976 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
ing from certain humours. The spirit is prepared with this as a 
chief ingredient and several other articles, and it is said to 
strengthen the chest and throat. It has been known to cure 
bleeding of the lungs by taking a sweetened decoction of 
the plant, and the preparation is an excellent mixture for 
children and others with bad coughs and colds. 
Dr. Rusby states that “ it appears to be toxic to all forms of 
life, in direct proportion to their lowness in the scale, and that 
this property is unique among plants. ® * The leaves are found 
to completely destroy the lower aquatics and to prevent their 
re-appearance- Laid upon fruits and other perishable substances 
they, to a great extent, prevent mould and decay. They check 
the development of parasitic diseases on vegetation. The very 
extended use of this plant in India in the treatment of tuber- 
culosis and other respiratory diseases may be founded upon this 
property.” 
“It is probable,” writes Dr. Watt, “we have in Adhatoda 
an antiseptic at the door of every Indian peasant. An aqueous 
solution of the alcoholic extract of the leaves was tried upon 
flies, fleas, mosquitoes, centipedes and other insects, and in 
every case the application met with poisonous results.” 
There seems to be a wide field of usefulness for this remark- 
able plant in the treatment of diseases depending upon the 
presence of fungi, bacteria, etc. 
In the Second Report of the Indigenous Drugs Committee, 
p. 35, we read. — 
“ In the experiments so far done (see Pro. Indigenous Drugs Qommittee, 
Vol. I., pages 387-418) Captain Childe, who used 30 minim doses of the 
tincture, reported that it did well in cases of bronchitis, especially in chronic 
bronchitis, but no benefit resulted in cases of phthisis. Lieutenant-Colonel 
Nailer reported that the drug was administered in chronic bronchitis, bron- 
chial asthma and phthisis, and that he would not recommend its use in such 
cases. Lieutenant-Colonel Lee reported that it was a useful expectorant. 
Major Crawford reported that the drug was tried in several cases in the form 
of a tincture ; it acted well in the latter in the stages of acute bronthitis. 
Assistant Surgeon W. D. Innes reported that the drug was used in cases of 
chronic bronchitis, its action was not definite and not as effective as some of 
the drugs now in ordinary use. Captain Stewart, who used half drachm in a 
few cases of bronchitis and pneumonia, reported that it is as effective as ipeca- 
cuanha. Major Frenchman, who used the ticture in doses varying from m. xx 
