A'ragbadha.

Suvarnaka.

Fern. A'multάs, Hind. Sondhali Beng.

Cassia fistula is indigenous to India and is an old medicine of the Hindu Materia Medica. "The tree is uncommonly beautiful when in flower, few surpassing it in the elegance of its numerous long pendulous racemes of large bright yellow flowers, intermixed with the young lively green foliage." Hence I believe its Sanskrit name of Rάjataru or the king of trees. The pulp of the fruit is used as a mild cathartic. The root is also described as laxative, and useful in fever, heart diseases, retained excretions, biliousness, etc.

Aragbadhadi.1 The compound decoction which passes by this name is a very commonly used purgative in native practice. To prepare it, take of the pulp of Cassia fistula, Picrorrhiza Kurroa ( katuki), chebulic myrobalans, long pepper root and the tubers of Cyperus rotundus (mustaka), about sixty-four grains each, water thirty-two tolas, and boil down to eight tolάs. Half of this quantity, or in strong constitutions the whole of it, is given for a dose. The root of Cassia fistula enters into the composition of numerous compound prescriptions.