470 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
made into a confection known as Gul-kand and viewed as a 
febrifuge. From 5 to 7 of the powdered seeds are prescribed 
as an emetic, and the shell of the pod rubbed down witli saffron, 
sugar and rose-water, in difficult parturition (Dymock). In the 
Concan, the juice of the young leaves is used to cure ringworm 
and to allay the irritation caused by the application of the mark- 
ing-nut juice (Dymock). 
The root is given as a tonic and febrifuge (Bellew). Dr. 
Irvine found the root to act as a strong purgative (Top. of 
Ajmere.) 
It is officinal in the Indian and British Pharmacopoeias. 
A poultice made of the leaves is said to relieve the chilblains 
which are common in Upper Sind. It has been beneficially 
used in facial paralysis and rheumatism when rubbed into the 
affected parts. Internally, it is given as a derivative in paralysis 
and brain affections. 
By steam-distilling the finely powdered fruit of Cassia fistula, 
a dark-yellow volatile oil, possessing a honey-like odour, is 
obtained. The oil forms an amorphous mass at ordinary 
temperatures, melts at 41°C, and has a faint acid reaction. 
The water which distils over with the oil, contains normal 
butyric acid. J. S. Ch. I. April 30, 1901, p. 386. 
418. C. occidentulis, Linn, h.f.b.i., n. 262. 
Syn. : — Senna occidentalis, Roxb 352. 
Eng. : — The Negro Coffee. 
Sans. : — Kasamara. 
Vern. : — Kasondi, bari-kasondi or kasunda (H. and Duk.) ; 
Hikal (Bom.) ; Kalkashunda (B.) ; Nattam-takarais, peya-veri 
(Tam.) ; Kasindha (Tel.); Natram-takara (Mai.); (Kasundro Guz.) 
Habitat: — Scattered from the Himalayas to the Western 
Peninsula, Bengal and South India. 
A diffuse, sub-glabrous undershrub, a few feet high, usually 
only of annual duration. Leaves ^ft. long, with a single gland 
placed just above the base of the common petiole. Leaflets 
glaucous, foetid, acuminate, l-3in. long, glabrous or finely 
pubescent, 6-10 ovate-oblong. Racemes short-peduncled, few- 
flowered, corymbose, axillary and forming a terminal panicle ; 
