92. +Chaulmugra.+ (The seeds of Gynocardia odorata, _R. Brown_). In Southern India, where Chaulmúgra is rarely obtainable, the oil of the seeds of a tree of the same family, Hydnocarpus inebrians, _Vahl._ (Néradi-muttu, _Tam._, Niradi-vittulu, _Tel._), seems well worthy of a trial. This oil has a great repute amongst the natives of Malabar as a remedy in leprosy.
Chaulmúgra or Chál-mogré-ké, bínj (_Hind._).
93. Chaulmúgra seeds are about an inch in length, of an ovoid form, rendered more or less irregular by mutual compression. The shell, greyish brown, smooth and fragile, contains a large kernel, which by expression yields a fixed oil which has a peculiar and slightly unpleasant smell and taste. The oil procured from the bazaars is usually impure, and hence objectionable for internal administration.
94. _In Leprosy_ Chaulmúgra has been used with excellent effect; it has also been advantageously administered in _Scrofula_, _Skin Diseases_, _and Chronic Rheumatism_. The dose of the seeds coarsely powdered is about six grains, thrice daily, in the form of pill, gradually increased to three or four times that amount, or until it causes nausea, when the dose should be diminished, or the use of the remedy suspended for a time. This is the best form of administration. The dose of the oil is from five to six drops, gradually increased as in the case of the seeds. During the use of this remedy it is advisable to avoid all salt meats, acids, spices, and sweetmeats; on the other hand, its operation is aided by butter, ghee, and oily articles of diet. It might, perhaps, be advantageously combined with a course of fish-liver oil.
95. An ointment, prepared by beating the seeds, deprived of their shells, into a paste of the requisite consistence, with a little ghee, or simple ointment, has been found of great service as a local application in some _obstinate Skin Diseases_.
96. +Chiretta.+ The dried plant Ophelia Chirata, _D.C._
Charáyatah (_Hind._, _Duk._), Shirat-kuch-chi, Nilavémbu (_Tam._), Nelá-vému (_Tel._), Cherota (_Beng._), Chiraita, Kiraita (_Punj._), Chiraiet (_Kash._), Chiráyitá (_Mah._), Chírayata (_Guz._), Bincohamba (_Cing._), Sekhági (_Burm._), Chrita (_Malay_).
97. Stems about three feet long, of the thickness of a goose-quill, round, smooth, pale-brown, branched, branches opposite; flowers small, numerous, panicled; the whole plant intensely bitter. These characters belong to the officinal Chiretta, but there are met with, in almost every part of India, numerous varieties which differ more or less from it in many respects, except in bitterness, which pervades them all. They also partake, for the most part, in the same medicinal properties.