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INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
about one scruple ; and that they also employ it in epilepsy and 
hysteria, and consider it a valuable rubefacient in palsy and 
chronic rheumatism. According to Fleming, the oil of the 
seeds is used as an external application for rheumatism in 
Bengal. 
In Bombay, a decoction of the root-bark is used as a foment- 
ation to relieve spasm. In the Concan the bark of the wild 
tree is ground with plumbago root, pigeon’s dung and chicken’s 
dung, and applied to destroy guinea-worms. Four tolas of the 
juice of the leaves of the cultivated tree are given as an emetic. 
The gum is said to be used to produce abortion ; it would be 
quite possible to use it as a tent to dilate the os uteri, as it is 
very tough, and swells rapidly when moistened. The root is 
accepted by Europeans as a perfect substitute for horse-radish 
(Dymock. The seeds (called by the French poisqueniques and 
c hieot, are used in venereal affections in Sindh (Murray). 
The fruit is administered by Hakeems in affections of the 
liver and spleen, articular pains, tetanus, paralysis, &c. The 
root is used for soreness of the mouth and throat ; and the gum 
for dental caries (Honnigberger). 
The fresh root is stimulant, carminative, stomachic and 
stimulant-diuretic ; and the flowers also possess a slight sti- 
mulant property. The bark and root-bark used externally are 
rubefacient and vesicant. 
I have found the root in the form of “ compound spirit ” 
very useful in fainting, giddiness, nervous debility, spasmodic 
affections of the bowels, hysteria and flatulence. The flowers 
are often resorted to as an aphrodisiac by the Native medical 
practitioners in Southern India; but they have completely failed 
in my hands, though I have tried them in very large doses. 
They are at most a slight stimulant, but have not been found 
useful even as such in any particular disease. Applied 
externally, in the form of a paste, the fresh root-bark and the 
bark act as a good vesicant and rubefacient. The former 
is much superior to the latter in this respect (Moodeen 
Sheriff.) 
The seeds yield oil of ben, which formerly had a reputation of being a thin 
oil suitable for fine machinery. Jamaica seeds consist of 40 per cent, of husks 
