MALACCA-BEANS, or ANACARDIA, the fruit of a tree growing in Malabar and other parts of the East Indies, supposed by some to be the AMIGDALIA tomentosa; by others, the BONNIA germinans. The fruit is of a shining black colour, of the shape of a heart flattened, about an inch long, terminating at one end in an obtuse point, and adhering by the other to a wrinkled stalk: it contains within two shells a kernel of a sweetish taste: betwixt the shells is lodged a thick and acrid juice.
The medicinal virtues of anacardia have been greatly disputed. Many have attributed to them the faculty of comforting the brain and nerves, fortifying the memory, and quickening the intellect: and hence a confection made from them has been dignified with the title of confellio sapientum: others think it better deserves the name of confellio stultorum, and mention instances of its continued use having rendered people maniacal. But the kernel of anacardium is not different in quality from that of almonds. The ill effects attributed to this fruit belong only to the juice contained betwixt the kernels, whose acrimony is so great, that it is said to be employed by the Indians as a caustic. This juice is recommended externally for tetter, freckles, and other cutaneous deformities; which it removes only by exculcerating or excoriating the part, so that a new skin comes underneath.