80 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Parts used The seeds, and roots. 
Uses : — The yellow juice of this plant is used as a medicine 
for dropsy, jaundice, and cutaneous affections. It is also 
diuretic, relieves blisters, and heals excoriations and indolent 
ulcers. (Watt). The seeds yield on expression a fixed oil, 
which has long been ill use amongst West India practitioners 
as an aperient. The unfavorable report of Sir W. O’Shaugh- 
nessy ( Bengal l)isp., p. 183) led to its being neglected ; but 
more recent trials of its properties by several medical officers 
in Bengal serve to prove that in half drachm doses it acts as a 
gentle aperient, and at the same time allays, apparently by a 
sedative action, the pain in colic. The smallness of the doses, 
and the mildness of its operation are recommendations to its 
employment. Age apparently affects its activity, the freshly 
prepared oil proving more energetic and uniform in operation 
than that which has been long on hand. Applied to herpetic 
and other forms of skin disease, it is reported to exercise a well- 
marked soothing influence, according to Dr. Bonavia and 
others (Indian Med. Gaz. 18G6, yol. i., p. 206). As a local 
application to indolent and ill-conditioned ulcers, the expressed 
yellow glutinous j uice of the plant is held in much esfeem by 
the natives. Dr. W. Dymock, of Bombay reports having used 
it thus with good effect. The native practice of applying this 
juice to the eye in ophthalmia is dangerous. Both in a chemical 
and therapeutical point of view, this plant appears worthy of 
investigation. (Ph. Ind.). 
“ The seeds are laxative, emetic, nauseant, expectorant and 
demulcent ; the oil, a drastic purgative, nauseant and expecto- 
ant; and the root, an alterative tonic. The seeds and oil have 
also a beneficial effect over asthma. 
“The seeds are useful in cough and catarrhal affections of 
the throat and pulmonary mucous membrane, and in pertussis 
and asthma. Though they do not appear to possess any anti- 
spasmodic property, they have a distinct control over asthma, 
apparently, from their combined actions of nauseant, emetic, 
expectorant and demulcent. As their use is often accompanied 
by more or less vomiting and nausea, they are more suited 
