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JOURNAL, E.A.S. (CEYLON). [Vol. IX. 



prophylactic against this disease, the Captain General 

 Antonio de Mascarenho issued an order for every one in the 

 camp to smoke. 



Ribeyro only briefly alludes to "Parangi" disease (Par- 

 angi leda J, that unsightly and disfiguring skin disease 

 which prevails to this day in the districts of Mullaittivu, 

 Vavuniya-Vilankulam, Anuradhapura, and Kurunegala. He 

 called it the "Neapolitan disease," named by the natives " Pa- 

 ranguelere" or " Portuguese sickness," since the Portuguese 

 first introduced it into this country ; and he says it " is not 

 easily cured."* Fever is only mentioned, to be dismissed 

 with its remedy, viz.: — a decoction called coantru.\ Those 

 who know Portuguese are aware that the remedy is a com- 

 mon and useful one, employed to this day. Coriander seeds 

 boiled down with ginger into a decoction is commonly used 

 in the cold stage of ague, and in catarrhs and colds in the 

 head. Ribeyro states, as we can bear testimony even now, 

 that no people understand the use of simples better than the 

 Sinhalese, so that with a few herbs or roots they cure 

 wounds, ulcers, and swellings ; but it is extravagantly stated 

 that they set broken arms and fractured legs, and put those 

 matters to right in a very few days. He also noted the good 

 effects of herbs as antidotes against the bites of snakes and 

 venomous insects. We must admit that many Vedardlas are 

 good bone-setters, although they have no proper appliances 

 for preventing shortening of broken limbs. Their method of 

 stuffing a wound and keeping it dilated, when it is connected 

 with a compound fracture (although aromatic, antiseptic, and 

 astringent herbs are used to check bleeding and prevent 

 putrefaction) cannot be approved except as a temporary 

 measure, until proper surgical aid is obtainable. The historian 



* The writer quotes Lee's translation of Ribeyro, which is merely Le 

 Gr rand's version Englished. Ribeyro's actual words are : — "As mal gallico 

 chamao Pardngue rere" &c. — Hon, Sec. 



f Ribeyro, " comtro." 



