NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
OP MADRAS.
51
† Vateria indica, Roxb. (V. malabarica, Blame.) 95 and 96.
Habitat.—Malabar, Canara and Travancore.
Parts Used.—The resin and fat.
Synonyms.—The white dammar, Piney varnish or Indian copal, Eng.
Suféd-dámar, Hind. and Duk. Vellai-kunrikam, Vellai-dámar, Paini-
pishin, Tam. Dúpa-dámaru, Tella-dámaru, Tel. Payana, Painipasha,
Vella-kunturukkam, Malyal. Dúpa-antu, Can, Hal, Hal-dumula, Cing.
Local Sources.—Pretty common in large bazaars of Southern India.
There are generally two varieties of this resin, one of which is good
and superior (No. 95), and the other an inferior one (No. 96).
Price.—Of the superior variety—Wholesale, Rs. 4 per maund ;
retail or bazaar, As. 3 per pound. Of the inferior variety—Wholesale,
Rs. 2 per maund ; retail or bazaar, As. 1½ per pound.
European Drugs for which it may be substituted.—For pine and other
resins imported from Europe.
Remarks.—The resin and the fat (the piney tallow of Canara) are
useful as a basis for some ointments and plasters.
† Shorea Tumbuggaia, Roxb. 97.
Habitat. —Cuddapah, North Arcot and Pálghat forests,
Part Used.—The resin.
Synonyms.—Black dammar, .Eng. KáIá-dámar Hind., Duk. and
Bony. Karuppu-dámar, Tumbugai-pishin, Tam. Nalla-dámar,
N a l l a - r o j a n ,
T e l .
K a r a - k u n d u r u k k a m , T u m b u g a i - p a s h a ,M
a l y a l .
K á l o -
dámar, Gus. and Mah. The vernacular names of the black dammar,
whether it is the produce of S. Tumbuggaia or of Canarium strictum,
are almost the same.
Local Sources.—The resin is one of the common drugs in all the
large markets of India.
Price.—Wholesale, Rs. 1½ per maund; retail or bazaar, Anna 1
per pound.
Physiological Actions.—External stimulant.
Therapeutic Uses.—Not used internally. To all appearance, it will
form a good basis for some plasters and ointments.
European Drugs for which it may be substituted.—For Pine Rosin and
Burgundy Pitch.
MALVACEÆ
*
Gossypium herbaceum, Linn.
98.
99.
* Gossypium arboreum, Linn.
100.
* Gossypium Barbadense, Linn.
101.
Hobitat.—Cultivated all over India.
OF MADRAS.
53
operations, as the tying of an artery for aneurism, &c. It should
always be kept ready in hospitals in the form of wadding for the above
purposes. The cotton is also a very useful, cheap, and convenient
article for preparing pads for splints, &c.
The cotton seeds are round, dark-brown and about the size of black
pepper. If examined soon after the removal of the cotton, they are
clothed with greyish down. Their kernel is greenish, albuminous and
slightly sweet in taste. I have used the following prescription of these
seeds in several cases of gonorrhœa and gleet with encouraging
results :—
Take of the cotton seeds, from two to four drachms ; fruit of
C u m i - n u m c y m i u m
( c u m i n s e e d s ) , f r o m o n e a n d a h a l f t o t h r e e d r a c h m s ;
fruit of Anisum (anise seed), from one to two drachms ; and
the silicions concretion of Bambusa arundinacea (tabáshir), from fifteen to
thirty grains. Bruise and rub all these ingredients well in a stono
mortar with three or four ounces of water and pass the liquid through
cloth. This draught is to be used four or five times in the twenty-four
hours, according to the severity of the symptoms.
† Hibiscus Sabdariffa, Linn. The red variety. 102.
Habitat.—Cultivated all over India.
Part Used.—The seeds.
Synonyms.—The seeds of Roselle or Red Sorrell,E n g .
Lál-ambári
-bínj, Hind. Lál-ambáre-ké-bínj ,Duk. Shivappu-kásal-virai,
Shivappu-káshuruk-virai, Shímai-káshuruk-virai, Shivappu-pulachi-
kírai-virai, Tam. Erra-gómgura-vittulu, Shíma-gómgura-vittulu,
Erra-góngúra-vittulu, Erra-góng-kúra-vittulu, Erra-góng-áka-vittulu,
Tel. Chivanna-pulachi-Chira-vitta, Lál-mista-bíj, B eng.
