200 



Gynura sarmentosa, Del. (Composite), " Kula Mavi Merah," "Akar 

 Subiak." A climbing herb with purple involucre and yellow 

 flowers. A decoction of the roots is used. 



Didymocarpus reptans, Jack (Gesneracece) , " Akar Sumpuh Darah," 

 (lit. Dysentery root). A creeper with violet or white flowers com- 

 mon in forests. Nothing is known of its properties. 



Nepenthes Reinwardtii, Miq. (Nepenthaceoe) "Priok Kra Betina." 

 One of the common pitcher plants. A decoction of the roots 

 is used. 



Cyathula prostrata (Amarantaceoe) " Jarang-jarang." A common 

 village weed, a decoction of the roots given tor dysentery. 



Lygodium scandens, L. " Ribu-ribu." A very common climbing 

 fern, the stem and frouds of which are boiled and the decoction 

 administered for dysentery and hoemoptysis, an ounce is taken 

 in sweetened water. 



Polypor us sanguineus {Fungi). "Chendawan Merah." A com- 

 mon bright red fungus often to be seen on dead timber, is boiled 

 and the decoction administered generally in combination with that 

 of other plants. 



Holmes states that the powdered fungus mixed with Eau de 

 Cologne is used to disperse leprous tubercles and that in Brazil 

 it is given in hoemoptysis. 



AZgle marmelos (Rutaceos) Bael-fruit. " Bila." Malay. This well 

 known antidote for dysentery is usually imported here from India. 

 The tree is cultivated here and there, and at one time trees were 

 planted at the Police Stations in Malacca, by the Resident so 

 that the villagers could obtain the fruits when required. An excel- 

 lent idea which might be more generally adopted. The tree fruited 

 well in Malacca, but it has failed to fruit in Singapore Botanic 

 Gardens. In dryer places near the sea it might do better. It is 

 easily propagated from cuttings, and throws up root shoots regu- 

 larly. It is said however, by Natives, that plants grown from 

 cuttings do not fruit. 



The supply of this drug in the Native shops is not overlarge, 

 as on one occasion when it was badly required, I was quite unable 

 to get anywhere, the crude drug or any of its preparations. 



Gambier, Uncaria Gambir. The ordinarily prepared extract is used 

 in combination with other astringents, Gambir is also used in Euro- 

 pean medicine, as an astringent, for chronic diarrhoea, and dysentery 

 Uterine Hoemorrhage and mucous discharges, also as an ointment 

 for Ulcers, and to stop bleeding at the nose, leiicorrhcea, etc. In 

 the form of lozenges it is used for relaxed uvula, by singers and 

 speakers. It is known as pale catechu in English Pharmacopoieas. 



Kosam, (Bruc< < a sumatrand) the Bidara Pahit, does not seem to be 

 used to any extent by Malays at least as a dysentery medicine 

 though it is known to the Chinese and sold in the shops for this 

 purpose. It has been already described and figured in the Bulletin. 

 The Javanese use the leaves as a substitute for an adulterant for 



