NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
OF MADRAS.
87
Beng. Thóra-bélácha-phalá, Mah. Mótu-bíli-nu-phal, Guz.
Mahá-bélli, Lokka-bélli, Cing. Kígí-oushi-si, Bur. Shule-kalán,
Balá-ghúne-klán, Pers. Safarjale-hindíé-kabír, Arab. Of the pulp (Nos.
154 and 155). The pulp of the large or cultivated variety of Bael-fruit
or Bengal quince, Eng. Bare-qisam-ké-bél-phal-ká-maghz, Hind. and
Duk. Periya-vilva-pazham-sadai, or Peru-vilva-param-sadai,T a m .
Pedda-bilva-pandu-kanda, Pedda-bilva-pandu-guja, Tel. Maghze-
shule-kalán, Maghze-balághúne-kalán, Pers.
M a g h z e - s a f a r j a l e - h i n d í é - k a b í r ,A
r a b .
Local Sources.—Not sold in the bazaar, but is generally procured
in many gardens at Madras in the proper season.
Price.—From 1 to 3 rupees per 100, according to the size of the
fruit.
Physiological Actions, Therapeutic Uses, Preparations, Doses and
Remarks.—I have already described the large or cultivated variety of
Bael-fruit, and said every thing I could say about it from my own
knowledge and experience under the above headings in the preceding
a r t i c l e ( t h e s m a l l o r c o m m o n v a r i e t y o f t h e s a m e f r u i t ) , a n d t h e r e f o r e
refer the reader to it.
† Peganum Harmala, Linn. 157.
Habitat.—Pretty common in some parts of India, such as Kashmir,
N.-W. Provinces, Seinde and the Punjab.
Parts Used.—The seeds.
Synonyms.—Hurmul or Hurmal, Arab. Isband or Ispand, Pers.
Isband, Hind. Viláyatí-mhéndí -ké-bínj , Viláyatí-isband , Duk. Shi-
mai-azhavanai-virai, Tam. Síma-gorinta-vittulu, Tel. Isband, Beng.
Local Sources.—The seeds are one of the commonest drugs in India,
and found in almost every large bazaar.
Price.—Wholesale, Rs. 4 per maund; retail or bazaar, As. 3½ per
pound.
Physiological Actions.—Narcotic, antispasmodic, hypnotic, anodyne,
nauseant, emetic and emmanagogue.
Therapeutic Uses.—The seeds possess a good control over asthma,
hiccough, hysteria, rheumatism, impaction of calculus in the ureter and
of gallstone in the gall-ducts, colic, jaundice, dysmenorrhœa and
neuralgia ; and they relieve muscular pains and procure sleep effectually
whenever those effects are desired. The relief afforded by this drug in
simple cough and a few other pectoral affections is generally satis-
factory. It is also a good nauseant and depressant emetic in its largest
medicinal doses (3iss to 3ij) ; but it cannot be employed as such in
general practice, because its use in so large a quantity is always accom-
panied by its narcotic and hypnotic actions.
Preparation.—Simple powder prepared in the usual way and kept
in a closed vessel.
Doses.—OF the powder, from thirty grains to two drachms increased
gradually. The average dose is one drachm, which is sufficient in many
ordina ry cases.
88
MATERIA MEDICA
European Drugs for which they may be substituted.--For belladonna,
ether, morphia, salicylic acid and its salts, lactuca, conium, squills,
lobelia and yellow jassamine (gelsemin).
Remarks.—The seeds are brown, irregularly triangular, about a line
in length, odorless and bitterish in taste. Although these seeds are
about six or seven times larger than those of Lawsonia alba, yet they
bear a great resemblance to the latter in their outline ; hence the
meaning of the Tamil, Telugu and Dukhni synonyms—"the seeds of
Europe or foreign L. alba." Hurmul is possessed with many good
qualities, as already explained ; but of all these, the antispasmodic,
anodyne and nauseant properties of the drug is a happy combination,
which makes it very useful in asthma, hiccough, rheumatism, impac-
tion of gravel in ureter, &c. In asthma, hiccough and hysteria, it
is, at least, equal to ether, if not superior to it ; and in a fit of the
gravel or impaction of a biliary calculus in the gall-ducts, the relief
it affords is sometimes astonishingly great and rapid. Its influence
over rheumatism is often more speedy and satisfactory than salicylate
of soda. No Hospital should be, in my humble opinion, without a
drug so cheap and with so many good qualities as H u r m u l .