Lálbárí-nu-bíj, Guz. Lá-anbárí-cha-bíj, Mah. Ténbo-khen-boun-si,
B u r
Local Sources.—The seeds are either sold in the bazaar or procurable
in some gardens.
Price.—Wholesale, Rs. 8 per maund ; retail or bazaar, As. 5 per
pound.
Phy siological Actions. —Demulcent, diuretic and tonic.
Therapeutic Uses.—Useful in dysuria and strangury, and also in
some mild eases of dyspepsia and. debility.
Preparations.—Used in the form of a draught by bruising with
water and straining through cloth.
Doses.—From one to two drachms, three or four times in the 24
hours.
European Drugs for which it may be substituted.—Sweet nitre.
Remarks.—The seeds are reddish grey or reddish brown, odorless,
and. possess a feeble mucilaginous taste. They are about the size of,
and bear some resemblance to, the seeds of Ipomœa hederacea (Kálá-
dánah). The fleshy red calyx of this plant is acid like tamarind and is
an article of diet.
54
MATE RIA MEDICA
The seeds of the red variety of H. Sabdariffa are identical with
those of the white or greenish white variety of the same plant in their
physical and medical properties ; but I sent the former only (No. 102)
to the Calcutta International Exhibition, because my experience was
confined to them when my Collection of Drugs was despatched in 1883.
I have, however, used the seeds of the white variety also in my practice
since that period, and found them to be identical in every respect as just
mentioned.
† Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, Linn. 103.
Habitat.—One of the most common and abundant ornamental
plants cultivated in India.
Part Med.—The flowers.
Synonyms.—Shoe-flower, Eng. Katmi de Cochinchine, Fr.J á s ú n
or Jásún-ké-phúl, Javá, Hind. Jásút or Jásút-ké-phúl, Gudhél,
Kudhal, Duk. Shappáttup-pu or Chappáttu-pú, Tam. Dásáni-puvvu,
Java-pushpamu, Tel. Chempa-rattip-púva, Ayam-paratti, Malyal.
Dásválada-huvvu, Can. Jóbá-phúl, Or-phúl,
Beng. Japá-pushpam,
Sans. Dásinda-cha-phúla, Mah. Jásút-nu-phúl, Guz. Khounyan,
Bur. Angharáe-hindí, Arab. and Pers.
Local Sources.—The dry flowers are sold in some large bazaars of
South India, and the fresh ones are procurable in almost every garden.
Price.—Of the dry flowers—Wholesale, Rs. 2 per maund; retail or
bazaar, As. 2 per pound. The fresh flowers can be gathered either for
nothing or at the cost of collection.
Physiological Actions.—Refrigerant, diuretic, demulcent and anti-
pyretic. It is also a good remedy for the hair.
Therapeutic Uses.—Useful in relieving thirst in fever, and some
times the fever itself if the attacks are mild.. Scalding of urine,
s t r a n - g u r y , a n d i r r i t a b i l i t y o f t h e b l a d d e r o f t e n d i s a p p e a r u n d e r t h e u s e o f
this drug. Of the two preparations of the flowers I have employed
internally, namely, the syrup and infusion, the former is much more
efficacious. The oil prepared from the juice of the fresh flowers of H.
rosa-sinensis is very useful in increasing the growth and color of the
hair. To obtain the desired. effect it is required to be applied well
to the hair every day for some weeks.
Preparations.—Syrup, infusion and oil. The syrup is prepared thus
—Take of the petals, fresh or dry, ten ounces ; water, three pints ; boil
on a slow fire till the liquid. is reduced to one pint and. a quarter.
When coel, rub and squeeze the petals with the hands, and strain the
liquid through cloth or muslin. Add to this liquid ten ounces of re-
fined sugar and heat it again gently till it assumes the consistency of
an ordinary syrup. The fresh petals are preferable to the dry ones.
The infusion : Take of fresh petals, cut into small pieces, four ounces ;
boiling water, one pint ; infuse in a covered vessel for two hours and
strain. The oil : Take the juice of the fresh petals and olive oil, in
equal proportion by weight ; boil on a slow fire till the watery portion
is evaporated. ; cool and keep the oil in tight by closed bottles.
