N. O. AtlOlDE/E. 
1345 
many times shorter than the very long linear oblong subtruncate 
cuspidate limb. Spadix equalling the spathe. (J. D. Hoooker.) 
Appendage longer than the inflorescence. Ovary l-celled, stigma 
sessile 3-4 cleft. 
Uses : — Medicinally it is said to be useful in anasarca. The 
flour obtained by pounding the dried stems boiled with rice 
flour until all the water has evaporated, is given to the patient 
and no other food allowed. 
“ As a food taken frequently, it seems to act as a mild 
laxative and diuretic. In piles and habitual constipation it is 
useful.” (Surg. D. Basu, Faridpur.) “ The flour of old dried 
stems is a valuable article of food for invalids. It is an excellent 
substitute for arrowroot and sago in place of which I have used 
it in many instances.” (Asst. Surg. Shib Ch. Bhutt, Chanda). 
“The ash of the root-stocks mixed with honey is used in 
cases of aphthae.” (Asst. Surg. Anund Ch. Mukerji, Noakhally.) 
— Watt’s dictionary. 
In an interesting paper on the “ Use of Manmanda in Indian 
Therapeutics and its probable explanation,” Dr. Lai Mohan 
Ghoshal writes in Foods and Drugs for April 1913, as follows : 
Composition aiici preparation of Manmanda. —The kochu of at least one 
year's standing is taken, dried and pulverised into fine powder ; this is then 
prepared with rice into pasty mass by boiling ; this paste is sufficiently 
macerated and filtered through fine muslin. The filtrate is then allowed to 
be taken as food. The composition of such a manda is the following :— 
Protein— 178 p. c. (increase in protein is due ■ to to the addition of rice); 
Carbo-hydrate— 20'21 p. c.; Moisturo— 77*27 p. e.; Fat— a trace only. 
The filtrate is a syrupy paste, slightly actid or unpleasant in taste; 
reaction for calcium oxalates can be obtained by filtering the paste through 
a filter paper and ovaporating the watery portion. 
This is all about the composition of man-kochu and the preparation of 
manmanda. 
The question now arises, what is there in the manmanda that leads the 
kabirajas to use the manmanda so indiscriminately in all sorts of oedema and 
dropsy. Generally from 4oz to a pint of the manda is given according to 
the strength of the patient ; if the patient is strong and the oedema is of 
recent origin the treatment is mainly directed to the starvation of the 
patient, strict regulation of water (sometimes it is altogether cut off) and 
administration of about Soz of the manda ; if the patient is weak and has 
got a good deal of thirst associated with fever, manmanda about a pint is 
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