Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/384

304 wounds and ulcers, and syringing out the vagina in the after-treatment of parturition, &c. When the pustules of small or cow-pox burst and begin to ulcerate, the Hindu medical practitioners invariably recommend the application of the paste of the fresh margosa leaves two or three times in the twenty-four hours, and speak highly of its healing power. As the paste is a slight stimulant and antiseptic, I thought the supposition of Vythians is not without foundation, and therefore watched some of the cases under its use and found the result to be good in all the slight and ordinary cases. In some severe forms of ulceration from small-pox, however, it proved quite useless, as naturally expected. On the whole, the use of the paste is quite justifiable in many slight and ordinary cases of ulceration from the pustules of small or cow-pox. The aroma of the fresh or recently dried leaves is sufficient to prevent the attack of insects, and they are therefore often placed in books and clothes by the natives of this country ; but they are much inferior to camphor in this respect.

" The flowers are useful in some cases of atonic dyspepsia and general debility. The gum being bestowed with a slight tonic action in addition to its demulcent property, it is a better auxiliary to other remedies than Gum Arabic and feronia gum in catarrhal and other affections, particularly when the latter are accompanied by great debility. The toddy of the margosa tree appears to be of great service in some chronic and long-standing cases of leprosy and other skin diseases, consumption, atonic dyspepsia and general debility, and although I have not prescribed it myself, I am acquainted with several persons who praise the drug very highly from personal use and observation. It is, however, extremely scarce, and this is a great drawback to its use and adoption into general practice.

"Preparations. — Of the root-bark, bark and young fruit — Decoction, tincture and powder. Decoction : Take of the inner layer of the root-bark, cut into small pieces, four ounces ; water, two pints ; boil on a slow fire till the liquid is reduced to one pint, and strain while hot. The decoction of the bark is prepared in precisely the same manner, and in both cases the