SIMARUBEÆ.
† Ailantus malabarica, DC. 158 and 159.
Habitat.—Malabar, Travancore, Coimbatore, Ceylon and Concan.
Parts Used.—The resinous exudation (Nos. 158 and 159), and
bark.
Synonyms.—Of the resin—Ládan, Duk. Maddi-pál, Tam.
Maddi-pálu, Tel. Mattip-pál or Matti-pál, Malyal. Of the bark—Maddi-pál-
pattai, Tam.Maddí-pálu-patta, Tel. M a t t i - p á l - p a t t e , M a l y a l .
Local Sources.—The third or hard variety is plentiful in the local
market, the second or flat, very seldom met with, and the first or soft,
not procurable, except through the Forest Department.
Price.—Of the third or hard variety—Wholesale, Rs. 6 per maund ;
retail or bazaar, As. 6 per pound.
Physiological Actions.—The resin is terebinthinate-stimulant, its
action being chiefly directed to the mucous surface of the genito-urinary
organs and of the large and small intestines; and the bark is tonic and
demulcent.
Therapeutic Uses.—The resin, particularly its first or soft variety,
which I shall describe presently, possesses so great a control over acute
dysentery and diarrhœa that I shall speak of its medical properties in
a special manner under the head of Remarks. In gonorrhœa, gleet,
chronic bronchitis and cystitis also it proves very useful and exercises a
distinct beneficial influence. As a tonic, the bark resembles calumba
and quassia, and like them it is administered with the preparations of
iron, since it contains no tannin and is devoid of astringency.
Preparations.—Of the resin—Draught. The resin is divided, into
small pieces and beaten with powdered gum in a mortar, and then gra-
dually mixed with water until an emulsion is formed. Of the bark—
Decoction. Take of the bark, in coarse powder, four ounces ; water,
OF MADRAS.
91
did not even in a single instance observe any distinctly good effect. It
is, however, a good bitter tonic, contains no tannin, and is therefore a
very good substitute for calumba and quassia. Several other thick barks
are erroneously sold in the bazaar under the same native names, but
none should be considered genuine unless it is found to contain the
resinous grains I have described. Moreover, the true bark of A. mal abar i ca
does not respond to the iron-test for tannic acid.
† A i l a n t u s e x c e l s a ,
R o x b .
1 6 0 .
Habitat.— Pretty common in Northern Circars, Coimbatore and
North-Western Provinces. There are two plants in the
A g r i - H o r t i c u l t u r a l S o c i e t y ' s G a r d e n s , b u t n o w h e r e e l s ei
n
t h e w h o l e c i t y o f M a d r a s .
Part Used. —The bark of the stem and root.
Synonyms. —Of the bark—Peru-marattup-pattai, Tam.
Valiyamarattóli, Peru-marat-tóli, Malyal. Kumba-la-putta, Cing. Of the
root-bark—Peru-maram-vérpattai, Tam. Peru-maram-véra-tóli, Malyal.
Local Sources. —Several kinds of thick barks are always sold in the
bazaars of Madras under the above native synonyms, but the real bark
of A. excelsa is extremely rare.
Price. —Of the bark—Wholesale, Rs. 3 per maund; retail or
bazaar, As. 2 per pound.
Physiological Actions.—Febrifuge and tonic.
Therapeutic Uses.—Useful in some mild cases of simple continued
fevers, and of dyspepsia.
