1094 
INDIAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
“ Its leaves, in conjunction with lime and the nut of Areea 
Catechu, are almost universally employed as a masticatory. The 
juice of the leaves is regarded as a valuable stomachic. Amongst 
the Indo-Britons of Southern India a use is made of the leaves, 
which merits notice. In catarrhal and pulmonary affections 
generally, especially of children-, the leaves warmed and smeared 
with oil are applied in layers over the chest ; and the Editor, 
from personal observation in many instances, can testify to the 
relief afforded to the cough and dyspnoea, far more than can be 
accounted for by the warmth and exclusion of air, or by any 
rubefacient effect it produces, which, indeed, is very slight in 
most cases. Dr. Gibson, who corroborates this statement, states 
that he has often seen the application afford marked relief in 
congestion and other affections of the liver. Mr. J. Wood reports 
that the leaves warmed by the fire and applied in layers over 
the mammae are used effectually for arresting the secretion of 
milk. Their use in this manner is also noticed by Dr. J. 
Shortt, who adds that the leaves are similarly employed as a 
resolvent to glandular swellings” (Ph. Ind.). 
An essential oil obtained from the leaves by distillation at 
Samarang, by Herr Schmity, has been credited by him with 
having given good results in the treatment of catarrhal disorders 
and as an antiseptic, and the claim has been confirmed in the 
experience of Dr. Kleinstuck, of Jena (Ph. J., Oct.- 2, 1886, 
p. 268- also Ph. J. for 20th Nov., 1889, p. 423). 
In the Konkan, the fruit is employed with honey as a remedy 
for cough, and in Orissa, the root is said to be used to prevent 
child-bearing. 
“ The juice of the leaves is dropped into the eye in painful 
affections of that organ ; it is also used to relieve cerebral con- 
gestions and satyriasis, and to allay thirst (Dr. Thompson, in 
Watt’s Diet.).” The juice of the leaves is dropped into the 
eye in night-blindness (B. D. Basu,). 
Messrs. H. H. Mann, D. L. Sahasrabuddhe and V. G, 
Patwardhan of Poona have published in Memoirs of Depart, 
of Agric. in India,” for July, 1913 and June 1916, their 
