504 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
over the membrane of the alimentary canal and genito-uri nary- 
organs, and is consequently very useful in diarrhoea, dysentery, 
gonorrhoea, gleet and chronic cystitis. Although the extract 
is less effectual in checking dysentery and diarrhoea than opium 
and some of its preparations, yet it is more efficacious in this 
respect than all other vegetable and mineral astringents when 
used alone. When dysentery or diarrhoea is complicated with 
dropsy, opium and its preparations are often injurious, because 
they generally increase the latter affection, in the same 
proportion as they check the two former diseases. It is under 
these circumstances I have found AkrVtiyd more useful and 
successful in bowel-complaints than opium and all opiates. 
A simple powder of the fresh legumes dried in the sun before 
their seeds are well developed and hard, is pretty useful in 
diarrhoea and dysentery, and its efficacy is much greater if it is 
combined with some other vegetable astringents, demulcents, 
stimulants, and with opium, as is the case with the compound 
powder of Akakia or Aq4qi'y4. A decoction of the bark of this 
plant, together with that of the Tamarindus Indiaa and a few 
other trees, is frequently resorted to by the natives of this' 
country, as a gargle in sore-mouth, and its use has often been 
attended with success to my own knowledge. 
The guin of this plant or the Indian Gum-arabic, in the 
form of mucilage, is a most common and useful adjunct to 
other medicines in pulmonary and catarrhal affections, dysentery 
and diarrhoea, and in irritable states of the genito urinary 
organs. It is most frequently resorted to for the purpose of 
suspending heavy, insoluble or immiscible medicines, such as 
the preparations of bismuth, &c. If the mucilage is very thick, 
it forms one of the best mechanical antidotes in cases of 
poisoning by irritant substances. It envelopes the particles or 
pieces of the poison on one hand, and sheaths the membrane 
of the stomach on the other, and thus protects the latter from 
the action of the former, at least, to some extent. In slight 
cases of cough or irritation of the throat the natives of this 
country, especially the Mabomedans, often relieve themselves 
by allowing a piece of this gum to dissolve slowly in their 
