NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
33
European Drugs for which they may be substituted.—The root-bark
for Bismuthi subnitras and Acid. hydrocyanic. dil.; and the leaves for
Dill fruit.
Remarks.—The leaves of C. horrida are very frequently used as a
medicine by the natives of this country, but the root-bark is a much
better drug according to my own experience, as already mentioned.
VIOLACEÆ.
‡Viola odorata, Linn. 64.
Habitat.—Cultivated in gardens in some parts of India, partly as a
drug, and partly as an ornamental plant on account of its small and
beautiful blue or violet flowers.
Part Used.—The whole plant, including the root and flowers. The
best season for collecting this plant is when it is in flower.
Synonyms.—Sweet Violet, Eng. Banafshah, Pers., Hind. and Duk.
Banafshah, Arab. Banosá, Beng. Banaphsá, Guz.
Local Sources.— Sold in all the large bazaars of India. Generally
imported to Madras from Calcutta.
Price .—Wholesale, Rs. 14 per maund; retail or bazaar, As. 10 per
pound.
Physiological Actions.—Antipyretic and diaphoretic.
The, apeutic Uses.— Very useful in relieving febrile symptoms and
excitement in all forms of fever, as continued, remittent, typhoid, &c.,
particularly in combination with other drugs of the same nature, which
I shall speak of under the heading of " Remarks."
Preparations.— Compound and simple Decoctions. The compound
decoction of V. odorata with many other drugs will be described under
" Remarks." The simple decoction is prepared by boiling two ounces
and-a-half of the plant with one pint and-a-half of water, on a slow
fire, till the liquor is reduced to one pint, and strained. when cool.
Dose.—Of the simple decoction, from one to three fluid ounces.
European Drugs for which they may be substituted.— Warburg's
Tincture, Liq. ammon. acet. and Pulv. Jacobi vera.
Remarks.—The dry V. odorata sold in the bazaar is a very small
herb with thready branches; root small, fusiform, generally smooth,
and from 1 to 3 lines in thickness; stem short, often divided and
rough; leaves small, much shrivelled, but when moistened and spread
they are elliptical or oblong; flowers very small, grey or yellowish
white when old, and still retain their original blue or violet color when
new. The root of V. odorata is never sold separately in Southern India,
and it is so small that it will take several visses of the dry plant to get
an ounce of it. The correct Persian synonym for this root will be
Bikhe-banafshah, but according to a long-standing usage it is wrongly
applied in the bazaar to a much larger root, which is the produce of a
species of Iris, probably I. ensata or I. florentina.
If used alone, the action of V. odorata is not so satisfactory as
when it is employed together with other drugs of the same class. This
remark is applicable to every ingredient in the following prescription,
E
OF MADRAS.
35
The bowels are generally free under the use of this decoction, but
if they are not so, or become costive in the course of treatment, the
quantity of the liquorice root, rose-buds and raisins may be doubled or
increased to such an extent as to produce the desired effect. On the
other hand, if there is any looseness or diarrhœa, from whatever cause,
they may be omitted altogether, and also, if necessary, a few grains
of Dover's powder may be used in their stead with each dose of the
decoction. If the fever does not yield to the decoction within a week,
the quantity of each ingredient may be increased by half till it is
doubled, according to the obstinacy and severity of the disease.
‡Ionidium suffruticosum, Ging . (Viola suffruticosa, Linn. ) 65.
Habitat.— One of the commonest herbs in India, and grows
abund-
antly in low and damp places.
Part Used. —The whole plant.
Synonyms .—Ratan-purus, Duk. Orilaittámarai, Tam. Suryákánti,
Tel.
Local Sources.— Not sold in the bazaar, but can be gathered easily
whenever it is necessary.
Price.—The cost of collection is very cheap.
Physiological Actions .—Demulcent, refrigerant, tonic and diuretic.
Therapeutic Uses.—Useful in some cases of gonorrhoea and scalding
of urine.