Preparations. —Of the stem bark—Simple-powder, decoction and
infusion. The simple powder is prepared in the ordinary way. Decoc-
tion; Take of the bark, in coarse powder, four ounces; water, two
pints; boil on a slow fire till the liquid is reduced to one pint, and
strain when cool. Infusion: Take of the bark, in coarse powder, four
ounces; boiling water, two pints or just sufficient to cover the powder
infuse in a covered vessel for two hours and strain. Of the root-bark
— S i m p l e p o w d e r , d e c o c t i o n a n d i n f u s i o n . T h e p o w d e r , d e c o c t i o n a n d
infusion of the root-bark are prepared in precisely the same manner as
the corresponding preparations of the stem bark.
Doses. —Of the powder, from one to two drachms; and of the decoc-
tion or infusion, from one and-a-half to three fluid ounces; three or
four times in the twenty-four hours. The doses of the corresponding
preparations of both the bark and root-bark are the same.
European Drugs ,for which they may be substituted. —Gentian,
Calumba, Quassia and Pulv. Antimonialis.
Remarks. —T here is a great deal of confusion about the bark of A.
excelsa in the bazaar as well as in books. In the former, it is almost
always substituted by several other barks, and its description in the
latter is so different from its real characters that it is undoubtedly
confounded with the bark of some other plant or plants. The state-
ment that the bark is "aromatic" and "pleasant" is very erroneous,
and is one of the chief causes of the above confusion, because the real
drug is quite free from such characters. As there are two large trees
of A. excelsa in the Agri-Horticultural Society's Gardens at Madras, as
92
MATERIA MEDICA
already mentioned, I have repeatedly examined their bark and root-
bark and found them to be as follows:—
The bark of the trunk is very rough and scaly, varying in thickness
from 3 to 7 lines; grey internally; bitterish in taste; quite odorless
when dry, but possesses a rather unpleasant smell when fresh. The bark
of the smaller branches are only rough but not scaly, less bitter in
taste, and quite devoid of smell like the bark of the trunk when dry.
The external color of the bark of A. excelsa differs much in one and the
same plant. For the most part the color is deep-grey or greyish-
brown; but in some parts it is either pale-white, greenish-brown or even
black or dark-brown. The white-ants are very fond of this bark, and
the trunk of the tree is, therefore, up to some feet from the ground
often covered with them. The bark which is thus attacked by them is
always of a pale-white color. The greenish-brown color is confined to
small branches, while a small portion here and there, which apparently
retains the moisture for a longer period in the rainy season, is quite
black or dark-brown in color. The contrast between the black and
other colors of the bark is so great that there will be a great difficulty
in its identification unless a person is acquainted with the above cir-
cumstances.
The root-bark of A. excelsa is much smaller and thinner, rough,
invariably quilled, of a deep-grey color both externally and internally,
odorless and more bitter in taste than the bark of all other parts of the
plant. The bitter principle is perhaps due to ailantic acid which has
been separated from the bark by Dr. N. Daji.
The bark is certainly a good tonic, but not in so weak a prepara-
tion and so small a dose in which some native practitioners are said to
prescribe it, namely,3vi in a day of an infusion prepared by infusing
only 3iij of the drug in 0i of warm water. I have employed the bark
pretty frequently in my practice during the last year and never found
it to produce any distinctly good effect until the infusion was made about
8 times (3iij to 0i) stronger than the one just mentioned. Of all the
preparations of the bark, however, the decoction already described in its
proper place, is the most efficacious and satisfactory. Both the decoction
and infusion, particularly those prepared from the bark of smaller
branches, are blackened by the persalts of iron, indicating the presence
of astringent matter. The bark of A. excelsa, therefore, although
resembling Calumba and Quassia a great deal in its actions, is not so
good a substitute for them as the bark of a A. malabarica.
As a drug, the root-bark of A. excelsa is superior to its stem bark;
with this exception every remark I have made in reference to the medical
properties and preparations of the latter, is quite applicable to the
former.
‡ Balanites Roxburghii, Planch. (B. Ægyptiaca, Delile.) 161.
Habitat.—Common in Bellary, Saugor and in the Dooab and
Deccan.
Part Used.—The kernel of the nut.
