NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
OF MADRAS.
25
Therapeutic Uses.—The mustard-flour imported from Europe is com-
monly met with in many large bazaars of Southern India, and is a very
safe and speedy emetic, well suited in all cases of drunkenness and
loaded stomach, where it is desirable to empty that organ immediately
and producing a depressing influence on the system. In small quan-
tities, taken with food, it improves digestion and promotes appetite.
Locally, in the form of a poultice, it is a ready, speedy and successful
remedy in many cases of neuralgic, spasmodic and rheumatic affections.
It relieves the congestion and pain of internal organs if applied over
their regions ; hence the frequent and often great relief experienced in
the congestive pain of the liver, stomach and heart, from its application
over the hepatic, epigastric and cardiac regions, respectively.
Preparations.—Powder and poultice-powder : The mustard seeds in
this country can never be reduced to such a fine powder as the mustard-
flour imported from Europe. The latter, as I said before, is very
common in many large bazaars of India, and it is therefore generally
resorted to for preparing sinapism, even by natives. The powder of the
mustard seeds in this country is extremely inferior to it. Poultice : I
have almost always prepared the mustard-poultice or sinapism by
mixing the mustard-flour with warm or tepid water, and making it soft
enough to be easily spread over on cloth, without any linseed-meal or
rice-flour. I found its action very satisfactory, and generally caused
much pain in 5 or 6 minutes, and produced sufficient redness in 2 or 3
more.
Dose.—As an emetic, one ounce or a table-spoonful ; and as a carmin-
ative, from grains twenty to a drachm.
European Drug for which it may be substituted.—For the mustard-
flour imported from Europe.
‡ Brassica campestris, Linn. (Sinapis glauca, Roxb.) 50.
Habitat.—Cultivated in many parts of India.
Parts Used.—The seeds and oil.
Synonyms.—Rape, Eng. Sarsón, Hind. Baré-ráyán,
Local Sources.—Is often found in the bazaars of Southern India.
Price.—Wholesale, Rs. 4 per maund ; retail or bazaar, As. 4 per
pound.
Physiological Actions, Therapeutic Uses, Preparations, Doses and
European. Drugs for which it may be substituted.—See remarks under the
corresponding headings in the preceding article.
* Brassica juncea, H.f. and T. (Sinapis juncea, Linn.) 51
and 52.
Habitat.—Cultivated all over India.
Parts Used.—The seeds (No. 51) and oil (No. 52).
Synonyms.—Of the seeds—Indian mustard, Eng. Ráí, Hind, Beng.
and Guz. Ráyán, Duk. Kadugu, Tam. Aválu, Tel. Katuka, Malyal.
Sásve, Can. Sarshaphaha, Sans. Moharé, Mah. Abbé, Cing.
Munni-yén-zi, Bur.
26
MATERIA MEDICA
Local Sources.—The seeds are one of the commonest drugs in the
Indian markets, and the oil is also sold in many bazaars.
Price.—Of the seeds—Wholesale, Rs. 10 per maund; retail or
bazaar, As. 1¼ per pound. Of the oil—Wholesale, Rs. 4¼ per 12 half-
pint bottles ; retail or bazaar, As. 7 per one half-pint bottle.
Physiological Actions, Therapeutic Uses, Preparations, Doses and
European Drugs for which they may be substituted.
—See remarks under
the corresponding headings under Brassica alba.
* Brassica nigra, Koch. (Sinapis nigra, Linn). 53.
Habitat.—Cultivated in some parts of India.
Part Used.—The seeds.
Synonyms.—Black or true mustard, Eng. Kálí-ráí or Kálé-ráyán,
Hind. and Duk. Karuppu-kadugu, Tam. Nalla-áválu, Tel.
Karuppa-katuka, Malyal. Kappa-sásve, Can. Kál-ráí
Beng. Kálá-sarsha-
phaha, Sans. Kála-mohare, Mah. Kál-ráí
Guz. Kalu-abbé, Cing.