Preparation.—Juice of the fresh leaves pressed out by bruising them
with water, and administered alone or in combination with Fenugreek
seeds.
Dose.—Dose of the leaves is one drachm, twice or three times a day.
European Drugs for which it may be substituted.— Oleam copaibæ and
Spiritus ætheris nitrosi.
E Æ .
* Gynocardia odorata, R. Br. 66 and 67.
Habitat.—Himalayas and Khasia Hills. Does not grow ill Southern
India.
Parts Used. —The seeds (No. 66) and oil (No. 67).
Synonyms.—Of the seeds—Chaulmugra seeds, Eng. C h á v u l m u n g r í
or Chávul-mugrí-ké-bínj, Hind. Chánval-mógré-ké-bínj, Duk.
Tukh-me-brinj-mógrá, Pers. Of the oil—Chaulmugra oil, Eng.
Chávul-mungrí-ká-tél, H ind. Chánval-mógré-ká-tél, Duk.
R ó
g h
a n e - b r i n j - m ó g r á ,
P e r s .
Local Sources.—The oil is procurable at Madras, but not the seeds.
The seeds in my Collection of Drugs (No. 66) are from Calcutta.
Price.—Of the oil—Wholesale, Rs. 5 per pound; retail or bazaar,
As. 6 per ounce.
OF MADRAS.
37
this oil in leprosy the patient may be kept on a good and nourishing diet,
but is prohibited from taking the following articles :—Fish, prawns,
beef, brinjal, greens, curdled milk, lime juice and ardent spirits. See
" Remarks" under Dipterocarpus turbinatus.
† Hydnocarpus Wightiana, B l. (H. inebrians, Wall.) 68.
Habitat.—Malabar and some other parts of South India.
Parts Used.—The seeds (No. 68) and oil.
Synonyms.—Of the seeds—Janglí-bádám, Duk. Níradi-muttu, T a m .
Níradi-vittulu, Tel. Rata-kekuna, Cing. Of the
o i l - - J a n g l í - b a d á m k á - t é l ,
D u k .
N í r a d i - m u t t u - e n n e y ,
T a m .
N í r a d i - v i t t u l u - n ú n e ,
T e l .
Local Sources.—The seeds are met with in every large bazaar of
Southern India, but not the oil. The seeds abound in a fixed oil, and
yield a large quantity of it on expression.
Price.—Of the seeds—Wholesale, Rs. 2 1/2 per maund ; retail or bazaar,
As. 2 per pound.
Physiological Actions.—Alterative tonic and local stimulant.
Therapeutic Uses, Preparations, and European Drugs for which they
may be substituted.—The same as those of the seeds and oil of Gynocardia
odorata, the preceding article.
Doses.—Of the oil, from fifteen minims to two drachms, or, as much
as can be borne by the stomach. Of the seeds, from fifteen grains to
two drachms, gradually increased. In using the seeds internally, they
should be chewed and the juice swallowed, but not the whole sub-
stance.
Remarks.—The seeds of H. Wightiana are about three-quarters
of an inch long, half an inch broad and 3 to 4 lines thick ; generally
irregularly ovate and occasionally oval or oblong, with the upper end
invariably more pointed than the lower ; testa fragile and rough with
coarse and irregular longitudinal striæ ; kernel albuminous and oily
with heart-shaped and three-nerved cotyledons ; odorless, but possess
a faint sweetish taste somewhat like that of almonds. Being generally
irregular from mutual compression, these seeds bear a resemblance
to those of Gynocardia odorata, but the smallness of their size and
roughness from longitudinal striæ are sufficient to distinguish them
from the latter, which are smooth and generally twice as large. The
seeds of H. Wightianay i e l d 4 4 p e r c e n t . o f f i x e d o i l , o n w h i c h t h e i r
medicinal properties depend, and which is much more useful, satisfac-
tory and convenient as a drug than the seeds themselves. The oil is
viseid and of a pale straw color without any particular taste or smell.
