Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/183

Rh hard, even-grained. Pores moderate-sized, numerous and uniformly distributed, often sub-divided, each pore surrounded by a whitish ring. Medullary rays very wavy, fine and moderately broad, the distance between the rays slightly greater than the transverse diameter of the pores (Gamble). Branches with large white lenticels. Leaves clustered at the ends of branchlets, common petiole 2-4 in, long; leaflets 3-6 by 1¼-2½ in., abruptly or gradually acuminate, pale beneath, ovate-lanceolate or ovate, the lateral form an oblique basis; petiolules articulate. Flowers 2 in. diam.; "cream coloured" (Brandis); "large greenish yellow at length purplish " (Hooker, f. and Thorns.); appearing with the leaves, in terminal corymbs. Petals ovate or oblong, obtuse or acute; claw ¼ as long as the limb. Berry ovid or globose, 2-3 in. diam.; rind hard, rough, with numerous white specks; very variable. Seeds ¼ in, long; numerous, reinform, in a yellow pulp.

Parts used:—The bark, leaves, and root-bark.

Uses:—The bark is demulcent, antipyretic, sedative, alterative, and tonic; and the fresh leaves and root-bark are rubefacient.

The bark is useful in some cases of urinary complaints and fever, and in some mild forms of skin diseases in which sarsaparilla is generally resorted to. It also relieves vomiting and other symptoms of gastric irritation. The fresh leaves and root-bark, particularly the former, are very efficacious in all the affections in which mustard poultice is indicated.

"Bruised well with a little vinegar, lime-juice or hot water and applied to the skin in the form of a poultice or paste, the fresh leaves of C. religiosa act as a rubefacient and vesicant so efficiently that I do not hesitate in saying that they are not only much superior to the mustard seeds in this country, but also quite equal, if not superior, to the flour of that drug imported from Europe. From 5 to 10 or 15 minutes is the time required for them to produce their full effect as a rubefacient, and if kept longer than this in contact with the skin, they begin to act as a vesicant. The existence of one or two plants of C. religiosa in each Hospital and Dispensary will