Synonyms. — O f the kernel—Hingan-ká-maghz, Hind. Hígan-ká-
majhz , Duk . Nanjundan-sadai, Tam. Gára-pandu-kanda, Gára-
pandu-goju, Tel. Of the fruit—Hingan, Hind. Hígan,
Duk . Nan-
OF MADRAS.
93
jundán-pazham, Tam. Gára-pandu, Tel. Nanchunta-param,
Malyal. Hingon-phal, Beng. Ingudi-phalam, Sans. Hingana-cha-phal, Mah.
Hingernu-phalá, G uz.
Local Sources. —Not met with in Madras, but is sent for from
Bellary or Adoni whenever it is required.
Physiological Actions, Therapeutic Uses, Preparations and European
Drugs for which it may be substituted. —Quite similar to those of the
fruits of Anamirta cocculus.*
BURSERACEÆ.
† Balsamodendron Mukul, Hook. 162. 163.
† Balsamodendron pubescens, Stock. 164.
‡ Balsamodendron Roxburghii, A rn. 165.
Habitat.—Scinde, Silhet, Assam, Kattiawar, &c.
Part Used.—The gum-resin.
Synonyms.—Bdellium, Eng., Fr. and Ger. Gógil, Hind. Gúgal,
Duk. Maishákshi or Maisháchi, Gukkulu, Tam. Mahi- sákshi or
Mai-sákshi, Tel. Guggala, Can . Gúgul, Beng. Koushikaha, Sans.
Guggula, Mah. Gugul, Guz. Gugula, Jatayu, or Javáyu, Rata-dum-
mula, Cing. Moql, Moqle-arzaq, Aflátan, Arab. Bóe-jahúdán, Pers.
Local Sources. —Met with in all the large bazaars of India.
Price. —Wholesale, Rs. 4 per maund; retail or bazaar, As. 3 per
po und.
Physiological Actions. —Stimulant to both the skin and mucous
membrane, antispasmodic and emmenagogue.
Therapeutic Uses.—As a local remedy Bdellium is very useful
some spasmodic affections, as hiccough, and also in some nervous and
rheumatic complaints. Although it exercises a distinctly beneficial in-
fluence over amenorrhœa and gonorrhœa, its administration internally
is attended with the greatest inconvenience. Its doses are too large to
be used in pills or bolusses, and it cannot be reduced to powder in
consequence of its moisture and gumminess. Emulsion is the only form
in which it can be employed, but its taste is so bitter and disagreeable
that few patients will agree to its use.
Preparations. —Emulsion and plaster —Bruised with water, B d e l l i u m
which is a gum-resin, forms a thick and white emulsion without
mucilage, and as it always contains more or less impurities, the
draught should be strained through muslin before use. The plaster is
prepared by bruising well the drug in a stone mortar with hot water, and
as soon as it is applied to any part of the body it should, if possible,
be dried by means of fire. When dry, the adhesion between the
soft resin and the skin is so great that it cannot be easily removed.
* This statement requires confirmation. The pericarp of the fruit, the bark and the
root contain saponin, and are used as purgatives, anthelmintics and expectorants. The
kernels of the seeds yield a l i g h t y e l l o w a n d t a s t e l e s s f i x e d o i l , w h i c h i s t h eZ
a c h u no
i l
of Africa.—D. H.
94
MATERIA MEDICA
Dose.—From thirty grains to two drachms.
European Drugs for which it may be substituted. —Myrrh, ether, and
the mustard flour imported from Europe.
Remarks. —The gum-resin occurs in small pieces or masses of various
forms (irregular, angular, flat, roundish, &c.) and varies in size from a
pea to a small walnut. It is originally of a yellowish or reddish brown
color and translucent, but being more or less moist and gummy to the
touch, it becomes generally covered with dirt and assumes a dirty brown
color. It possesses a very bitter and terebinthinate taste and a faint
and peculiar balsamic odor.