Amé-munniyén-zi, Bur.
Local Sources.—Found in some large bazaars of Southern India.
Price.—Wholesale, Rs. 2 per maund ; retail or bazaar, As. 2 per
pound.
Physiological Actions, Therapeutic Uses, Preparations, Doses and
European Drugs ,for which it may be substituted.—Precisely the same as
those described under White mustard (Brassica alba).
‡ Lepidium sativum, Linn. 54.
Habitat.—Cultivated in some parts of India.
Part Used.—The seeds.
Synonyms.—Common cress, Eng. ,
Duk. Hálim, Hind., Beng.
and Guz. Alivirai, Tam. Ádeli or Ádiyálu, Tel. Hubburrashád, Arab.
Tukhmeturrahtékak, Pers.
Local Sources.—Procurable in every large bazaar of India.
Price.— Wholesale, Rs. 3 per maund ; retail or bazaar, As. 3 per
pound.
Physiological Actions.—Internally, demulcent and gentle astringent ;
and externally, rubefacient.
Therapeutic Uses.—Useful in dysentery and dysenteric diarrhœa,
and also in febrile and catarrhal affections. Externally, it is of great
service in all the diseases in which the mustard is resorted to. The
thick and very gummy mucilage of the seeds acts as a mechanical
antidote in cases of poisoning by irritant substances, enveloping the
poisonous particles and sheathing the mucous membrane of the stomach
and intestines.
Preparations.—The seeds can be swallowed with water, entire or in
coarse powder, and taken in the form of mucilage or decoction. The
mucilage is prepared by simply bruising and rubbing the seeds with
cold water. It is very thick and gummy ; white if it is passed through
OF MADRAS.
27
muslin, but reddish white if not strained, owing to the presence of the
red particles of the cuticle of the seeds. The cuticle itself being soft
and mucilaginous, there is no need for its separation by straining the
mucilage. The decoction of the seeds is thus prepared :—Take of the
seeds, bruised, six drachms ; liquorice root, cut into small pieces and
bruised, one drachm ; water, one pint and a quarter ; boil for 10 minutes
in a covered vessel and strain when cool.
Doses.—Of the seeds, from one to two drachms and a half ; and of
the decoction, from one to three fluid ounces ; three or four times in the
twenty-four hours.
European Drugs for which it may be substituted.—For the mustard,
tragacanth and gum-arabic imported from Europe,
Remarks.—The seeds are small, red or reddish-brown; elliptical, oval
or oblong; about one line in length and. half of that in thickness ; taste
mucilaginous and slightly pungent when chewed and swallowed, and
their smell is slight, peculiar and not unpleasant.
It is a mistake to ascribe any purgative property to these seeds.
I have used them in more than two-drachm doses for other purposes
and never observed them to act on the bowels on any occasion. The
best medical property of this drug, according to my own experience,
is its usefulness in dysentery and dysenteric diarrhœa. The coarse
powder and the thick and very gummy mucilage of the seeds appear
to be well suited to allay the irritation of the mucous coat of the
intestines in those diseases, and they thus relieve or check their symp--
toms to a considerable extent. The coarse powder or mucilage, of course,
is not always sufficient to complete a cure by itself, but like many
other remedies in dysentery, requires the assistance of some other
medicines according to the circumstances of each individual case. The
entire seeds swallowed with water have also some control over the
above-named diseases, in consequence of their property of becoming
soft and mucilaginous when moistened ; but much less efficacious in
this respect than their powder or mucilage.
As a rubefacient the seeds of Lepidium sativum are a better drug than
mustard seeds, if both are employed under similar circumstances, i.e,
when they and the mustard seeds are bruised. separately with water and
applied to two different parts of the body, their action is generally felt
sooner and is stronger than that of the latter. These seeds, however,
are very inferior to the mustard-flour imported from Europe, because
they cannot be pulverized so well by ordinary means, but if they are
so, there is no doubt in my mind that they will be much superior even
t o t he European drug. Thei r act i on, agai n, i s much i ncreased i f brui sed
with hot water, vinegar or lime juice instead of cold water.