OF MADRAS.
55
Doses.—Of the syrup, from four fluid drachms to one fluid ounce,
repeatedly and well diluted with water of the infusion, from two to
four fluid ounces, four or five times in the 24 hours.
European Drugs for which they may be substituted.—Diluted Phos-
phoric acid, sweet nitre, effervescing draughts, Macassar-oil and other
proprietary Hair Restorers.
* Hibiscus esculentus, Linn. (Abelmoschus esculentus,
W. et A.) 104.
Habitat.—It is cultivated extensively in every part of India.
Part Used.—The capsules.
Synonyms.—Okra capsule, Eng. Bhindí, Rám-turí or Rám-tpráí,
Hind. Bhéndí, Duk. Vendai-káy, Tam. Benda-káya, Tel.
V e n t a k - K á y a , B e n d é - k á y i ,C
a n .
D h é r a s o r D h é n r a s , R á m - t o r a i ,
Beng. Dárviká, Sans. Bhíndá, Mah. Bhindu, Guz. Bandaká, Cing.
Younpadi-si or Youn-padí-ti, Bur. Bámiyá, Arab. Bámiyah, Pers.
Local Sources.—The fresh and young capsules being one of the
most common vegetables used by natives are sold in every town and
village in India. The sun-dried tender capsules (No. 104) are not
sold in the bazaar, but require to be dried if necessary.
Price.—Of the fresh capsules—Wholesale, Re. 1 per maund; retail
or bazaar, Pies 6 per pound.
Physiological Actions, Therapeutic Uses, Preparations and Doses.—
Not having used this drug in my practice, I could say nothing about
it under the above heads from personal experience, and therefore refer
the reader to the Pharmacopœia of India, p. 35. The description of the
capsules is also very good and graphic in that work.
European Drugs for which it may be substituted.—Marsh-mallow,
Pearl Barley and Liquorice Root.
Hibiscus Abelmoschus, Linn. (Abelmoschus moschatus,
Man.) 105.
Habitat.—The plant is rather rare in the Madras Presidency, but
appears to be pretty abundant in Bengal and other parts of India.
Part Used.—The seeds.
Synonyms.—Musk-mallow seeds or Musk-seeds, Eng.
Mushk-dánah, Pers. and Hind. Mushk-bhéndí-ké-bínj, Mushk-dánah, Duk.
Kastúri-vendaik-káy-virai, Káttuk-Kastúri-virai, Shímai-vendaik-káy-
virai, Tam. Kastúrí-benda-vittulu, Karpúra-benda-vittulu, Tel.
Káttu-kastùri, Kastúri-venta-vitta, Malyal Mushak-dáná, B e n g .
Lata-kasturíkam, Sans. Balu-vakí, Bur. Habbul-misk,
H a b b u l - m i s h k o r H a b b u l - m u s h k ,A
r a b .
Local Sources.—Not sold in the bazaars of Southern India. The
sample of the seeds and capsules in my Collection of Drugs (No. 105)
is from some plants raised by myself.
56
MATERIA MEDICA
Physiological Actions.—Stimulant, stomachic and antispasmodic.
Therapeutic Uses.—Useful in nervous debility, hysteria, atonic
dyspepsia and a few other affections in which musk is indicated,
Preparations.—The best and most efficacious form of using the
Musk-mallow seeds is tincture, which is prepared as follows :—Take of
the seeds, in coarse powder, two ounces and-a-half ; rectified spirit, one
pint. Macerate the seeds for 48 hours in fifteen fluid ounces of the
spirit in a bottle, agitating occasionally ; then transfer to a percolator,.
and when the fluid ceases to pass continue the percolation with the
remaining five ounces of spirit. Afterwards subject the contents of
the percolator to pressure, filter the product, mix the liquids, and
add sufficient rectified spirit at the end to make one pint. The seeds
can also be used in powder, which requires no explanation for its
preparation.
Doses.—Of the tincture, from one to two fluid drachms ; of the
powder, from ten to thirty grains. In more than three drachm doses,
the tincture produces headache and giddiness.
European Dregs for which it may be substituted.—Musk, saffron
and rue leaves.
