Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 1).djvu/671

Rh compressed, corrugate on the margin, somewhat sculptured (Clarke).

Uses : — The author of the Makhzan describes the fruit as tonic and stomachic, and says that it is useful in rheumatism and gout, and in diseases of the spleen and liver ; he also mentions its anthelmintic properties. In the Concan, ⅛ of the seer of the juice of the leaves is given in bilious affections, as an emetic and purgative, alone or combined with aromatics ; the juice is rubbed in burning of the soles of the feet, and with black pepper is rubbed round the orbit, as a cure for night blindness (Dymock).

It is used internally as a laxative, and as an ointment for sores. The fruit and leaves are anthelmintic ; useful in piles, leprosy, jaundice and as a vermifuge. The root is considered astringent and useful in hœmorrhoids. The juice of the fresh leaves acts as a mild purgative, and is prescribed for children. The Uchhya (M. Muricata) in infusion is said to act as a febrifuge (Watt.)

Used with cinnamon, long pepper, rice and the oil of Hydno-carpus Wightiana, as an external application in scabies and other cutaneous diseases (Watt).

The expressed juice with chalk is used in apthæ, and also an emmenagogue in dysmenorrhœa. It is applied externally to the scalp in pustular eruptions (Surgeon. -Major Thomson, in Watt's Dictionary).

Commonly prescribed as an anthelmintic, and as a purgative for children (Dr. McConaghey, in Watt's Dictionary).

Vern. — Kurelo-jangro (Sind.) ; Mokha (C.P.).

Habitat. — Panjab ; North- West India ; Sindh.

Botanically, it resembles M. dioica. Fruit l-3in. long, rostrate, orange-red.

Use. — The fruit is occasionally used in native practice (Atkinson).

The fruit is famous in Syria for curing wounds. It is cut open, infused in sweet oil, and exposed to the sun for some days, until it becomes red, and then it is preserved for use ;