‡ R a p h a n u s s a t i v u s ,
L i n n .
5 5 .
Habitat.—Cultivated in every part of India.
Parts Used.—The seeds (No. 55) and root.
Synonyms.—Of the seeds—Radish seeds, Eng. Múlí-ké-bínji Hind.,
Duk. and Beng. Mullángi-virai,
Tam.
M u l l a n g i - v i t t u l u , T e l .
M o u l á z i , B u r m . B i z r u l - f u j l ,A
r a b .
T u k h m e - t u r b ,
P e r s .
O f t h e r o o t — R a d i s h ,
2 8
MATERIA MEDICA
Eng. Múlí, Hind., Duk. and Beng. Mullángi, Tam. Mullangi, Tel.
Moulá, Burm. Fujl, Arab. Turb, Pers.
Local Sources.—The seeds are sold in every large bazaar and the
fresh root is procurable in every town and village of India.
Price.—Of the seeds—Wholesale, Rs. 3 per maund; retail or
bazaar, As. 3 per pound. Of the root—Wholesale, Re. 1 per maund ;
retail or bazaar, Ps. 6 per pound.
Physiological Actions.—The root is stimulant-diuretic, stomachic
and antilithic ; and the seeds demulcent-diuretic. In full and repeated
doses the seeds sometimes produce vomiting, but this is so rare that
they cannot be considered as an emetic. They possess no other phy-
siological action.
Therapeutic Uses.—The juice of the radish is useful in dysuria and
strangury, and also in some slight cases of ischuria and calculus in the
bladder. Eaten before a meal occasionally, the radish improves appetite
and increases the digestive power. The dry seeds of the radish are also
useful in some slight cases of dysuria and strangury, but their action is
rather uncertain and irregular.
Preparations.—The juice of the radish is to be pressed out through
cloth by b r u i s i n g i t w i t h o u t w a t e r . T h e s e e d s a r e u s e d i n t h e f o r m
of a draught by bruising and rubbing them with water and straining
the liquid through cloth.
Doses.—Of the juice, from one ounce and a half to three fluid
ounces, repeated frequently till the desired effect is produced ; of the
seeds, from one to two drachms.
European Drugs , for which they may be substituted.—Spiritus ætheris
nitrosi, horseradish-root and Spiritus ammoniæ aromaticus.
Remarks.—The root of this plant or radish requires no description.
The seeds are roundish, reddish-grey or reddish-brown, vary in diameter
from a half to one line, odorless and mucilaginous in taste.
C A P P A R I D E Æ .
† Gynandropsis pentaphylla, DC. 56, 57 and 58.
Habitat.—One of the common weeds in gardens and fields.
Parts Used.—The seeds (No. 56), leaves (No. 57) and roots
(No. 58).
Synonyms.—Of the seeds —Hurhur-ké-bínj, Hind. Hulhul-ké-bínj,
Duk. Vélai-virai, Tam. Vaminta-vittulu, Tel. Véla-bíjam, Malyal.
Hurhuriyá-bíj, Beng. Of the leaves—Hurhur-ká-pát, Hind. Hulhul-
ké-patté, D uk. Vélai-ilai, Tarn. Vaminta-áku, Tel. Véla-ela,
Malyal. Hurhuriyá-páta, Beng. Of the root—Hurhur-kí-jar, Hind. Hulhul-
kí-jar, Duk. Vélai-vér, Tam. Váminta-véru, Tel. Véla-véra,
Malyal. Hurhuriyá-múl, Beng.
Local Sources.—The seeds are sold in some large bazaars of Southern
India, but the leaves and roots require to be gathered, which is done
easily, the plant being found everywhere.
Price.—Of the seeds—Wholesale, Rs. 1½ per maund ; retail or bazaar,
As. 1½ per pound.