Remarks.—Although H. Abelmoschus is occasionally met with in
seine gardens and fields and can be very easily cultivated, its seeds
(Mushk-dánah) are not sold. in the bazaars of South India. But the
seeds of Psoralia corylifolia are deceitfully sold under the above name
by some native druggists at Madras, who take advantage of their
knowledge of both drugs bearing a great resemblance to each other.
There is no difficulty, however, in distinguishing the seeds of H .
Abel-moschus from those of P. corylifolia if the following distinctions are
observed :—
Seeds of H. Abelmoschus.
Seeds of P. corylifolia.
1. Kidney shaped, slightly com-
pressed and striated, with a hilum in
the centre of the concave border.
2. Brown in color and about two
lines in length.
1. Oval or oblong and flat.
2. Brown or dark-brown in color;
and about two or two and-a-half
lines in length.
3. Smell aromatic and musty.
3. Smell like that of the pure
musk, but very feeble, not being dis-
tinctly perceptible until the seeds
are chewed or rubbed. between the
fingers.
4. Taste not bitter.
4. Taste bitterish.
† Sida carpinifolia, Linn. 106.
Habitat.—A common weed in some low and damp places.
Part Used.—The root.
Synonyms.—Isbadí or Isbadí-kí-jar, Isarbadí, Duk.
V a t t a - t i r i p p i v é r ,
T a m . V
i s h a - b o d d i o r V i s h a - b o d d i - v é r u ,C
h i t i - m u t i - v é r u ,
Mutuva-pulogum-véru, Tel. Pila-barélá-shikar, Beng.
Cing.
OF MADRAS.
57
Local Sources.—Found in the bazaars of South India.
Price.—Wholesale, Rs 7 per maund ; retail or bazaar, As. 6 per
pound.
Physiological Actions.—Diaphoretic, antipyretic, stomachic and
tonic.
Therapeutic Uses.—It has been found very useful in febrile affec-
tions and some forms of dyspepsia, and also in mild cases of debility
from previous illness, &c.
Preparation.—Decoction: Take of the root, cut into small pieces
and bruised, four ounces ; water, one pint and-a-half ; boil on a slow
fire till the liquid is reduced to one pint, and strain when cool.
D o s e — F r o m o n e t o t h r e e f l u i d o u n c e s t h r e e o r f o u r t i m e s a d a y .
It should be repeated more frequently when intended to relieve
pyrexia in febrile affections.
European Drugs for which it may be substituted.—Pulv. Antimonialis,
Liq. Ammon. Acet., Gentian and Calumba.
Remarks.—The root of S. carpinifolia or Isbadí of the bazaar is
thin, long and cylindrical, varying in length generally from 2 or 3 to
6 inches or more, and in thickness from a quill of a crow to that of a
goose ; very rough, knotty, contorted and often bent upon itself once
or twice. It is bitter in taste, and possesses no distinct smell ; brown
or dark-brown externally and brownish-white internally. A trans-
verse section of this root displays its woody portion to be very porous
and to consist of conspicuous medullary rays without concentric zones.
The above is correctly the root of Sida carpinifolia, which is
synonymous with S. acuta and S. lanceolata ; but is often confounded
with another, and a much larger root, which, as described by Sir
Whitelaw Ainslie in his Materia Indica, p. 179, "is not unlike the
common liquorice-root in appearance." The cause of this confusion
is that the villagers who gather the above roots in the jungle gene-
rally bring them to the bazaar in the same bundle or basket, and sell
them together indiscriminately under the same native names. Isri
(Duk.) and Isvarí-vér (Tam.) are, however, the proper names of the
larger root alluded to by Ainslie, the botanical source of which is
not yet correctly ascertained, and I have not, therefore, included it in my
Collection of Drugs. The Tamil names Malai-tángi,
pundu, &c., which occur in some books are not applied to any of these
roots in Madras.
The root of S. carpinifolia is much resorted to by the Hindu
medical practitioners in South India, but the quantity in which they
employ it is rather too small to produce any distinctly good effect.
They generally use it with ginger in a weak infusion and only once or
twice a day. The benefit derived from this plan is not more than
what is expected from the presence of ginger in the infusion. After
some trials, however, I found the proper way of ensuring the best
effects of the root is to administer it repeatedly in the form of a strong
decoction, as that described under the head of Preparation in the
present article.
