October i, 1890.] Supplement to the “ Tropical Agriculturist. 
307 
Koch, of a germicide whicli can destroy the 
bacillus of tuberculosis. If tliis discovery ijrove 
to be genuine it may well be hailed with feelings 
similar to those with which the blind man hails 
the surgical operation which restores him his 
sight. Tubercular consumption in the human 
subject has always been regarded as an incurable 
disease, which condemns thousands every year 
to a lingering death ; and nothing but a change 
to a very dry climate, in a foreign coimtrvb has 
ever been known to check, even for a time, 
the progress of this fell disease. Among cattle 
and poultry, tuberculosis is a deeply-rooted and 
Avidely-ramified disease, Avhich slays its tens of 
thousands every year. The feeling of fear that 
haunted the public mind on account of the i^re- 
valence of this disease was intensified l)y the 
confessed impotence of reterinary and medical 
science to ward oft' that danger, or even to 
form an accurate estimate of the extent of that 
danger. It Avas known that the disease Avas here- 
ditary; that it was communicable from man to 
animals and from animals to man ; and that Avas 
about all that was knoAvn about it. Our “ expert. ” 
i'riends Avere ahvays wrangling Avith each other 
as to AA'hether the milk or meat from a tuber- 
culous beast could be safely used as an article 
of diet; and AAdiile the meat insjjector tried to 
guard thj public against eating of the tuber- 
culous flesh, no one could ever be sure that the 
milk he Avas drinking Avas not loaded AA'ith the 
germs of this deadly disease. But if Dr. Koch’s 
discovery proves genuine, all this waste of 
human health and life, and all tliis loss to dairy 
farmers and stock breeders in general, will be 
.saved for the time to come. The other dis- 
covery is that by M. lloux, and is to the effect 
that broth made of breAA^ers’ grain kills the 
microbe of Asiatic cholera. Should this dis- 
covery also stand the crucial test, it Avill certainly 
prove a valuable one tf>o. Medical Science has 
made vast progress during the last half-century, 
but these most recent discoA'eries, if genuine, 
Avill proA'e equal in A alue to any discoveries that 
this science has made in the Avhole course of the 
Victorian era. 
• ♦ 
INDiaENOUS FOOD PEODUCTS : 
CULTIVATED AND AVILD. 
By W. a. De Silva. 
Leyiiminosae. 
28. Adenanthem Tavomiana, L. ; Sin. Madetya. 
This is a tree growing in the Avarmer parts 
of the Island. It attains to large dimensions and 
has fcAV branches. The bark appears to be of a 
scaly nature Avith indentations all throughout. 
The leaves are compound (jiinnate) and are of a 
light green colour. Like most other leguminaceous 
trees, the leaves close tovards sun, set and return 
to their natural position at daybreak. The 
floAA'ers are borne in clustei-s and they are of a 
Avhitish colour, especially the stamens, Avhile the 
calyces are green. The pods are from 3 to 4 
inches long and curA'ed to a slight extent. Five to 
six seeds are found embedded in a someAvhat leathery 
pulp. The seeds are round, convex on both 
sides, and of a bright red colour. When fresh 
they are soft, but the dry seeds are hard Avith a 
glazed appearance, 
This plant is, correctly speaking, not a food- 
producing one, except in so fur as the seeds are 
sometimes roasted and eaten. The roasted seeds 
are sometimes sohl in the market, but are con- 
sidered to be heating, producing, as is popularly 
believed, a defect in the hearing poAvers of tliose 
Avho eat them. 
In India it is said that the dry seeds are AA’oni 
as ornaments, made into necklets and bracelets. 
Locally these seeds are used for Aveighing precious 
metals and medicines. It is the Aveight known 
as a manchadiya, and 20 manchadiyas form a 
halan, the weight of a 1-ceiit piece; a hundred 
of these go to form a pound. The almost uni- 
form Aveight of these seeds makes them suitable 
for this purpose. 
The Adenanthera yields a good light-grained 
timber used for building purposes. 
The leaves and bark are locally used for exter- 
nal application in cases of swellings and sprains, 
and the leaA'es are said to possess a peculiar pro- 
perty of e.xtracting poison caused by snake bites. 
29. Tamarindm Indicus, L.; Sin. Siyambala. 
This is a large tree groAving to a great extent iu 
the AA'armer parts of Ceylon. The tree attain.s to 
A'ery large dimensions, sometimes 20 feet in 
circumference and nearly 80 feet in heiglit. The 
stem is erect and much branched towards the top. 
The leaves are compound (pinnate) Avith small 
oblong leaflets arranged in pairs. The floAA’ers 
Avhich are borne in clusters liaAe Avhite petals 
dotted purple. The fruits are somewhat cylin- 
drical from three to tAvelve inches in length, and 
contain from tAvo to six seeds. The pericarp of 
the fruits, Avhen ripe, is of a gveyish colour, thin 
and brittle. Previous to ripening they contain a 
Avhite coloured acid substance, Avhich, Avhen ripe, 
turns into a broAvu-coloured soft pulp, which 
is of a SAA'eetish acid taste. 
The seeds are flattish and smooth, and the 
hroAAUi red outer coating is hard and has a glazed 
appearance. 
The young leaves of the tamarind are made 
into a curry of a rather acid taste, reputed 
to be a very cooling food. 
The pulp of the fruit is used as a condiment 
generally among the Tamils, and hence it is 
collected and sold in the bazaar.s. It is also 
made into a jam by the addition of a large 
quantity of sugar. 
The ripe pulp mi.xed Avith sugar has slightly pur- 
gatiA'e in’oiierties. The kernel of the seed is also 
sometimes roasted and eaten. As a medicinal 
plant the tamarind is in high repute among 
native medical practitioners. The tender leaves 
are used to reduce inflammation in sore eyes 
and as a poultice in boils, Nc. The seed is ein- 
jfloyed in toothache and diarrhoea. The timber 
is used for cabinet Avork. 
30. Dialeum Orideum. L.; Sin. Oal .Siyambala. 
This is a tree growing in districts north of 
Kandy at no great elevation. It has lanceolate 
smooth leaves, and bears panicles of floAA'ers. 
The epicarp of the fruit has a pretty Aelvet 
appearance. The fruit is of an agreeable acid 
flavour and is sold iu bazaars. The timber is strong 
and handsome, and is used iu making ornamental 
fimiiture. 