This oil is a good substitute for Chaulmugra oil, and proves useful
in all the affections in which the latter is indicated. To ensure its
best effects, however, it is required to be used in its full medicinal
doses, which are from one to two fluid drachms when used alone, and
much more than that if employed in combination with cocoanut oil.
It being a very cheap oil, it may be used externally by itself, and not
with any other cheaper oil, as is generally the case with C h a u l m u g r a
oil. The vernacular name of the tree signifies " Jungle almond,"
38
MATERIA MEDICA
Cochlospermum Gossypium, DC. (Bombax gossypium,
Linn.) 69, 70 and 71.
Habitat.—Some parts of South India, as Travancore and Coro-
mandel. There are several trees in the gardens of Madras.
Parts Used.—The gum and cotton (silk-cotton).
Synonyms.—Of the gum—Nát-ká-katérá, Nát-ká-katérá-gónd, Du k.
Hindí-katérá, Hind. Tanaku-pishin, Tam. Konda-gógu-banka, Konda-
gógu-pisunu, Tel. Shíma-pangí-pasha, Malyal. Of the cotton—Pílí-
kapás-kí-rúí, Katéré-ké-jhár-kí-rúí,
Duk. Tanaku-parutti, Tam. Kon-
da-gógu-pattí, Tel. Shíma-pangi-parutti,
Local Sources.—The gum is pretty common in large bazaars of
India, but the cotton is not sold, and therefore requires to be gathered.
There are generally three varieties of this gum, known according to
their color as white, red and brown or black. The white is the best,
the black the worst, and the red, the intermediate variety, is employed
for medicinal purposes.
Price.—Of the best or white variety of the gum (No. 69)—
Wholesale, Rs. 5 per maund retail or bazaar, As. 4 per pound.
Of the second or red variety (No. 70)--Wholesale, Rs. 4 per maund ;
retail or bazaar, As. 3 per pound. Of the worst or black variety
(No. 71)—Wholesale, Rs. 3 per maund ; retail or bazaar, As. 2 per
pound.
Physiological Actions.—The gum is demulcent and emollient. The
cotton is a local remedy in some surgical cases, and also a useful
article for preparing pads for splints, &c.
Therapeutic Uses.—The gum is useful in relieving some mild cases
of catarrhal affections and of irritation of the genito-urinary organs.
It is used sometimes as an adjunct to other medicines, chiefly for the
purpose of suspending heavy powders, as the salts of bismuth, &c. As
the gum imparts firmness to sugar and other substances when it is
mixed with them with water and dried, it is very useful in making
lozenges and some kind of pills.
Preparations and Doses.—Precisely the same as those described in
the Pharmacopœia of India, page 76, under Astragalus verus.
European Drug for which the gum may be substituted.—For the
Tragacanth imported from Europe.
Bixa Orellana, Linn. 72 and 73.
Habitat.—A native of America. Cultivated throughout India for its
red dye.
Parts Used.—The root-bark (No. 72) and seeds (No. 73).
Synonyms.—Of the root-bark—Arnatto root-bark, Eng.
Latkan-jar-kí-chhál, Shál-ké-pandú-kí-jar Duk.
Jafrairai-vér-pattai, Kurangu-múnjil-virai-vér-paqai, Tam. Jáfra-vittulu-
véru-patta, Kurungu-múnjil-vittulu-véru-patta, Tel. Of the seeds-
Arnatto seeds, Eng. Latkan-ké-bínj, Hind.
Duk. Jáfra-virai, Kurangu-múnjil-virai, Tam. Jáfra-vittulu, Kuran gu-
múnjil-vittulu, Tel.
Local Sources.—The seeds are sold in the bazaars of Madras, but
not the root-bark. The latter requires to be collected.
Price.—Of the seeds—Wholesale, Rs. 9 per maund ; retail or
bazaar, As. 8 per pound.
Physiological Actions.—The root-bark is antiperiodic and anti-
pyretic, and the seeds slightly astringent and a very good remedy for
g o n o r r h œ a . T h e s e e d s a l s o p o s s e s s t h e a n t i p e r i o d i c a n d a n t i p y r e t i c
properties, but to a less extent.
