made into a confection known as Gul-kand and viewed as a febrifuge. From 5 to 7 of the powdered seeds are prescribed as an emetic, and the shell of the pod rubbed down with saffron, sugar and rose-water, in difficult parturition (DymockJ. In the Concan, the juice of the young leaves is used to cure ringworm and to allay the irritation caused by the application of the marking-nut juice (Dymock).
The root is given as a tonic and febrifuge (Bellew). Dr. Irvine found the root to act as a strong purgative (Top. of Ajmere.)
It is officinal in the Indian and British Pharmacopœias.
A poultice made of the leaves is said to relieve the chilblains which are common in Upper Sind. It has been beneficially used in facial paralysis and rheumatism when rubbed into the affected parts. Internally, it is given as a derivative in paralysis and brain affections.
By steam-distilling the finely powdered fruit of Cassia fistula, a dark-yellow volatile oil, possessing a honey-like odour, is obtained. The oil forms an amorphous mass at ordinary temperatures, melts at 41°C, and has a faint acid reaction. The water which distils over with the oil, contains normal butyric acid. J. S. Ch. I. April 30, 1901, p. 386.
418. C. occidentalis . H.F.B.I., ii. 262.
Syn. : — Senna occidentalis, Roxb 352.
Eng. : — The Negro Coffee.
Sans. : — Kâsamara.
Vern. : — Kasondi, bari-kasondi or kâsundâ (H. and Duk.) ; Hikal (Bom.) ; Kálkàshundâ (B.) ; Nâttam-tâkarais. peya-veri (Tam.) ; Kasindha (Tel.); Natram-takara (Mal.); (Kasundro Guz.)
Habitat: — Scattered from the Himalayas to the Western Peninsula, Bengal and South India.
A diffuse, sub-glabrous undershrub, a few feet high, usually only of annual duration. Leaves ½ft. long, with a single gland placed just above the base of the common petiole. Leaflets glaucous, fœtid, acuminate, l-3in. long, glabrous or finely pubescent, 6-10 ovate-oblong. Racemes short-peduncled, few- flowered, corymbose, axillary and forming a terminal panicle ;
