194 
the water is given to patients to drink. In the same way texts 
of the Koran are written on a special kind of paper and plunged 
in water which the patient drinks. 
Chewing betelnut while reciting verses of the Koran and spit- 
ting afterwards on the head of the patient is considered very' 
valuable, and there used to be a man in Singapore who made his 
living by doing this cure. 
Again we have traces of the Doctrine of Signatures so popular 
in the middle ages in Europe as illustrated by the use of 
Balanophora as an aphrodisiac. This plant occurs on Mount Ophir 
and in Semangko Pass and elsewhere at high elevations, and is 
sought for its peculiar appearance suggesting its use. Strongly 
scented or flavoured-plants are of course in great repute and as 
in many cases the scent or flavour is due to some active principle, 
some of these may perhaps be found invaluable additions to the 
pharmacopoeia. 
Many popular Native medicines seem to have no definite pro- 
perties” at all, or if they have am principle it is so weak or it is 
used in such small quantities that it is very difficult to imagine 
their being of any real use. Others such as Pegaga ( Hydrocotyle 
asiatica ) and Cassia at at a, possess well known properties when 
fresh, and are in use all over the regions in which they grow, but 
it has not yet been found possible to preserve them in a state fit 
for use. They require to be used in a fresh state. 
A certain number of the plants commonly used here by Natives 
have evidently valuable properties but have never had a fair trial 
or have been rejected as not giving good results when tested in 
Europe. In the latter case, I believe that this is often due to 
bad preparation of the samples', or the principle may be destroyed 
in drying or otherwise preserving the drug, as in the case of 
Garnim loaves which though when fitsh and green contain abun- 
dance of tannin become brown and lose every trace of it a few 
hours after gathering. 
Some drugs of value having been analyzed in Europe having 
not shown any signs of a distinct alkaloid, though distinctly valua- 
ble medicines, have not yet found their way into the drug trade. 
One such is Kosam, Brucea Sumatrana. This has undoubtedly 
a good effect in many forms of dysentery. No alkaloid has been 
found in it and.it lias not been commercial 1}’ successful. Roucherta 
Grijfitkiana is another plant, the bark of which is used by the 
wild tribes as a dart poison and said to be highly effective, yet 
no definite prin ' >le appears to be found in it. 
Encmata and injections of any kind are quite ^ unknown to 
i would-be 
d of exteri 
■cooling and a targe unmoor leaves oi •ditterent plant.- are useu 
to cure headaches by appljjfiwlbn, or td^pouIticeT^h; rnr m alray 
he pains of rheumatisn«*> w 
m 
