NOTES ON THE FEBRIFUGE PLANTS OF CEYLON. 131 



Erevarea — Ocymum sanctum. 



Kalanduru — Oy perus hexastachy us . 



Kattowelbatte — Solanum Jacquin i . 



Kudu Meris — Toddalia aculeata. 



Moodilla — Barringtouia racemosa. 

 I will now proceed to notice briefly two of the anti-febrile remedies 

 indigenous to the island which I have used extensively in cases of inter- 

 mittent fever. Although it must be admitted, there is no remedy as yet 

 discovered equally efficacious with quinine, and to be used with so much 

 certainty as a febrifuge ; nevertheless, as already remarked, remedies 

 against fever are found in various parts of the island, especially in the 

 more pestilential districts, where fever is doing the work of depopulation. 



1. Trichosanthes cucumerina, Linn. — This is a valuable febrifuge 

 plant, and much used by the natives of Ouvah, as one of the active 

 ingredients in their fever decoctions, and which I consider, after exten- 

 sive and careful trial, to be an efficacious remedy for fever. This statement 

 may be startling to some, especially as the plant belongs to the family of 

 Cucurbits, which has not a single member possessing anti-febrile properties, 

 but, as it is well known, furnishes some of the most powerful cathartics of 

 the Pharmacopoeia. 



The plant in question is an annual creeping plant, is known to the 

 Singhalese by the name of " Dummella," and grows plentifully in the 

 fever-generating districts of Wellasse and Bintenne. It yields to boiling 

 water a bitter principle almost like gentian or chirayta. 



Chemical Composition. — It contains tannic acid, which is also one of 

 the principal constituents of the best kind of cinchona bark. Bichloride 

 of mercury throws down a precipitate, which is also a test for the cinchona 

 alkaloids. An infusion of the dried plant is the form in which I use 

 it after the bowels have been freely moved by a dose of the compound 

 powder of jalap or senna, and Epsom salts. 



Infusion of Trichosanthes cucumerina. — Take of the dried plant, leaves 

 and stem, 1 oz. ; boiling water, 2 oz. Infuse for four hours in a covered 

 vessel, and strain. I use a copper decoction-pot. Dose, 2 oz., three times 

 daily. It may be given during any stage of intermittent fever : when 

 given in the cold or hot stages I have found it efficacious in abating the 

 severity of the symptoms. No more than the quantity required for each 

 day ought to be prepared at once, as the infusion begins to ferment when 

 kept beyond a few hours. 



As the plant grows plentifully in various parts of the Island, and is 

 thus easily procured, I think there can be no difficulty in using it largely in 

 all cases of ordinary intermittent fever. I have used the infusion of this 

 plant in the Civil and Pioneer Hospitals at Badulla and elsewhere. It has 

 proved a safe anti-febrile remedy. The result of my trial of this remedy 

 was so favourable, that I brought the subject to the notice of Dr Bradford, 

 February, 1854, while he was acting Principal Civil Medical Officer. 



2. Samadera Indica, Gsertn. — This is a valuable indigenous tree., 



K 2 