OF MADRAS.
29
Physiological Actions.—The seeds are anthelmintic and rubefacient ;
the leaves a remedy for a few diseases of the ear ; and the root a
febrifuge.
Therapeutic Uses.—The seeds are employed internally for the
expulsion of round-worms ; and externally, their application to the
skin is attended with relief in all the cases in which mustard is indi-
cated. The juice of the leaves is often used by natives for the relief of
otalgia and otorrhœa, and occasionally with success ; but the burning
sensation it produces in the ear, particularly in cases of the latter
disease, is a drawback to its employment. The root has been observed
to be useful in some mild cases of fever.
Preparations.—The seeds are prescribed internally in powder,
which should always be used with sugar ; and externally, in the form
of a poultice or paste, by bruising them with vinegar, lime-juice or hot
water. The root is employed in decoction, prepared thus :—Take of
the root, cut into small pieces and bruised, three ounces ; water, one
pint and a half ; boil on a slow fire till the liquid is reduced to one
pint, and strain when cool. For the use of the ear, the juice of the
leaves is to be pressed out by bruising them without water.
Doses. —Of the powder, from thirty grains to one drachm, with
sugar, morning and evening for two days, and followed on the third
morning by a dose of castor oil. For children the dose is from five to
twenty grains, according to their age. Of the decoction, from one to
three fluid ounces, four or five times a day.
European Drugs for which they may be substituted.—The seeds for
the mustard imported from Europe, and for santonin; the leaves for
glycerine; and the root for Pith. antimonialis.
Renmarks.—The leaves of 0. pentaphylla are neither distinctly rube-
facient nor possess a scent resembling that of asafœtida, as is gener-
ally supposed ; but those of Cleome viscosa, a species of the same
Natural Order, are endowed with the above characters to a considerable
extent. These plants are often confounded with each other, the causes
of which, as well as a few botanical characters by which they may be
easily and readily distinguished, I have explained in my remarks under
C. viscosa.
Although Gynandropsis pentaphylla and Cleome viscose are species
of two different genera, yet their seeds are alike, there being no
distinct difference between their physical and medical properties, or, if
any at all, it is only in the strength of their action, which is in favor
of the seeds of the latter plant. This is very strange, and I am not
aware of another example of this kind in Botany. I refer the reader
for the description of the seeds of both plants and for some other
information connected with them, to C. viscose (No. 61).
† Cratæva religiosa, Forsk. 59 and 60.
Habitat.—Found in many gardens and fields in southern India.
Parts Used.—The bark (NO. 59), leaves (No. 60) and root-bark.
Synonyms.—Of the bark—Barmé-kí-chhál, Duk.
M á v a l i n g a m p
a t t a i ,
T a m .
M á v a l i n g a m - p a t t a ,
T e l .
O f t h e l e a v e s — B a r m é - k é - p a t t e ,
Duk, Mávalingam-ilai, Tam. Mávalingam-áku, Tel. Of the root
30
MATERIA MEDICA
bark—Barmé-ki-jar-ki-chhál, Duk. Mávalingam-vér-pattai, Tam.
Mávalingam-véru-patta, Tel.
Local Sources.—The bark is sold in some large bazaars of India,
but not the leaves and root-bark.
Price.—Of the bark—Wholesale, Rs. 2 per maund ; retail or bazaar,
As. 2 per pound.
Physiological Actions.—The bark is demulcent, antipyretic, sedative
and alterative-tonic ; and . the fresh leaves and root-bark are rubefacient.
Therapeutic Uses.—The bark is useful in some cases of urinary
complaints and fever, and in some mild forms of skin diseases in which
sarsaparilla is generally resorted to. It also relieves vomiting and
other symptoms of gastric irritation. The fresh leaves and root-bark,
particularly the former, are very efficacious in all the affections in which
mustard poultice is indicated.
