484 
INDIAN' MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
is poured off and a second is added A very excellent preserve 
is imported from Curacoa, made from the unripe pods, preserved 
in sugar, with the addition of spices. (Curtis’ Botanical Magazine 
for February 1st, 1851). 
Use : — The ripe fruit is regarded as refrigerant, digestive, 
carminative and laxative, and useful in diseases supposed to be 
caused by deranged bile, such as burning of the body, costive- 
ness, intoxication from spirituous liquors or dhatura, &c. The 
shells of the ripe fruit are burnt and their ashes used in medi- 
cine as an alkaline substance, along with other medicines of the 
sort. The pulp of the ripe fruit, as well as a poultice of the 
leaves, is recommended to be applied to inflammatory swellings 
(Dutt’s Hindu Materia Medica). Mahomedan physicians consider 
the pulp to be cardiacal, astringent and aperient, useful for- 
checking bilious vomiting, and for purging the system of bile 
and adust humors ; when used as an aperient, it should be given 
with a very small quantity of fluid. A gargle of Tamarind water 
is recommended in sore-throat. The seeds are said to be a good 
astringent ; boiled, they are used as a poultice to boils ; pounded 
with water they are applied to the crown of the head in cough 
and relaxation of the uvula. The leaves crushed with water and 
expressed yield an acid fluid, which is said to be useful in bilious 
fever and scalding of the urine ; made into a poultice, they are 
applied to reduce inflammatory swellings, and to relieve pain. 
A poultice of the flowers is used in inflammatory affections of 
the conjunctiva; their juice is given internally for bleeding 
piles. The bark is considered to have astringent and tonic 
properties (DyMock). 
Analysis was made of the entire seeds, and also of the kernel without the 
brown covering. They had the following composition : — 
Seeds. 
Kernels. 
Water ... .,. 
... 10-60 
9-35 
Albuminoids 
... 13-87 
18 06 
Fat ... 
... 4-50 
6-60 
Carbohydrates ... 
... 63-22 
62-88 
Fibre... 
... 5-36 
•66 
Ash ... 
... 266 
2-45 
100-00 
100-00 
Nitrogen 
222 
2-89 
Phosphoric anhydride 
•40 
•66 
