N. O. SCIT AMINE.®. 
126!) 
from an overdose of opium. The juice of an ounce of bark, 
mixed with an ounce of ghi, acts as a brisk purgative.’ (Sur- 
geon J. McCloghey, Poona.) “The root juice, in which burnt 
borax and nitre are dissolved, is given with success in ordinary 
cases of retention of urine. The juice of the flowers, mixed with 
curds, is used in dysentery and menorrhagia.” (Native Sur- 
geon T. R. Moodelliar, Chingleput, Madras.) “The juice of 
the root is used as an antidote to arsenical poisoning in the 
lower animals. Mixed with ghi and sugar and administered 
internally, it is said to be useful in gonorrhoea.” (J. Parker, 
M.D., Poona.) 
Dr. Reginald Ashe, the Superintendent of the Jail at Myrnen- 
singh, has lately used with much success in the treatment of 
diarrhoea and dysentery flour made from the plantain. * * The 
plantains are cut just before ripening, they are skinned with 
a sharp wooden knife, so as to avoid blackening, then cut into 
thin slices, sun-dried, pounded in a mortar and sifted through 
muslin. The fine powder or flour should be stored in air-tight 
glass bottles. The issue is 2oz. for each meal cooked in 
a brass vessel with a little water. Dahi or butter-milk can 
afterwards be added. The taste of the plantain powder is 
slightly astringent, but fruity and palatable. There is no doubt 
of the high nutritive value of the plantain. The flour is said 
to be easily digested. It is well worth trying for patients with 
chronic bowel complaint who cannot digest milk. I. M. G., 
July a 1900. 
N. IS.— K. R. Kirtikar once obtained some of this powder from Kanara, but 
he used it only for congies and not for medicinal purposes. Tho congy with 
sugar is very agreeable and easily digestible. 
Regarding the use of plantain in Diabetes, see my brochure 
on Diabetes and its Dietetic Treatment, 8th Edition, 1917, 
Panini Office, Allahabad. (13. D. 13.) 
“ Plantain leaf is the cleanest and nicest dressing for 'a 
blistered surface that I know, and is also useful in covering 
other dressings. A piece of plantain leaf introduced into the 
helmet on a hot day forms an effectual protection from the sun's 
rays, without appreciably adding to the weight of the head- 
dress.” (II. DeTatham, Watt’s dictionary.) 
