388 JOURNAL R. A. S. (CEYLON). [Vol. III. 



plant, which I consider, after extensive and most careful trial, 

 to be an efficacious medicine for fever. This statement may 

 be startling to some, especially as the plant belongs to the 

 GucurMtacea, which have not a single member possessing 

 any febrifuge properties, but as it is well-known, furnish some 

 of the most powerful cathartics of the Pharmacopoeia, 



The plant in question is an annual creeping plant, and is 

 known by the name of Tricjiosanthes cucumerina, Lin.; in 

 Sinhalese it is called Dummella, and grows plentifully in 

 the feverish parts of Uva. It yields to boiling water a 

 bitter principle almost like Gentian or Cherayta, The 

 chemical composition may be thus stated. It cou tains 

 Tannic Acid, wjiich 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 Pulv. Jalap Comp. or Senna and Epsom Salts. 



Inf usion of Trichosanihes Cucumerina, — Take of the dried 

 plant, leaves and stem one ounce, boiling-water two pints. 

 Infuse four hours in a covered vessel and strain. I use 

 a copper decoction pot. 



Dose two ounces, three times daily. It may be given 

 during any stage of intermittent fever : when given in 

 the cold or hot stage, 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 - t i 

 few hours : — 



The health of the District is in no small degree owing 

 to the frequent showers of rain that fall over its whole 

 extent. When there is a cessation of these, showers, and 

 dry and hot weather succeeds, much unhealthiness is the 

 consequence, and it is then that epidemics break out. 



