356 
INDIAN MEDICINAL TLANTS. 
In 1874-1877 I used to see a row of some excellent, huge, 
handsome horse-chestnut trees along the garden enclosing wall 
of the Kensington Gardens, London (K. R K.) 
Uses : — The fruit and bark have for long been regarded 
as useful in the treatment of fevers aVan anti-periodic. 
Esculine, in doses of 15 grains, is said to have been found 
useful in malarial disorders. 
Composition of the fruit, after drying. Shell=t8'9%, kernel=83'l%. 
The kernel, she’ll and whole fruit, resp., show on analysis : ash 2, 8, 17, 26 ; 
protein, 121,5-7, ICO ; fiber, 2T, 1.V2, 4 0 ; ci!, 6-3, 0'9, 5 3; carbohydrates, 
74'5, 71'6, 74-0. The ash contains 12-3% P 2 O s . This nut contains no harmful 
ingredient, but the relatively large proportion of bitter acid present renders 
the material unpalatable. When ground and mixed with molasses these nuts 
have been used as a substitute for oil-cake in cattle fodder. Drying, macerat- 
ing, or boiling the nuts greatly reduces the bitter taste aDd increases the 
nutritive value. One kg. of dried nuts is equivalent to 6 kg. of beet-roots. 
Numerous methods are employed in separating the starch of chestnut. 
Horse-chestnut oil is very similar to almond and mustard seed oils. The 
following consts. were obtained : d 15 , 0'926 ; «, 1-4747 ; Sapon. no., 194*5; 
I no, 95'4 ; R — M. no, 1-54 ; Hehner no., 92'9 ; acetyl no, 13'5. The acid prin- 
ciple of this nut has not been clearly identified. 
Chemical Abstracts for Jan. 20, 1914. p. 384. 
312. indicci, Colebr. h.f.b.i., i . 675. 
Eng . : — Indian horse-chestnut. 
Vern. : — Bankhor, gugu, kanor, pankar (H.) ; Gun, kanor 
(Pb.) ; Kishing (Kumaon) ; Home, hanudum (Kashmir) ; Torjaga 
<Trans-Indus). 
Habitat Western Himalaya, from the Indus to Nepal. 
A large, deciduous tree, with scaby sticky, buds. Bark 
grey ; when old, exfoliating upwards in long flakes or thin bands, 
which remain attached to the upper ends and hang Alown 
outwards, having a straight appearance. Wood white, with a 
pinkish tinge, soft, close-grained. A very handsome tree, reach- 
ing 100 ft. or more in height, in suitable places, with perhaps 
25 ft. in girth. Leaves opposite, digitate, ex-stipulate ; common 
petiole 4-6 in. long. Leaflets 5-9 ; 6-10 by 2-3J in., the centre 
ones the largest, oblanceolate, or oblong, acuminate, sharply 
