OF MADRAS.
125
Preparations.—Numerous preparations of the marking-nut are de-
scribed in some Persian and Arabic medical works, and the part of the
drug which enters into most of them is the thick, black and acrid oil
found in the cellular portion of its pericarp. This oil is spoken of in
the above medical works as Asle-bilàdur or honey of the marking-nut,
and its Hindustani name is Bhilàcén-kà-tél, which simply means the
oil of the marking-nut. It is generally prepared by the native prac-
titioners in this part of India by the aid of heat. The nuts being
slightly cut or broken at each of their ends, they are put in an earthen
pot, the bottom of which is perforated by 3 or 4 small holes. The
pot's mouth, well closed with an earthen plate, is placed over
another and smaller vessel and luted together, and then placed in a pit
about 2 1/2f e e t d e e p a n d n e a r l y a s w i d e , w i t h a s m a l l e r p i t a t i t s b o t t o m
just sufficient to hold the smaller vessel. The pot is finally surrounded
with cakes of dry cow-dung, which are set on fire till they are consumed.
0nr e m o v i n g t h e v e s s e l s w h e n c o o l , t h e s m a l l e r o n e a t t h e b o t t o mw
i l l
be found. to contain a thick, black, very acrid and smoky oil in propor-
tion to the quantity of the nuts used in the process. The oil is to be
strained through thin muslin if it is intended for internal use.
I have, however, succeeded in preparing this oil very easily by
compression, and the oil thus prepared is more pure and quite free from
smoke. The ordinary screw-press, which is generally known as the
"Tincture-press," is well suited for this purpose, and I have used it in
the following manner :— Divide each marking-nut into 4 pieces by a
sharp chisel and put them in sufficient quantity in the perforated holder
of the press ; subject the drug now to pressure as much as possible by
working the screw in the usual way, and the oil will begin to flow in a
small stream or continuous drops through the small tube at the bottom
of the machine. It will be better to remove the kernel from the pieces,
but the little handling which is necessary for this purpose gives rise
to injurious results. The persons engaged in removing the kernel
frequently suffer from a swelling on the arms, face and legs. The
swelling on the face is generally accompanied by an erysipelatous blush,
and that on the extremities by a miliary eruption. In some severe cases
the swelling lasts for more than 8 or 10 days, and terminates by desqua-
mation of the cuticle. Owing to these bad results, I generally prepare
the oil without removing the kernel, and even then the hands, forearms
and face of the persons who are engaged in the process should be
smeared with cocoanut, jinjili or some other fixed oil. I have always
used this oil very easily and safely in the form of a draught with
mucilage and sugar.
Many Hindu medical practitioners in this country never resort to
the oil of the marking-nut for internal purposes, but employ the nut
itself, and before doing this, they boil it in cowdung and wash it after-
wards with cold water. This process is, in my opinion, as nasty as it
is unnecessary. After many trials, I have found the above oil and an
Electuary of the nut to be the best and most convenient forms for
internal use. The Electuary is prepared as follows :—Take, by weight,
one part of the marking-nut ; six parts of the kernel of cashew-nut
without the testa or skin, in coarse powder ; and one part of clarified-
honey ; bruise and rub well separately the marking-nut in a stone
mortar, acid gradually the cashew-nut powder and the honey, and rub