N. 0. SATIN DACHAS. 
363 
in asthma, and the result was pretty favourable. There was 
more or less relief in almost every case of hemierania and 
asthma in which the solution was tried ; but the caseS’of hys- 
teria and epilepsy benefited by it were very. few. Although 
the relief afforded by the solution is always temporary, yet it 
is in many cases instantaneous. The, quantity of the solution 
must not be more than four or five drops in each nostril, for 
in one case in which it exceeded ten or twelve drops, the irrita- 
tion of the membrane was severe and lasted for one or two 
days. Applied in the form of paste or poultice over the parts 
stung or bitten by poisonous insects, as scorpions, centipedes, 
&c., the pulp of soap-nut relieved the pain in two or three 
cases to my own knowledge. When bruised and agitated 
in watei - , it forms suds like soap, and in this condition is 
an efficient detergent and very useful for washing and cleaning 
the body, linen and hair. The kernel of the seeds is sweetish, 
nutrient, and yields an oil on expression, which is a very good 
substitute for almond oil. 
I have been using the pericarp of soap-nut in my practice 
for several months, and have just (August 1887) discovered 
it to be the one of the best, cheapest and commonest emetics 
in India. While it is as safe as ipecacuanha and several 
other vegetable emetics, it is decidedly more speedy in its 
action than all those drugs. It is however, required to be 
employed in a much larger dose than ipecacuanha ; but this is 
no disadvantage, for it is always administered in the form of 
a draught, and this draught is less nauseous and unpleasant 
than that of ipecacuanha and many other emetics. As an 
emetic, the soap-nut well deserves to be brought into general 
use by the medical profession. 
Soap-nut is supposed to be a good anthelmintic in some 
native medical works, in four or five grain doses; but this is not 
really the case. I have used it in very large doses ( 3 j to 3 ij) 
in many cases, and its emetic action was sometimes accom- 
panied by one or two loose motions. But I have neither seen 
nor heard of any of my patients passing a single round or any 
other abdominal worm on any occasion. The root of the 