As a local remedy in certain maladies, Bdellium deserves more than
a casual notice. The Hakeems often apply it to the sternum in hiccough,
and sometimes with success to my own knowledge. About two years
ago a very severe and obstinate case of the above disease occurred in my
own practice, which defied the action of all the European remedies
generally in use, including ether, chloroform, mustard, &c., for three
days, but yielded to the paste of this drug like a charm. In this case I
not only applied the paste (prepared as directed under the heading of
Preparations) to the sternum as far as the ensiform cartilage, but also
along the costal margin on both sides to the extent of 4 or 5 inches.
As the inner surface of the above bony parts gives attachment to the
greater muscle of the diaphragm, the paste seems to have acted upon
the latter as an antispasmodic and relieved its spasms so readily and
efficiently as just mentioned. Although the hiccough did not return,
the paste was applied twice more at the intervals of six hours on the
following day as a precautionary measure.
The plaster is also useful in some cases of nervous and rheumatic
pains, as already noticed, but to a less extent, and generally requires to
be repeated three or four times before the desired effect is produced.
* B a l s a m o d e n d r o n M y r r h a ,N
e e s .
1 6 6 .
Habitat.—Arabia.
P a r t U s e d .
— T h e
g u m - r e s i n .
Synonyms. —Myrrh, Eng. Myrrhe, Fr. Myrrha, Gr. Ból, Hind.
and Duk Pólam, Vellaip-pólam, Tam. Pólam, Balintra-pólam, Tel.
Bóla, Can. Ból, Híra-ból, Beng . Gan dh a-rasaha , Rasa-gandh aha, Sans.
Bálata-bóla, Mah. Ból, Guz. Ganda-rassa, Bólam, Cing.
Local Sources. —Procurable in every large bazaar of India.
Price. —Wholesale, Rs. 1½ per maund; retail or bazaar, Anna 1 per
pound.
Physiological Actions, Therapeutic Uses, Preparations and Doses.—
I have nothing to say under these heads from my own knowledge and
experience, and therefore refer the reader to the Pharmaconœia of
India, page 51. The drug is also described well in the Pharmaco-
graphia and the Parmacographia Indica.
† Balsamodendron Opobalsamum, Kunth. 167 and 168.
Habitat.—Arabia.
Part Used. —The balsamic exudation.
OF MADRAS. 95
Synonyms.—Balsam of Mecca or Balm of Gilead, Eng. Duhnul--
balsán, Balsán, Arab. Róghane-balsan, Balsán, Pers. Balsán,
Balsán-ká-tél, Hind. and Duk.
Local Sources.— Not generally sold in the bazaar. Many of the
pilgrims of Mecca bring this balsam every year with them on their
return to India, and sell it at a high price, generally about a rupee
or a rupee and a half per pollum.
Physiological Actions.— It is stimulant to the skin and to the mucous-
membrane of the genito-urinary organs. It is also a stimulant
diuretic.
Therapeutic Uses.—In gonorrhœa, gleet and chronic cystitis, it is
quite as efficacious as copaiba.
Preparations.—It being less disagreeable in taste and odor than
copaiba, it can be easily taken floating on water or milk ; but on
account of its thickness it is best used in emulsion with mucilage, or,
in the form of a mixture with Spirit. Æther. Nit., Liq. Potass., and
some other suitable medicines, in addition to the mucilage.
Doses.—From thirty minims to two fluid drachms, three or four
times in the twenty-four hours.
European Drugs for which it may be substituted.— Copaiba.
Remarks.— There are generally three varieties of the balsam of
Mecca, distinguished according to their color and consistency as a
superior, a middling and an inferior variety. The superior variety is a
thick, viscid and translucent liquid of a brownish red color, with a
peculiar but very agreeable aromatic smell, and a bitterish and terebin
-thinate taste. It remains in its liquid state for years without throw--
ing down any deposit at the bottom of the vessel. This is the best
variety of the Balsam of Mecca or Balm of Gilead procurable in Arabia,
and is only found in the valley known as Vádi-Halfá, which is about
midway between Mecca and Medina. The middling (No. 167) occurs
in the form of a pale-yellow or dull-white, semi-fluid oleo-resin, with
a peculiar agreeable odor and a bitter and terebinthinate taste. In
the hot season, the oily portion of the drug melts, gets thinner and
floats on the upper surface, while the resinous matter remains at the
bottom of the vessel. The inferior variety (No. 168) is still thicker in
consistence, darker in color (pale-brown or brown) and contains less
oily matter than the middling variety, which it resembles most in its
odor and taste. The difference in the physical characters of this
balsam is due to the fact that fresh specimens contain a larger propor--
tion of the essential oil than older samples which have been exposed to
the air. The fresher variety is also much more efficacious medicin--
ally than the darker and thicker balsam.
