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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 . {Legiminosce) 
“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 weeks 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- 
floracece). 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. 
Hydrocotyle Rotnndifolia 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. 
Rata graveoleiis L. ( Rutacece ). Arruda. The leaves ground 
up with turmeric are rubbed in in cases of rash. 
Dryinoglossum pilosellaides. (Filices.) _ “ Sisik Naga. A 
common little fern creeping on trees, epiphytic. This is a reme ,ay 
for the skin disease known as Kayap, its fronds are beaten up with 
gypsum (Nasilah), and the powder rubbed in. 
Thespesia populnea Corr. ( Malvacece ) “ Baru.” 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. 