H
58
MATERIA MEDIC.A
Sida spinosa, Linn. (S. retusa, Wight.). 107 and 108.
Habitat.—More common in South India than the preceding plant.
Parts Used.—The leaves (107) and root (108).
Synonyms.—Janglí-methi, Hind. and Duk. Mayir-mánikkam, Tani.
Mayilu-mánikyam, Tel. Mayir-mánikkam, Latta-ventiyam, Malyal.
Kádu-menthyá, Can. Píla-baréla, Beng. Doti-kam-babifa,
Mair-mánikam, Cling. Shanbalíde-barri, Sh amlíthe-dashtí, Pers.
Kulbahe-barrí, Arab.
Local Sources.—Not sold in the bazaar, but can be obtained easily
from jungles and fields.
Physiological Actions.—The leaves are demulcent and refrigerant,
and the root acts as a gentle tonic and diaphoretic.
Therapeutic Uses.------The leaves are useful in some cases of gonor-
rhoea, gleet and scalding of urine ; and the root in some mild cases of
debility and ephemeral fever.
Preparations.—The leaves are bruised in water, strained through
cloth, and administered in the form of a draught ; and the root used
in decoction prepared in the same way as that of the root of S. car-
Doses.—Of the leaves, one handful three or four times a clay ; and
of the decoction of the root, from one to three fluid ounces every fourth
or fifth hour.
European Drugs for which, it may be substituted.—The leaves for
Oleum Copailæ and Spiritus Ætheris Nitrosi ; and the root for Pulvis
Antimonialis and Chiretta.
Remarks.—There is nothing particular in this root, it being a small,
hard and tapering one; brown externally and white internally and
possesses neither a taste nor smell. I have tried it in some cases, but
it has no influence whatever over rheumatism or intermittent fever, as
is supposed by some native practitioners. It is a very weak drug and
only useful in some very slight eases of fever and debility, as already
mentioned.
t Thespesia populnea, Corr. 109 and 110.
Habitat.—One of the commonest trees in South India.
Parts Used.—The bark (109) and fruit (111).
Synonyms.--0f the bark—Tulip or Portia bark, Eng.
P á r a s - p i p a l - k í - c h h á l ,
H i n d .
P á r a s - p i p p a l - k í - c h h á l ,
D u k . P ú
r a s h a - p a t t a i ,
T a n i .
Gangarénu-patta, Ganga-rávi-patta, Muniganga-rávi-patta, Tel.
Púvvarasha-tóli,Malyal. Pórash-chhál, Beng. Párasá-cha-patta, Mah.
Búgni-patte, Can. Párasa-piplo-nu-chál, Gut. Gansúri-potta, Cing.
Of the fruit--Tulip or Portia fruit, Eng. Páras-pípal-ká-phal, Hind.
Páras-pippal-ká-phal, Duk. Púrasha-pazham or P Púrasha-palam, Tam.
Gangarénu- pandu, Gan Gangarávi- pand u Mimi-gar) ganga-rávi-pandu, Tel.
Púvvarasha-káya, Malyal Púrash-phal, Beng. P Púrasa -cha-phal, Mah.
Búgni-hannu, Can. Párasu-piplo-nu-phal, Gus. Gansúri-ká, Cing.
OF MADRAS.
59
Local, Sources.—The bark and fruit are not sold in the bazaar, but
can be gathered very easily, the plant being found everywhere in
Madras.
Physiological Actions.—The bark is a mild astringent tonic, but
neither alterative nor insecticide, as is supposed by some natives of this
country. The fresh fruit or capsule is insecticide.
Therapeutic Uses.—The bark is useful in some slight cases of de-
bility and atonic dyspepsia, and the yellow viscid juice of the fresh
capsule is a specific in scabies by destroying the parasite Acarus scabiei.
The fresh capsules themselves are also insecticide to some extent if used
externally in the form of a very strong decoction.
Preparations.—Decoction of the bark and of the fresh capsules.
