The Great Medicinal Value of Plant Lygodinum Pinnatifidum

To the Editor of "The Indian Medical Gazette." Sir,?I desire to draw attention to the following plant:? The parts used.?The roots?they are black in colour externally, and slightly whitish internally. From a knotty bulb numerous rootlets are given off. Inodorous, tasteless ; this fern abundantly grows in]any part of Bengal and Behar, especially on the bank of rivers and in bamboo hedge. They can be had abundant in the rainy season. The plant is known to natives as Kalaz/ia. From the root is made?Oleum Lygodinum pinnatifidum. Alode of preparing oil?With one pucca seer of mustard oil, pure, mix six chittacks of fresh root and boil till the roots are fried completely, taking care to bod the oil first and then to add the roots in heated oil ; the oil is then distilled odour, strong and peculiar. Action and uses? externally.?Wheu applied to the skin or exposed mucous surfaces it does not produce any burning and urtication but produces a soothing effect. In painful affections of local kind, such as chronic rheumatism of joints and muscles, in sprain of muscles or joints, the oil acts miraculously. In diseases of skin?in scabies, ulcers, eczema, in cut wounds?the oil applied locally is highly beneficial. Specific action and uses.?In carbuncle,?the local application of the oil has the effect of making the surrounding inflammations subside and the slough come out by itself. It is in this particular disease that its great medicinal value is to be found.