ing from certain humours. The spirit is prepared with this as a chief ingredient and several other articles, and it is said to strengthen the chest and throat. It has been known to cure bleeding of the lungs by taking a sweetened decoction of the plant, and the preparation is an excellent mixture for children and others with bad coughs and colds.
Dr. Rusby states that " it appears to be toxic to all forms of life, in direct proportion to their lowness in the scale, and that this property is unique among plants. * ® The leaves are found to completely destroy the lower aquatics and to prevent their re-appearance. Laid upon fruits and other perishable substances they, to a great extent, prevent mould and decay. They check the development of parasitic diseases on vegetation. The very extended use of this plant in India in the treatment of tuberculosis and other respiratory diseases may be founded upon this property."
"It is probable," writes Dr. Watt, "we have in Adhatoda an antiseptic at the door of every Indian peasant. An aqueous solution of the alcoholic extract of the leaves was tried upon flies, fleas, mosquitoes, centipedes and other insects, and in every case the application met with poisonous results."
There seems to be a wide field of usefulness for this remarkable plant in the treatment of diseases depending upon the presence of fungi, bacteria, etc.
In the Second Report of the Indigenous Drugs Committee, p. 35, we read. —
" In the experiments so far done (see Pro. Indigenous Drugs Committee, Vol. I., pages 387-418) Captain Childe, who used 30 minim doses of the tincture, reported that it did well in cases of bronchitis, especially in chronic bronchitis, but no benefit resulted in cases of phthisis. Lieutenant-Colonel Nailer reported that the drug was administered in chronic bronchitis, bronchial asthma and phthisis, and that he would not recommend its use in such cases. Lieutenant-Colonel Lee reported that it was a useful expectorant. Major Crawford reported that the drug was tried in several cases in the form of a tincture ; it acted well in the latter in the stages of acute bronthitis. Assistant Surgeon W. D. Innes reported that the drug was used in cases of chronic bronchitis, its action was not definite and not as effective as some of the drugs now in ordinary use. Captain Stewart, who used half drachm in a few cases of bronchitis and pneumonia, reported that it is as effective as ipecacuanha. Major Frenchman, who used the ticture in doses varying from m. xx