Preparations.—Of the bark—Decoction, prepared. by bruising and
boiling four ounces of the bark with one pint and a half of water till
the liquor is reduced to one pint, and strained when cool. The fresh
leaves and root-bark are used separately in the form of a poultice or
paste by bruising them with vinegar, lime-juice or hot water.
Dose.—Of the decoction, from two to four ounces.
European Drugs for which they may he substituted.—The leaves and
root-bark, for the mustard imported from Europe ; and the bark, for
Jamaica sarsaparilla, Pareira root, Hydrocyanic acid and Pulv. anti-
m oni alis.
Remarks.—Bruised well with a little vinegar, lime-juice or hot
water and applied to the skin in the form of a poultice or paste, the
fresh leaves of C. religiosa act as a rubefacient and vesicant so effici-
ently that I do not hesitate in saying that they are not only much
superior to the mustard seeds in this country, but also quite equal, if
not superior, to the flour of that drug imported from Europe. From
5 to 10 or 15 minutes is the time required for them to produce their
full effect as a rubefacient, and if kept longer than this in contact
with the skin they begin to act as a vesicant. The existence of one
or two plants of C. religiosa in each Hospital and Dispensary will
certainly save them from the cost of the supply of Europe mustard for
external use. The plant grows well with ordinary care.
The fresh root-bark of this plant is also a very good rubefacient
and vesicant, but it is rather too dear and not procurable in large
quantities. The bark of the stem is very thick (from 1 to 2 inches
when fresh, and from ½t o 1 i n c h w h e n d r y ) , g r e e n i s h b r o w n o n t h e
outer side and grey or pale-white internally and on the inner side,
and almost tasteless and odorless. It is one of those barks which can
be easily reduced to a coarse powder immediately after its removal from
the stem.
Cleome viscosa, Linn. (C. icosandra, Linn. Polanisia
ico-sandra, W. et. A). 61.
Habitat.—One of the commonest weeds in fields, particularly those
of Indigo.
OF MADRAS.
31
Parts Used.—The seeds (No. 61) and leaves.
Synonyms.— Of the seeds—Janglí-hurhur-ké-bínj , Hind.
C h h ó r í - a j v á n o r J a n g l i - h u l h u l - k é - b í n j ,D
u k .
N á y - v é l a i - v i r a i o r K á t t u - k a d u g u ,
Tam. Kukká-váminta- V ittulu,T e l .
N á y - v e l a - b i j a m ,
M a l y a l .
Ban-hurhuriya-bíj, Beng. Of the leaves—Janglí-hurhur-ké-pát,
H i n d . J a n g l i - h u l h u l - k é - p a t t é , D u k.
N á y - v é l a i - i l a i ,
T a m .
K u k k é - v á m i n t a - á k u ,
T e l . N á y - v é l a - e l a , M a l y a l .B
a n - h u r h u r i y a - p á t a ,
B e n g .
Local Sources.—The seeds are procurable in many large bazaars of
Southern India, and the leaves can be easily obtained at the cost of
collection. As the seeds of this plant and those of Gynandropsis
penta-phylla are almost identical, as mentioned elsewhere, they are generally
sold together in the bazaar indiscriminately. See their distinctions under
the heading of "Remarks."
Price.—Of the seeds—Wholesale, Rs. 1¼ per maund ; retail or
bazaar, As. 1¼ per pound.
Physiological Actions.—The seeds are anthelmintic, rubefacient,
and vesicant ; and the leaves rubefacient, vesicant and a remedy for a
few diseases of the ear.
Therapeutic Uses.—The seeds are useful in expelling the round-
worms, and also as a rubefacient and vesicant in all the complaints in
which the mustard is used. The leaves are also useful in the same way,
and in addition to this, their juice possesses a curative influence over
some cases of otalgia and otorrhœa ; but the smarting it produces in
the ear, especially in the last-named disease, is an objection to its use.
