N. 0. URTIOAOEjE. 
1187 
small, irregular plates. Wood grey, moderately hard ; no heart- 
wood, having narrow, wavy, concentric bands of soft tissue and 
darker colour. Pores moderate-sized and large, sometimes very 
large, often sub-divided, scanty, scattered irregularly. Medullary 
rays fine, equi-distant, but not-numerous. On a radial section 
the pores and soft bands are distinctly marked, giving the 
wood a characteristic grain, but larger pores being frequently 
oblique. (Gamble). Young shoots pubescent. Leaves glabrous 
when mature, approximate near the ends of branches, ovate, 
mostly obtuse ; base cordate or rounded ; basal nerves 3-5 ; the 
midrib with 4-6 pair of secondary nerves; blade 4-8in. ; petiole 
1-2 in. Fruit globose, pubescent, |-£in. diam., sessile, scarlet 
when ripe, supported by 2-4 broad, obtuse bracts. 
Uses : — The milky juice is externally applied for pains and 
bruises and in rheumatism and lumbago. It is considered 
as a valuable application to the soles of the feet when cracked 
or inflamed, and is also applied to the teeth and gums as a 
remedy for tooth-ache. 
An infusion of the bark is supposed to be a powerful 
tonic and is considered to have specific properties in the treat- 
ment of diabetes. The seeds are deemed cooling and tonic. 
The leaves are applied, heated as a poultice, to abscesses, 
and after they have turned yellow are given with roasted rice 
in decoction as a diaphoretic. The root fibres are given in 
gonorrhoea in the Punjab, being considered by Vaids to resemble 
Sarsaparilla. An infusion of the small branches is useful in 
haemoptysis. The tender ends of the hanging roots are given 
for obstinate vomiting. 
(1) Composition of a dried specimen of Pious bengalensis (from Perawa)— 
Water 
... 11-4 
Albuminoids 
... Tl 
Oil ... 
... 
... 4-0 
Carbohydrates ... 
... 85-2 
Fibre 
... 36-8 
Ash 
... 
... 5-5 
. 
100-0 
