388 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
cases of piles I treated with fumigation, one suffered from a 
swelling on the face, chest and abdomen with an erysipelatous 
blush ; while the other was quite free from all these symptoms. 
Both, however, were much benefited by the remedy in one siting 
Although T. have not seen any case of bad effects from internal 
useof the marking-nut, yet there is no doubt that it is an irritant 
poison in a large quantity or overdose ” (Moodeen Sheriff). 
“ Marking-nut is one of the few drugs which I have found 
more or less useful in all the diseases for wich it is recommended 
in Native and other medical works. These works, however, 
speak of the usefulness of the drug in rheumatism in a very 
casual manner and only as a local application ; but, according 
to my own experience, it is, as an internal remedy, so useful 
in the acute form of that disease that it deserves a special 
attention. Used in full and repeated medicinal doses, the 
relief it affords is very great and satisfactory, and I do not 
hesitate in calling it a sovereign remedy in acute rheumatism. 
It is certainly more sure and speedy in its action than salicylic 
acid, salicylate of soda, colchicum, &e., and therefore the best 
drug for the above complaint. The more recent and acute 
the disease is, the more speedy and successful this meedicine 
proves. Many of the patients suffering from acute rheumatism 
who were brought to me in doolies or other vehicles, and who 
were quite unable to sit or move without assistance, were able 
from the use of the electuary or the acrid oil of this drug to 
return to me walking on the 6th or 7th day after their first vist. 
On a few occasions, again, I was pleasantly surprised to see 
them walking lamely and coming to me on the very next or 
3rd morning to say they were much better. In the latter case 
the patients were all youths or very young men. 
“ With regard to the preparations of the marking-nut I have 
described (electuary and acrid oil), there is no difference 
between the therapeutic uses of them, particularly in the 
treatment of acute rheumatism; but the patients generally 
prefer the former on account of its very pleasant taste. The 
number of the doses of these preparations I have generally used 
in the 24 hours is 4, and the dose of both is the same, viz., from 