Preparations.—Of the seeds—Used internally in powder with sugar,
and externally in the form of a poultice by bruising with vinegar,
lime-juice or hot water. Of the leaves—applied to the skin in the form of
a poultice or paste by bruising them with vinegar, lime-juice or hot
water ; and their juice for the use of the ear is pressed out by bruising
and rubbing them without water.
Doses.—Of the powder, from thirty grains to a drachm, twice a day
for two days, and followed on the third morning by a dose of castor oil
or some other purgative. For children the dose is from five to twenty
grains according to their age.
European Drugs for which they may be substituted.—The seeds for
santonin and for the mustard flour from Europe ; and the leaves for the
last-named drug and also for glycerine.
Remarks.—Although I have forgotten to send the leaves of this
plant with my Collection of Drugs to Calcutta, yet they are, as a drug,
much superior to those of Gynandropsis pentaphylla. It is the former
(the leaves of C. viscosa) which possess a distinct fœtid smell and efficient
rubefacient and vesicant properties, and not the latter. The above
plants are frequently confounded with each other, partly from a general
botanical similarity between them, and partly on account of their
native synonyms being almost the same. Besides, the similarity of their
seeds, which has already been explained under G. pentaphylla, adds
greatly to this confusion There will be, however, no difficulty in
32
MATERIA MEDICA
distinguishing them from each other if due attention is paid to the
following botanical distinctions :—
Cleome viscosa.
Siliqua flat, striated, pube-
scent, and sessile or short-stalked ;
flowers yellow ; stem and branches
quite covered with viscid glan-
dular hairs ; smell very fœtid and
strong. Seeds not so rough as
those of Gynandropsis.
Gynandropsis pentaphylla.
Siliqua round, glabrous ; stalk
generally long and sometimes as
long as the siliqua itself ; flowers
almost always white ; stem and
branches slightly covered with
glandular hairs ; smell fœtid, but
generally very indistinct.
As the seeds of both of these plants are similar, I need not des-
cribe them separately. They are as follows :—Very small, being
smaller than the poppy seeds ; flat or slightly depressed and circular ;
dark or reddish brown in color ; rough, inodorous, and slightly acrid
and bitterish in taste. They yield a small quantity of fixed oil on
expression. As a rubefacient and vesicant, the seeds under exami-
nation are much superior to the mustard seeds in this country, and
quite equal to the mustard imported from Europe. If they can be
reduced to so fine a powder as the European mustard, I think they will
excel the latter also.
‡ C a p p a r i s h o r r i d a ,
L i n n .
6 2 a n d 6 3 .
Habitat.—Pretty common in Southern India.
Parts used.—The root-bark, root (No. 62) and leaves (No. 63).
Synonyms.—Bhagátí-kí-jar or Bhatáti-kí-jar, Duk. Ádanda-vér,
Tam. Arudanda-véru, Tel.
Local Sources.—No part of this plant is sold in the bazaar, but the
leaves and root can be obtained easily at the cost of collection. The
root-bark, however, being very thin, it is rather difficult to procure it
in a large quantity.
Physiological Actions.—Although I have included the root of this
plant in my Collection of Drugs at Calcutta, yet it is the root-bark
alone which can be used as a drug and not the whole root, which is
generally very thick and woody. The root-bark is sedative, stomachic
and anthidrotic ; and the leaves also slightly stomachic.
Therapeutic Uses.—The root-bark is useful in relieving some of the
symptoms of gastric irritation, as vomiting and pain, and in improv-
ing appetite. It has also proved itself useful in a few cases of excessive
perspiration, which it checked to a great extent. The leaves also
possess the property of improving the appetite.
Preparations.—Of the root-bark—Decoction, prepared by boiling
four ounces of the root-bark with one pint and-a-half of water on a
slow fire till the liquid is reduced to one pint, and strained when cool.
Of the leaves—Decoction, prepared precisely in the same way as the
above.
Doses.—Of the decoction of the root-bark as well as of the leaves,
from one ounce to three ounces, 3 or 4 times in the 24 hours.