†
C a n a r i u m s t r i c t u m ,
R o x b .1
6 9.
Habitat .—Travancore and Canara.
P art Used.— The resin.
Synonyms.—Black dammar, Eng. Kálá-dámar, Hind. and Duk.
Karuppu-dámar, Tam. Nalla-rójan, Tel. Kálá-dámar, Beng.
Kálo-dámar, Guz. and Mah.
96
MATERIA MEDICA
Local Sources .—Common in all the large bazaars of Southern
India.
Price .—Wholesale, Rs. 2 per maund ; retail or bazaar, As. l½ per
pound.
Physiological Actions.—Stimulant and rubefacient ; not employed
internally.
Therapeutic Uses.—Applied in the form of plaster over the chest or
loins, it is said to act like Emp. Picis and relieve chronic cough and
lumbago, respectively.
Preparations .—Plaster. The following formula, which is much
cheaper than the one used in preparing the plaster of Burgundy Pitch
( Emplastrum Picis ), is recommended by Dr. G. Bidie, M.B. & C.I.E. :—
" Take of black dammar, lb. ij ; olibanum, lb. j ; piney resin and
bees' wax, of each J iv ; roussa oil ( Andropogon Schœnanthus) J j ;
ground-nut or gingelly oil, and water, of each J ij ; add first the
olibanum, then the roussa oil, the ground-nut oil and the water to
the black dammar, piney resin and wax melted together. Lastly,
mix the whole and boil down to proper consistence." ( Madras Quart .
Journ. of Medl. Science, No . X, Oct . 1882, p . 292.)
European Drugs for which it may be substituted.—Burgundy Pitch.
Remarks .—The following is a good and graphic description of black
dammar by Dr. G. Bidie :—
" It occurs in stalactitic masses of a bright shining black color
when viewed at a distance, but translucent and of a deep reddish
brown color when held between the eye and the light. It is
homogeneous, has a vitreous fracture, is partially soluble in boiling
alcohol, and completely so in oil of turpentine. It has in burning a
more resinous smell and denser smoke than the other dammars."
I have not yet used this resin myself, but from its sensible
properties there is no doubt that it is a pretty good substitute for
Burgundy Pitch, as suggested by Dr. Bidie.
* Boswellia floribunda , Endle. 170 .
‡ B o s w e l l i a
g l a b r a ,
R o x b
. 1 7 1
.
‡ B o s w e l l i a s e r r a t a
, R o x b
. (
B . t h u r i f e r a ,
R o x b
. ) .
1 7 2
.
Habitat. — B.
floribunda : t h e S o m a l i C o a s t , E a s t A f r i c a . B . s e r r a t a
and its variety glabra . Central India, Coromandel Mountains, Deccan,
and some other parts of India.
Part Used.—The gum-resin.
Synonyms.—Indian olibanum, Indian frankincense, Eng .
K u n d u r , S é l - g ó n d , G a n d a h - b a r ó z a h ,H
i n d
. K u n d u r , F a r a n g i - â ú d ,
Gandah-férózah, Duk. Parangi-shámbiráni, Kundurukam-pishin, Tam.
Parangi-sámbráņi, Anduga-pisunu, Tel. Vella-kundirukkam,
Valanku-ch -ámbráni, Manna-kungiliyam, Malyal. Kundro, Salai, Sailai-gun,
Beng . Salasi-niryásam, Sans. Kundrikam, Cing. Barangi-lobán, Bur.
Bastaj, Kundur, Lubán, Arab . Kundur, Pers .
Local Sources .—It is one of the drugs always found in all the large
bazaars of India.