitic acids, the crystalline body, C 15 H 26 

 2 , m. pt. 168 °0. named Calameone and asarone, C 12 H 1<5 3 . Asarone forms a 

 solid compound with phosphoric or arsenic acid, in the same manner as cineol 

 (eucalyptol). During the reaction it becomes polymerised, forming para- 

 sarone (C 12 H l6 3 ) 3 , a product which becomes transparent and vitreous at 

 173 °C, and melts at 203°C, and is readily soluble in most organic 

 compounds.— J. S. Ch. I, 15-10-1904, p. 949. 



