In America, a decoction of the leaves has been employed in hysteria, and is believed to be astringent and stomachic. The leaves and bark are used internally and externally in leprosy and scrofula ; while a poultice of the flowers is believed to have vermicide properties and to be a valuable remedy in eruptive skin diseases. The fruit has poisonous properties, but is used in leprosy and scrofula, and is worn as a necklace to avert contagion. In the Punjab, the seeds are prescribed in rheumatism, and in Kangra they are pounded and mixed with apricots as an
external application for the same disease. In Bombay, strings of the seeds are suspended over doors and verandahs during the prevalence of epidemics to avert the disease. The oil is said to possess similar properties to that of the nîm ; and, according to Ainslie, this species also yields a similar toddy. Emerson states that the gum is used as a remedy for splenic enlargement.
Several parts of the Persian Lilac are considerably employed in America. Thus, " the root bark has obtained a place in- the secondary list of the United States Pharmacopœia as an anthelmintic. It has a bitter nauseous taste, and yields its virtues to boiling water. It is administered in the form of decoction (4 ozs. of the fresh bark to two pints of water, boiled to one pint), of which the dose for a child is a tablespoonful every third hour, until it sensibly affects the bowels or stomach, or a dose may be given every morning or evening for several days and then be followed by a cathartic " (Pharmacop. Ind.). Moodeen Sheriff states that, after a careful trial of the above preparation, he has arrived at the conclusion that " if the root- bark is vermifuge at all, it is very weakly so."
" Other preparations have been used in America. The dried berries in whisky have been employed against ascarides, tapeworm and verminous diseases, and the pulp of the berries stewed in lard has been used with success against scald head. A fluid extract and syrup prepared from the bark have been recommended, the latter containing vanilla which is said to wholly disguise the bitter and disagreeable taste of the drug (Year Book of Pharmacy (1875), 375). A recent writer on the