Therapeutic Uses.—The root-bark is of great use in uncomplicated
intermittent, remittent, and continued fevers. The seeds are very
useful in gonorrhœa, particularly in the form of decoction. They
are also useful in the above varieties of fever, but inferior to the
root-bark in this respect.
Preparations.—Of the root-bark and seeds—Decoction, tincture and
simple powder. Decoction of the root-bark : Take of the root-bark, in
coarse powder, six ounces ; water two pints and a half ; boil on a slow
fire till the liquid is reduced to one pint, and strain when cool. Tinc-
ture of the root-bark : Take of the root-bark, in coarse powder, six
ounces ; proof spirit one pint ; macerate for seven days with occasional
agítation ; strain and add more proof spirit to make one pint. Simple
powder of the root-bark : The root-bark should be reduced to a fine
powder in the ordinary way, passed through a sieve or cloth and kept
in a well-corked bottle. Preparations of the seeds are the same and
prepared in the same manner.
Doses.—The dose of the decoction of the root-bark is from two to
four fluid ounces ; of the tincture, from two to four fluid drachms ; and
of the powder from one to two drachms. The doses of the correspond-
ing preparations of the seeds are the same.
European Drugs for which they may be substituted.—For -Warburg's
tincture and James' powder as an antipyretic ; for quinine and other
alkaloids of cinchona as an antiperiodic ; and for copaiba as a remedy
for gonorrhoea.
Remarks.—The root-bark of B. Orellana is one of those antiperiodic
medicines, which can be used during the absence as well as the presence
of pyrexia in the intermittent fever, and this remark is also applicable
to the seeds as an antiperiodic.
The pulp surrounding the testa of the seed affords the Urucu pigment
of Brazil, and the Arnatto or Annatto used in Europe for coloring
butter, cheese and varnish. Its use in dyeng cloths is now superseded
by the cheaper aniline dyes obtained from coal-tar.
Portulaca oleracea, Linn. 74 and 75.
Habitat.—Cultivated in every part of India.
Parts Used.—The seeds (No. 74) and leaves (No. 75).
Synonyms.—Of the seeds—The common Indían Purslane seeds, Eng.
Khulfé-ké-binj, Duk. Parpu-kíre-virai, Tam.
40
MATERIA MEDICA
Pappu-kúra-vittulu, Pedda-pávila,-kúra-vittulu,,
G o d d u p á v i l i - k ú r a - v í t t u l u ,T
e l .
B a r ó - l o n i y á - b í j ,
B e n g T u k h m e - k h u r f a h , P e r s .Bazrul-
baqlatul-humgá, Arab. Of the leaves or the whole plant—The common
Indian :Purslane, Eng. Khurfáh Khurfé-ká-ság, Hind.
K h u l f é - k i b h á j í , D u k .
P a r p u - k í r e ,
T a m .
Pappu-kura, Pedda-pávili-kúra, Goddu-
pavilikúra, Tel. Baro-lóníya, Beng. Khurfah, Turuk, Pers.
Baq-tul-humgá, Arab.
Local Sources.—The seeds are plentiful in every large bazaar of
India, and the fresh plant being a common pot-herb is sold in every
town and large village.
Price.—Of the seeds—Wholesale, Rs. 4 per maund ; retail or
bazaar, As. 3 per pound. The fresh leaves are very cheap, one pie
worth will be sufficient for one or two doses.
Physiological Actions.—The seeds are demulcent, slightly astringent
and diuretic ; and the leaves refrigerant, astringent, diuretic and emol-
lient.
Therapeutic Uses.—The seeds and leaves are very useful in some
cases of strangury, dysuria, irritation of the bladder, hæmaturia,
hæmatemesis, hæmoptysis and. genorrhœa. In addition to this, the
seeds seem to have some beneficial influence over the mucous mem-
brane of the intestinal canal; and therefore relieve tormina, tenesmus,
and other distressing symptems in many cases of dysentery and mucous
diarrhœa. This is particularly the case when they are combíned with
some other drugs of similar nature, a prescríption of which I shall give
under the head of "Remarks" in the present article.
