Am.  Jour.  Pharm. 
Sept.,  1890. 
Medicinal  Uses  of  Leaves. 
471 
or  tartrates.  The  first  two  are  apt  to  produce  much  tar,  and  the 
last  are  difficult  to  decompose. 
No  very  definite  conclusions  can  be  drawn  as  to  the  relation 
between  the  quantity  of  drier  dissolved  and  the  rate  of  drying  of  the 
oil.  From  the  few  analyses  made  there  would  appear  to  be  some 
relation  here:  but  in  two  cases,  lead  borate  and  manganese  tartrate, 
exceptions  were  found.  The  lead  borate  gave  an  oil  drying  much 
more  slowly  than  was  to  be  expected,  while  the  manganese  tartrate 
oil  dried  with  comparative  rapidity.  The  quantity  of  manganese 
dissolved  appears  to  be  much  less  than  the  quantity  of  lead  taken 
from  lead  dryers.  Two-tenths  of  one  per  cent,  of  manganese 
appears  to  give  a  good  drying  while  about  one  per  cent,  of  lead 
occurs  in  the  best  drying  oils. 
THE  MEDICINAL  USES  OF  LEAVES. 
By  P.  L.  Simmonds,  F.L.S. 
In  continuation  of  the  previous  article  on  the  reputed  medicinal  uses  of 
leaves,  published  in  the  April  number,  pages  193  to  197,  I  now  append  a  supple- 
mentary list : 
The  leaves  of  Abrus  precatorius,  when  mixed  with  honey,  are  applied  to 
swellings,  and  in  Jamaica  are  used  as  a  tea  substitute.  In  Africa  they  are 
chewed  by  singers  to  moisten  the  throat.  A  curious  use  is  also  made  of  them 
as  a  sort  of  love  philter,  recognized  by  fetiches.  They  are  given  by  suitors  or 
lovers,  steeped  in  spirit,  to  a  father,  to  induce  him  to  give  his  daughter  in  mar- 
riage. 
The  dried  leaves  of  Adhatoda  vasica,  made  into  cigarettes,  are  smoked  in 
cases  of  asthma,  and  produce  very  beneficial  effects. 
The  dried  leaves  of  Abies  Webbiana,  known  as  Talispatra  in  India,  are 
regarded  as  carminative,  expectorant,  stomachic,  tonic  and  astringent  ;  useful 
in  phthisis,  asthma,  bronchitis  and  catarrh  of  the  bladder.  The  dried  leaves  of 
various  plants  also  receive  the  name  of  talispatra,  provided  they  are  found  use- 
ful in  the  treatment  of  coughs  (Watts). 
An  essential  oil  is  obtained  from  the  leaves  of  Acorns  Calamus,  which  is 
used  in  England  by  perfumers  in  the  manufacture  of  hair  powder.  Formerly 
the  leaves  of  the  sweet  flag  were  spread  over  the  floors  of  churches  and 
cathedrals  (especially  in  Norfolk)  upon  great  occasions,  the  pressure  of  the 
foot  causing  a  pleasant  odor. 
The  leaves  of  Achyrantes  aspera,  reduced  to  a  pulp,  are  considered  a  good 
remedy,  when  applied  externally  to  the  bites  of  scorpions. 
The  leaves  of  sEgle  Marmelos  are  made  into  poultices  and  used  in  the  treat- 
ment of  ophthalmia.  A  decoction  of  the  leaves  is  used  as  a  febrifuge  and 
expectorant. 
The  leaves  of  Albizzia  Lebbek  are  regarded  as  useful  in  ophthalmia.  Those 
of  A.  odoratissima,  boiled  in  ghee  (or  fluid  butter),  are  used  by  the  Santals 
a  remedy  for  coughs. 
