N. O. GRAMINE^. 1377 



Spikes 2-6; radiating from the top of a 3lender peduncle, 1-2 in. 

 long, green or purplish ; rhachis slender, compressed or angled, 

 scaberulous. Spikelets tVis in- long ; rhachilla produced, very 

 slender, equalling \ the length of the spikelet. Invol -glumes 

 lanceolate, acute to subulato-mucronulate, the lower sV-is in- 

 long, the upper slightly longer ; floral glume obliquely oblong 

 to semiovate, about A in. long, Anthers oblong, ^V in. long- 

 Grain 2$ in. long. 



Uses : — By Sanskrit writers the fresh juice of the leaves 

 is considered astringent, and is used as a snuff in epistaxis. 

 The bruised grass is a popular application to bleeding wounds 

 (U. C. Dutt). In the Concan the grass is prescribed in compound 

 decoctions with more active drugs for the cure of dysentery, 

 monorrhagia, &c. (Dymock). A white variety, which appears 

 to be only a diseased state of the plant, is used medicinally by 

 the native practitioners. It is acidulous and is used to check 

 vomiting in bilious complaints (Sakharam Arjun). 



A preparation of the plant is applied by the Santals in a 

 parasitic disease, which attacks the spaces between the toes 

 (Revd. A. Campbell). The expressed juice is astringent and is 

 used as an application to fresh cuts and wounds. It is also 

 diuretic and is used in cases of dropsy and anasarca, also 

 as an astringent in cases of chronic diarrhoea and dysentery 

 (Dr. Thornton). The juice of the green grass is useful in 

 catarrhal ophthalmia, is astringent, used also with much benefit 

 in haematuresis (Dr. Houston). Antiperiodic and used as an 

 application in scabies (Dr. McConaghey). The decoction of 

 the roots is used in Mysore for secondary syphilis (Dr. North). 

 " A cold infusion often stops bleeding from piles. I generally 

 give it with milk " (Dr. R. L. Dutt). The roots crushed and 

 mixed with curds are used in cases of chronic gleet, dose, two 

 fluid drams (Dr. McCloghry). — Watt's Dictionary. 



The expressed juice is used in hysteria, epilepsy, insanity, 

 (B. D. B.) 



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