Am.  Jour.  Pharru. ) 
April,  1S90.  J' 
The  Medicinal  Uses  of  Leaves. 
195 
is  regarded  as  acting  powerfully  on  the  uterus,  and  to  be  useful  as  an  emniena- 
gogue. 
Dr.  White  states  that  the  leaves  and  tops  of  Artimisia  vulgaris  are  used  in 
nervous  and  spasmodic  affections  connected  with  debility. 
The  leaves  of  Hydrocotyle  asiatica  have  been  made  officinal  in  India.  They 
are  given  in  infusion  to  children  in  bowel  complaints  and  fevers,  and  are 
described  as  alterative  and  tonic,  and  when  locally  applied,  stimulant.  They 
are  used  in  leprosy  with  good  results.  In  secondary  or  constitutional  syphilis, 
they  are  of  great  value.  In  ulcers  and  skin  diseases,  they  are  described  both 
internally  and  externally.  On  the  Coromandel  coast,  the  leaves  are  applied  to 
bruises. 
The  dried  leaves  of  Hyoscyamus  niger  are  anodyne,  sedative  and  anti- 
spasmodic. A  preparation  from  the  leaves  is  useful  in  nervous  irritability, 
mental  excitement,  sleeplessness  and  various  other  mental  disorders. 
The  aromatic  leaves  of  Laurus  nobilis  possess  tonic  and  febrifugal  properties 
and  are  in  much  request  for  various  condiments. 
The  expressed  juice  of  the  leaves  of  Eugenia  Jambolana  is  employed  alone 
or  in  combination  with  other  astringents  in  dysentery. 
The  leaves  of  Ferula  Narthex  possess  sudorific  and  carminative  properties. 
The  leaves  of  Acacia  Lebbek  are  used  for  rheumatism  in  fomentations  or 
baths. 
The  leaves  and  young  shoots  of  Persica  vulgaris^  in  infusion,  are  said  to  be 
stomachic  and  vermifugal. 
An  infusion  of  the  leaves  of  Caryophyllus  aromaticus  is  given  as  a  carmina- 
tive in  disorders  of  the  stomach  and  colic. 
The  leaves  of  Vinca  rosea  have  been  found  useful  in  cholera,  dysentery  and 
cutaneous  diseases. 
The  leaves  of  Ocimum  gratissimum  are  employed  in  aromatic  baths  ;  some- 
times with  tobacco  leaves  in  rheumatic  complaints  and  paralysis. 
The  leaves  of  Faham  {Angrcecum  fragrans),  made  into  a  beverage,  are 
considered  pectoral  and  stomachic.    Dried,  they  are  smoked  in  cases  of  asthma. 
The  leaves  of  lemon  grass,  Andropagon  Schcenanthus,  also  make  a  pleasant 
warm  and  diaphoretic  infusion — a  grateful  drink  in  febrile  affections. 
The  leaves  of  Arctostaphylos  glauca  are  used  medicinally  ;  when  chewed, 
they  excite  the  flow  of  the  saliva  and  give  a  peculiar,  strongly  astringent, 
slightly  bitter  taste  afterwards. 
The  leaves  of  Larrea  americana,  sometimes  called  the  creosote  bush,  are 
highly  esteemed  in  California  by  the  natives  as  a  tonic  and  corrective  of  the 
system.    They  are  sticky,  with  a  strongly  scented  gum  or  resin. 
A  decoction  of  the  leaves  of  species  of  Melaleuca  is  much  used  in  China  as 
a  tonic. 
The  leaves  of  the  Guava  tree,  Psidium  pomiferum,  in  decoction,  were  con- 
sidered a  remedy  in  the  time  of  cholera  in  the  Mauritius  against  vomiting  and 
diarrhoea.  .  . 
The  leaves  of  Argyreia  speciosa  are  employed  for  headache. 
Pari  leaves  (Cissampelos  Pareira)  are  said  to  possess  the  virtue  of  congealing 
water. 
