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with many thorns and feathery foliage, "Akar chuis" or "Akar 

 Kupoh" is used to wash the body with. 



Cocos nucifera L. Coconut palm. The roots are ground up 

 and the decoction drunk in cases of smallpox. 



Skin Diseases. 



The native living in the tropics is very liable to a great variety 

 of skin diseases and has a good many remedies for them. 



One of the most important is the Cassia alata L. {Leguminosce) 

 "Daun Gelenggang, Daun Kurap." This shrubby plant with 

 large primate leaves, and spikes of bright yellow flowers is 

 common in damp spots in waste ground all over the tropics. It 

 appears, however, to be of South American origin. Its use is well 

 known almost everywhere. Its leaves are a specific for the disease 

 known as Kurap, as well as for Tinea tonsuraus and other skin 

 diseases. I have used it with success where other drugs have failed 

 both on human beings and horses. The best way of applying the 

 plant is to pound the leaves with water and apply them in the 

 form of a poultice to the affected part. The plant is said to contain 

 Chrysophanic acid which is probably the active principle which acts 

 on the parasitic fungi, but I have known cases in which chryso- 

 phanic acid failed to produce a cure after some w T eeks while the 

 leaves of the Cassia cured the patient completely in 48 hours. It 

 does not seem to have been found possible to prepare an effective 

 tincture from the leaves, hence it has not been included in most 

 Pharmacopoeias. 



Modecca Singaporeana Mast (Adenia Singaporeana) (Passi- 

 floracecB). A wild passion flower with small green flowers and 

 scarlet capsular fruits. The roots boiled are applied for ringworm. 

 The fruit is said to be poisonous. 



Hydvocotyle Rotundifolia L. {Umbellifercz). Pegaga umbon. 

 The leaves of this little creeper rubbed up with alum are said to 

 be good for skin disease of the scrotum. 



Leucas Zeylanica L. {Labiatce). " Ketumbit." A common 

 weed with white flowers. The leaves are used for itch, and have a 

 great reputation for this ailment. 



Ruta graveolens L. (Rutacece). Arruda. The leaves ground 

 up w r ith turmeric are rubbed in in cases of rash. 



Drymoglossum pilosellaides. (Filices.) " Sisik Naga." A 

 common little fern creeping on trees, epiphytic. This is a remedy 

 for the skin disease known as Kayap, its fronds are beaten up w T ith 

 gypsum (Nasilah), and the powder rubbed in. 



Thespesia populnca Corr. {Malvacece) "Barn." Leaves bruised 

 and mixed with the fruit are applied externally for headache and 

 as a remedy for the itch (Holmes). It is also used in India for 

 psoriasis, and attempts have been made to use it in Europe. 



