or parts. This is generally sufficient to check the above symptoms ; but if they get worse and become more developed, they must be treated with some other and stronger remedies according to their nature" (Moodeen Sharif!).
In the Indian Medical Gazette for March 1902, Dr. Hem Chandra Sen, Teacher of Materia Medica, Campbell Medical School, Calcutta, published an interesting paper on the Therapeutics of Semicarpus anacardium. According to him : —
"The oil has very powerful antiseptic properties, but is too strong an irritant to be used medicinally for any such purpose.
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"The oil mitigated with butter or ghee (a dram of the oil 'to four ounces of ghee) is used in scaly skin eruptions, e. g., psoriasis, etc. The affected part becomes softened with marked rapidity and a normal condition returns. The strength may be varied according to indications.
" This application also does good in leucoderma. Sometimes the fruits are fried in mustard oil, and the oil is used for this purpose. The leucodermic spots show foci of fresh deposition of pigments ; and, after a prolonged use, distinct change of color is generally noticed.
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" The oil is irritant to the whole of the digestive tract, in big doses. In medicinal doses, it increases appetite and powerfully increases the secretions.
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"Partly by its own direct stimulating action, and partly by its powerful cholagogue action, it often acts as a purgative also.
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" The kernel of this and of S. Occidentale has no irritant properties at all. It tastes like almonds, and is a good nutritive food. In fact, it is used in the preparation of sweetmeats in some districts of India.
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" As a general alterative, it is often used to increase appetite, * * The power of digesting fats is said to be enormously increased. It is also a powerful carminative.