Decoction of the bark : Take of the bark, cut into small pieces, six
ounces ; water, three pints ; boil until the liquid is reduced to ono
pint, and strain. Decoction of the capsules : Take of the fresh and
half-ripe capsules, cut into small pieces, ten ounces ; water, three
pints ; boil until the liquid is reduced to one pint, and strain when
cool. The yellow juice is best obtained by wounding or making small
j
incisions on the fresh and half-ripe capsules, but the juice is generally
so scanty that it cannot be collected in a vessel. It requires to be
taken up by the finger and applied over the vesicles of itch.
Dose.—Of the decoction of the bark, from two to four fluid ounces,
three or four times a day. The decoction of the fresh capsules is not
intended for internal use, but is employed externally as a wash for
the parts affected with scabies.
European Drugs for which, they may be substituted.--The fresh
capsules, for Ung. Hydrarg. Nitratis and Ung. Sulph. Co. ; and the
bark, for Calumba.
60
MATERIA MEDICA
ké-dandíyán, Hind. Gule-Khairó-ké-pattón-ké-dandíyan, Duk. Of
the seeds—Tukhme-Khitmí, Pers. Khitmí-ké-bínj, Khairó-ké-bínj,
Hind. Gule-Khairó-ké-bínj , Duk. Bazrul-Khitmí, A rab. Of the ste
m—Sáqul-Khitmí, Arab. Sáqe-Khitmí, Pers. Kh
kí-sáq, Hind. Gule-Khairó-kí-pér, Duk .
Local Sources.—The dry root and seeds are sold in many large
bazaars of India, but not any other part of the plant. The fresh plant,
however, which is by far the most useful, is procurable in many gardens
at Madras.
Price.--Of the dry root—Wholesale, Rs. 4 per maund; retail or
bazaar, As. 3 per pound. Of the seeds—Wholesale, Rs. 8 per maund;
retail or bazaar, As. 6 per pound. -
Physiological Actions.--Demulcent, refrigerant and emóllient.
Therapeutic Uses.—The mucilage of the petioles, stem and roots is
generally a very useful adjunct to other medicines in dysentery and
mucous diarrhœa, and in some very slight cases it is sufficient by itself
to relieve these diseases to a great extent. Tormina and tenesmus are
the symptoms which are most relieved by it. The decoction of the dry
root and seeds is useful in irritable and inflamed states of the pulmonary
and Benito-urinary mucous membranes.
Preparations.—The fresh petioles, stem and roots yield a mucilage
when any of them are cut into pieces, broken, and shaken in water. The
neatest way of preparing this mucilage is to bruise the pieces and tie
them in a piece of thin cloth or muslin, and then soak and shake them
in water. The decoction of the root and of the seeds is prepared in the
ordinary way, the proportion of the former being six ounces and of the
latter four, to one pint and-a-half of water. In either case the drug
should be boiled on a very slow fire till the liquid is reduced to one pint,
and strained when cool. Both the mucilage and decoction are rendered
very palatable by the addition of a small quantity of sugar.
Doses.—Of the mucilage, from one to three fluid ounces, and of the
decoction, from two to four fluid ounces; as often as it is necessary.
European Drugs for which they may be substituted.--Quince seeds and
Tragacanth.
Remarks.--The native names and medical properties of A. rosea and
A. officinalis are the same, and they are therefore discussed together.
† Bombax malabaricum, DC. 114 and 115.
Habitat.—Pretty common in Southern India.
Parts Med.—The gum (No. 114), seeds (115), dry young fruit,
tap-root of the young plant, bark and cotton.
Synonyms.—Of the gum—Mócharas, Hind. and Duk. Of the
seeds—Red silk-cotton seeds, Eng. Ragat-senbal-ké-bínj,
R a g a t - s e n b a l - k é - b í n j , K à n t í - s é n b a l - k é - b í n j ,H
i n d .
L á l - k h a t y á n - k e - b í n j ,
D u k .
Mul-
ilava-virai, Tam.. Mundla-búraga-vittulu, Tel. Pula-maram-vitta, Mnll-
ilava-vitta,
Malyal. Mullu-búraga-bíja. Can. Rokto-
sémal-bíj, Beng. Kattu-imbul-atta, Cing.Lepàn-bín-zí, Lephàn -bin-sí ,
Bur. Of the dry young fruit—Ragat-sénbal-ké-pindé, H ind. Làl-
khatyàn-ké-pindé, Duk. Maràti-moggu, Tam. Maràti-mogga, Tel. Of