504 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANT'S. 
soap-nut tree is woody, very hard and quite inert. The root- 
bark and bark, however, contain the vegetable principle, 
saponin, and form froth-like soap, when bruised and agitated 
in water. I have used each of these drugs in decoction, and 
in large and repeated doses, and found them to be very mild 
expectorants and demulcents. As medicines, they are so weak, 
that! did not consider them worthy of being treated as such. 
(Moodeen Sheriff). 
315 . S. Mukorossi, Gaertn. ii . f . b . i ., i . 683 . 
There are two forms of this plant : — (1) S. deterge)is Ttoxb. 
332 ; (2) S. Acuminata Wall Royle, 111. 139. 
Sans. : — Phenila, Arista. 
Vern . : — Ritha, dodan, kamrnar (H.); Dodan (Pb.) ; Ita 
(Uriya). 
Habitat : — Cultivated throughout N. W. India, Bengal, 
Kumaon, Sylhet and Assam. 
A handsome tree, attaining 60ft., deciduous. Bark grey, 
wood light yellow, rough, moderately hard, compact and close- 
grained. Leaves alternate, paripinnate, 12-20in. long. Leaflets 
5-10 pair; opposite or alternate, 3^-6 by l-3in., gradually 
smaller towards the apex of the rachis, lanceolate, acuminate, 
entire, coriaceous, glabrous ; lateral nerves numerous, petiolate 
iV^in. long. Inflorescence a terminal thyrsus or compound 
cymose panicle. Flowers small, regular, polygamous. Calyx- 
lobes somewhat unequal, ciliate. Petals white, inserted in the 
centre of the disk ; filaments 8, white, woolly ; anthers versatile. 
Ovary usually 3-celled. Fruit a fleshy globose, 1-seeded drupe ; 
^-1 in. diam. Seed smooth black, loose inside when dry. The 
saponaceous pericarp wrinkled and translucent in the dry fruit 
(Kanjilal). 
Parts used The fruits and seeds. 
Uses:— The fruits are used medicinally in salivation, epi- 
lepsy and as an expectorant. They are also recommended for 
the cure of chlorosis (Watt). 
Honnigberger states that seeds pounded with water, are 
said often to put an end to an epileptic paroxysm, a small 
quantity being introduced into the patient’s mouth. 
