Page:Indian Medicinal Plants (Text Part 2).djvu/487
is that they should be regarded as three well-marked forma, which are usually very distinct, but which often graduate into one another, not as colours do by blending, but as members of a family do by the presence in each of some characters common to most of the others, and which do not interfere with, or obliterate, all the individual features of the possessors." With regard to these observations of Sir Joseph Hooker, the Author of Pinetum Britannicum makes the following remark, which is worth reproducing here. It runs thus..." Sir Joseph Hooker very accurately points out the true nature of the relationship of the three Cedars, although it may not be easy to say whether he most inclines to hold them as species or varieties." (The italics are mine. K. R. Kirtikar.)
The Author of Pinetum Britannicum says that C. Libani, Loud., is a closely-allied species.
To show the differences between Cedrus Deodara and C. Libani, we have inserted a drawing of the latter on Plate No. 928A. Cedrus Libani is not indigenous to India— (K. R. K. & B. D. B)
Uses : — By Sanskrit writers, the aromatic wood is considered carminative, diaphoretic, diuretic and useful in fever, flatulence, dropsy, urinary diseases, etc. It is chiefly used in combination with other medicines. (Dutt.)
It yields a coarse, very fluid kind of turpentine (Kelon hâ tel, Hind.), held in much esteem by the natives as an application to ulcers and skin diseases. It appears also to enter largely into their nostrums for the treatment of leprosy (Prof. FT. H. Wilson, Calcutta Med. Phys. Trans., vol. i., p. 41). Dr. Gibson regards it as very effectual in this disease when given in large doses. In the 2nd volume of these Transactions, Dr. J. Johnston details a serve case of lepra mercurialis, treated externally and internally with Deodar oil, extracted by heat from the wood. Commenting on this case, Dr. Johnston remarks that the Deodar oil produced the happiest effects by suddenly checking and ultimately curing the disease. A drachm of the oil was as large a dose as the patient's stomach could bear. It always acted as a diaphoretic, and produced