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allowed with stimulating drinks made of infusions of various drugs (pânchan), and a little hot water is allowed to be sipped at definite intervals. Salts are entirely cut off.

From what is stated above we see that about 4 to 10 grams of protein and 50 to 120 grams of carbo-hydrates are allowed by the administration of manmanda according to the strength of the patient ; but in these we see nothing that tends particularly towards the relief of oedema, although we see that considerable improvement is done by this treatment. It must be, then, that manmanda is administered not particularly for its nourishing property, but for something else. It may be possible that it is administered for the calcium oxalate that is present in the manmanda. This oxalate has probably the property of relieving the oedema caused by the retention of salts. It is now generally accepted that the oedema is mainly due to the retention of salts, particularly sodium chloride ; and the oxalate has probably the property of removing this retention and thereby relieving the consequent œdema. The following experiments were done to show that the calcium oxalate has such property when administered both in normal individual and in œdematous persons :—

Laboratory Experiments. — A solution of sodium chloride is precipitated by a solution of oxalates ; the precipitation is more marked by the addition of a solution of calcium oxalate.

Experiments on healthy individuals. — Two persons were selected and their urines were examined under normal conditions, and under different conditions after the administration of calcium oxalates. * * * *

From the above experiments we see that by the administration of calcium oxalate, the chloride excretion is positively increased, the quantity of urine as well as the urea excretion is also increased ; with 5 grams the quantity of urine is rather comparatively decreased, but the increase in chloride and urea excretion is maintained. The increase of cholorides is positively more than what is ingested. Even with a diet having no chlorides, the urine showed an excretion of 2 grams of the chloride. Watery part in this latter case is considerably diminished, probably owing to less consumption of water which is necessary only to maintain the osmotic equlibrium when salts are ingested with the diet. Urea excretion is also less, for the reason that it is difficult to take proper amount of food without salt and nitrogenous metabolism is consequently rather low.

Thus we see that with the administration of calcium oxalate the chlorides and uera, particularly the former, are definitely increased.

Syn. : — Calla aromatica, Roxb. 630.

Vern. : — Kuschu gundubi (B.)

Habitat : — Assam ; Chittagong.