| Encyclopedias &|
Monier-Williams: A Sanskrit-English Dictionary (p. 250)
m. (ttha = stha) on which monkeys dwell, Feronia elephantum MBh. Suśr. &c.; a particular position of the hands and fingers; (am) n. the fruit of Feronia elephantum Suśr. VarBṛS. &c.
Tamil Lexicon, University of Madras (p. 3728)
viḷā: 01 Wood-apple, m. tr., Feronia elephantum
02 A turn or round in ploughing
Dymock, Warden, Hooper: Pharmacographia Indica (vol. I, pp. 281-282)
Feronia elephantum, Rutaceae
Fig.- Wood Apple (Eng.), Pommier d' âlâphant (Fr.)
The Wood apple, or Elephant apple, so called because the fruit is like an elephant's skin, in Sanskrit Kapittha (on which monkeys dwell) and Kapipriya (dear to monkeys), is met with throughout India, and is cultivated for the sake of the fruit, which is edible. The Hindus consider the unripe fruit to be a useful astringent in diarrhoea and dysentery, and prescribe the ripe fruit in affection of the gums and throat. It is called Dadhiphala in Sanskrit, as its taste is compared with that of Dadhi or coagulated milk. The leaves are aromatic and carminative. The author of the Makhzan-el-Adwiya says that the leaves are very astringent, and have the taste and odour of Tarragon. He describes the fruit as cold and dry in the second degree, refreshing, astringent, cardiacal and tonic, a useful remedy in salivation and sore throat, strengthening the gums and acting as an astringent; sherbet made from the fruit increases the appetite, and has alexipharmic properties. The pulp applied externally is a remedy for the bites of venomous insects; if not obtainable, the powdered rind may be used. Ainslie mentions the use of the fruit, leaves and gum. He says that the latter supplies the place of gum Arabic in Lower India and is prescribed by Tamool practitioners to relieve tenesmus in bowel affection. The Feronia elephantum is the Balong of the Portuguese. It is mentioned in the Bengal Dispensatory and Pharmacopoeia of India, but no further information as to its properties is to be gathered from these works. The fruit when cultivated, attains a diameter of four inches. The gum forms part of the country gum which is sold in the bazaars. It is the Dadhittha-rassa of Sanskrit writers. Under the name of Pancha-kÄpittha, or five products of the Feronia, the Hindus prepare a medicine, which contains the flowers, bark, root, leaves and fruit of the tree. The country people pound the leaves with curds and apply the mixture to the whole body as a remedy for heat of blood supposed to be caused by bile.
Commerce.- The gum, or rather the mixed gums of which Feronia gum forms a part, is known as Ghati gum. In London these mixed gums are known as Amrads, and the term Ghati is applied to the gum of Conacarpus latifolia. The term Amrad is unknown in India, and appears to be of African origin, and to be applied to coloured Acacia gums.