266 
Gleanings  in  Materia  Medica. 
J  Am.  Jour. Phnrm. 
\      May,  1883. 
this  name  as  a  remedy  in  opthalmic  complaints,  are  derived  from 
Abrus  precatorius,  a  leguminous  plant,  indigenous  to  Africa  and 
Southern  Asia,  and  naturalized  in  tropical  America.  The  hard  seeds 
have  a  bright  red  integument  with  a  black  spot  surrounding  the  raphe^ 
They  are  used  in  Oriental  countries  for  ornaments  and  similar  to- 
beads ;  in  Brazil  they  have  been  highly  valued  for  several  centuries  in 
the  treatment  of  certain  diseases  of  the  eyes,  an  infusion  being  made 
of  32  powdered  seeds  (about  3  gm.),  which  are  macerated  for  24  hours- 
with  500  gm.  cold  water,  after  which  500  gm.  of  hot  water  is  added,, 
and,  when  cooled,  the  liquid  is  filtered. 
The  results  obtained  by  L.  de  Wecker,  show  that  this  infusion  pro- 
duces conjunctivitis  purulenta  or  cruposa  as  rapidly  as  inoculation,  and 
that  with  due  care,  the  desired  inflammation  may  be  well  regulated. 
The  experiments  have  not  been  concluded  yet,  and  the  active  principle 
of  the  seeds  is  still  unknown;  an  alkaloid  prepared  by  Rigand  &  Dusart,, 
did  not  give  similar  good  results,  whether  used  by  instillation  or  sub- 
cutaneously. — Phar.  Centralhalle,  1 883,  p.  145.  Klin.  Mon.  f.  Augen- 
heilkunde. 
Pongamia  glabra. — Nat.  Ord.  Leguminosse  is  a  tree  extensively  dif- 
fused throughout  Southern  India,  Malacca  and  the  Indian  Archipelago,, 
and  also  found  in  Southern  China  and  North  Australia.  It  has 
smooth,  imparipinnatfe  leaves,  composed  of  5  or  7  egg-shaped  or  broadly 
elliptical  leaflets,  and  loose  axillary  racemes  of  flowers.  In  India  an 
oil  called  pongamia  or  kurung  oil  is  expressed  from  the  seeds  and  is 
described  in  most  works  on  Hindu  materia  medica  as  being  a  favorite 
remedy  amongst  the  natives  for  various  skin  diseases.  The  oil  is  of  a 
deep  yellow  color,  inclining  to  reddish-brown,  and  is  fluid  at  tempera- 
tures above  60°  F.,  but  below  that  it  becomes  solid.  Surgeon-Major 
Dymock,  of  Bombay,  has  recently  called  attention  to  the  use  of  pon- 
gamia oil  in  pityriasis  versicolor.  Several  cases  occurring  on  the  neck^ 
face  and  shoulders  were  cured  in  less  than  a  fortnight  by  rubbing  in 
the  oil  twice  a  day.  He  concludes  that  it  is  likely  to  be  of  service  in 
other  skin  diseases  which,  like  pityriasis,  are  attended  by  the  growth 
of  a  fungus.  Dr.  Dymock  considers  this  oil  much  more  effective  than 
acetic  acid,  while  it  has  the  advantage  over  iodine  and  Goa  powder  of 
not  discoloring  the  part  (often  the  face)  to  which  it  is  applied.  Dr. 
Thin  has  recently  stated  that  sulphur  ointment  is  an  admirable  remedy 
for  ringworm,  but  pogamia  oil  might  be  used  in  cases  where  the  dis- 
ease is  of  a  recurrent  character. —  Wm.  Elborne,  in  Phar.  Jour,  and 
Trans.,  1883,  Feb.  24th,  p.  688. 