Externally, the use of the fresh succulent and fleshy leaves of
P. oleracea is of great service in relieving pain and other symptoms of
inflammation in all the affections (including erysipelas) in which ice or
cold lotion is indicated. Bruised. and. applied in the form of a cold
poultice, with or without water, they impart great coldness and thus
relieve local inflammation.
Preparations.—The only form in which I have yet used the seeds
is a draught, which is to be prepared by bruising and rubbing them
with water and straining the liquid through cloth. The juice of the
fresh leaves is also used as a draught after it is pressed out of the leaves
previously bruised without water.
Doses.—Of the seeds, from thirty grains to one drachm ; and of the
juice of the leaves, from one to two fluid ounces.
European Drugs for which they may be substituted.—Spirit of nitrous
ether, Pareira-brava, tragacanth, elm-bark, rhatany and copaiba.
Remarks.—The seeds of P. oleracea are very small, being about one-
half smaller than those of Cleome viscosa and. Gynandropsis pentaphylla.
They are very black, smooth, flat or slightly depressed, circular and
odorless, but possess a slight mucilaginous taste.
The following is the prescription of these seeds alluded to under the
head of " Therapeutic Uses" :-
Take, in coarse powder, of the seeds of Portulaca oleracea, 3j ; kernel
of the seeds of Cucurbita Pepo, C. Citrullus, C. maxima, Cucumis Melo,
and C. sativus, each 3ss ; gum of Pterocarpus Marsupium (gum-kino)
and gall-like excrescences of Terminalia chebula, each grs. x ; seeds of
OF MADRAS.
41
Ocimum basilicum and O. album, each grs. xv ; and dry starch of
Triticum satixum 3ss. Rub all the ingredients well in a mortar with
two ounces of water and strain the liquid through cloth. Add to this
draught four or five fluid drachms of the Syrup of Pomegranate (Punica
granatum) and give to the patient four or five times in the twenty-four
hours. The syrup of the sour pomegranate is the best, but in the
absence of the syrup of both the sour and sweet pomegranate, the juice
of either of them will do. If the seeds of Cucurbita Pepo are not
readily procurable, they may be substituted by those of L a g e n a r i a
x u l g a r i s ,
w h i c h , l i k e a l l o t h e r i n g r e d i e n t s i n t h e p r e s c r i p t i o n a r e v e r y
abundant in the bazaar. In some slight cases of dysentery and
mucous diarrhœa, the seeds of P. oleracea alone with the syrup of
pomegranate are sufficient to relieve griping, straining, &c. ; but the
combination of all other drugs in the prescription is indispensable in
more severe and obstinate cases. In worst cases, however, the prescrip-
tion is not enough to effect or complete a cure by itself, but requires
the assistance of some other drugs, especially the preparations of
opium.
The prescription under consideration is equally useful in children
and youths. The quantity of its ingredients should be reduced accord-
ing to their age in the same proportion as that explained in a tabular
form in page 34. The whole plant is eaten in times of famine.
‡ P o r t u l a c a q u a d r i f i d a , L i n n . 7 6 .
Habitat.—Cultivated in some parts of India, but generally found
growing wild in many low, damp and marshy places, and along the
wet nuinas.
Part Used.—The fresh leaves or the whole plant.
Synonyms.— Chounláyí, Loniyá, Hind. Chounláyí-kí-bhájí, Ghól-
k i - b h á j í ,
D u k
. . S i r u - p a r p u - k í r a i , P a s a r a i - k i r a i , S i r u - p a s a r a i - k i r a i ,T
a m .
S a n n a - p a p p u - k ú r a , S a n n a - p á v i l i - k ú r a ,T
e l .
B a q l a t u l - y a m á n i y a h ,
B a q - l a t u l - â a r a b b i y a h ,
A r a b .
