Uses. — The expressed-juice of the thick tap-root of this plant is used by the native physicians (kavirâjes) as an adjunct to the metallic preparations prescribed by them in diabetes. I know several patients who were benefited by the juice. It is very desirable that its therapeutic action should be tested (U. C. Dutt).
In the Concan, the root pounded with the juice of the leaves is applied as a lep to the whole body to induce perspiration in fever, the green fruit is chewed to cure sores on the tongue (Dymock).
This is a favourite remedy with the native practitioners (London Exhibition, 1862).
The bark of the root, dried and reduced to powder, is said to act as a good cathartic, in a dose of 30 grains (Taylor's Topography of Dacca).
The leaves, mixed with ghi, are applied as a liniment to sores. The whole plant, bruised and mixed with the oil of Euphorbia nuriifolia and powdered cumin seeds, is administered by natives in special diseases (Atkinson). The leaves are applied externally in eruptions of the skin, and the plant internally in gonorrhœa (Balfour).
547. Cucurbita maxima, Duchesne, h.f.b.l, ii. 622.
Vern. — Mitha kaddu (H.) ; Suphurú kúmra (B.); Pushinikkay (Tam.) ; Gummadi-kaya (Tel.). The seeds : Lálabhopalá-bija (Mar.)
Habitat. —Cultivated throughout India.
A large, climbing, hairy annual herb. Tendrils 2-4-fid. Leaves 4-6in. diam.. hispedulous and also with much soft hair, denticulate, with 5 shallow lobes or subentire ; sinus between the lobes narrow. Hairs of the petiole equal, not pungent. Petiole often nearly as long as the blade. Flowers monœcious, all solitary, white, very large. Male flowers : — Calyx- tube green, campanulate, 5-lobed, hardly half-way down; stamens 3, inserted low in the Calyx-tube ; segments lanceolate-linear ;