I n H y d e r a b a d t h e A r a b i c s y n o n y m s j u s t
mentioned are applied to a different plant.
Local Sources. It being one of the pot-herbs much used by poor
natives of this country, the fresh plant is frequently sold in all the towns
and large villages.
Price.—The price of the fresh plant is much cheaper than that of
the preceding one (P. oleracea).
Physiological Actions, Therapeutic Uses, Preparations, Doses, and
European Drugs for which it may be substituted.—Precisely the same as
those of the fresh leaves of P. oleracea.
TAMARISCINEÆ.
† T a m a r i x g a l l i c a ,
L i n n . . 7 7 .
Habitat.—Grows along the rivers in many parts of India.
Parts Used.—The galls (77) and manna.
MATERIA MEDICA
Synonyms.—Indian Tamarisk galls, ENg. Barí-máyín, Hind.
Barímáyi, Duk. Samaratut-tarfá, Habbut-tarfá, Arab. Gazmázaj,
G a z m á - z a k , G a z m á z u ,
P e r s .
O f t h e m a n n a — K a z á n j a b í n ,A
r a b .
G a z a n g a b i n ,
Pers.
Local Sources.—The galls are common in all the large bazaars of
India, but the manna is extremely rare. I was unable to get a real
specimen of the manna of T. gallica for my Collection of Drugs at
Calcutta from any place, and what had been sent to me under its name
from Hyderabad and Bombay were samples of the manna of Alhagi
Mauroram (Turanj abin), altered with some impurities.
Price.—Of the galls—Wholesale, Bs. 4 per maund ; retail or bazaar,
As. 3 per pound. Bombay Rs. 12 to 13 per maund of 37½ lbs.
Physiological Actions.—The galls are astringent on account of the
tannic and gallic acids they contain, and the manna is considered to be
laxative, expectorant and detergent, but I know nothing of the medical
properties of the latter drug from my own experience.
Therapeutic Uses.—Internally, the galls are useful in some cases of
diarrhoea, dysentery and leneorrhœa ; and externally, in some forms of
ulcers, such as the congestive, weak, foul, &c., and in hœmorrhoids.
Preparations.—Simple powder, decoction, simple ointment and
ointment with opium. Reduction of the galls into simple powder re-
quires no explanation. The decoction is thus prepared—Take of the
galls, in coarse powder, two ounces and a half ; water, one pint and
a half ; boil till the liquid is reduced to one pint, and strain when
cool. Simple ointment ; Take of the galls, in fine powder, two drachms ;
simple ointment, one ounce ; and mix thoroughly. Ointment with opium
Take of the above simple ointment, one ounce ; opium, in powder, thirty
grains ; and mix thoroughly.
Doses.—Of the simple powder, from thirty grains to one drachm ;
and of the decoction, from one to three fluid ounces.
European Drug ,for which. the galls may be substituted.—Oak-galls.
Remarks.—The galls of T. gallica are roundish and very nodular, or
knotty excrescences, varying in their size from a pea to a soap-nut. The
knots are often so numerous and prominent with narrow necks that they
give the gall the appearance of a cluster. The galls are generally
greyish or yellowish brown in colour. The quantity of the tannic and
gallic acids they contain is smaller than that in oak galls, and their
action is consequently somewhat weaker than that of the latter.
† Tamarix articulata, Vahl. (T. orientalis, Forsk.) 78 and 79.
Habitat.—Grows in the same kind of localities as the preceding
species of Tamarix, but appears to be less abundant.
Port Used.—The galls.
*Synonyms.—Chhótí-máyín, Nahní-máy ín, Hind. Chhótí- máí,
Nahní-máyí, Duk. Habbul-asl, Samartul-asl, âazbah, Arab. Gazmá-
zaje-Khurd, Máyíne-Khurd, Pers.
Local Sources.—The galls of T. articulata are extremely rare ; so
much so, that they are not met with in. Madras, but what are sold under