NationalLibraryOfScotland/medical-history-of-british-india huggingface dataset:
OF MADRAS.
43
their names here are the small and young excrescences picked out from
the galls of T. gallica. The sample of the galls of T. articulata in my
Collection of Drugs at Calcutta (No. 78) is genuine, but very old, it
being bought in Arabia about 15 years ago. No. 79 is a doubtful
variety of the same drug from Hyderabad.
Price.—Of the doubtful variety
—
Wholesale, Rs. 3 per maund;
retail or bazaar, As. 4 per pound.
Physiological Actions, Therapeutic Uses, Preparations, Doses and Euro-
pean Drugs , for which they may be substituted.—The same as those of
the galls of T. gallica, the preceding article.
Remarks.—The chief difference between the galls of T. articulata
and those of T. gallica is, that the former are much smaller, being
generally about the size of a pea.
GUTTIFERÆ.
*Garcinia Morella, var. pedicellata, Hanb. (G. Hanburii, Hook.) 80.
Habitat.—Eastern Peninsula and Siam, Khásia Hills, and East
Bengal.
Part Used.—The gum resin.
Synonyms.—Siam gamboge, Eng. Gomme Gutte, Gummigutt, Fr,
Ghótághanbá, Hind. Rubbe-révand, âusárahe-révand, Farfirán, Arab.
Ausárahe-révan, Gótáganbá, Duk.
Local Sources.—The Sìam gamboge is procurable in every large
bazaar of India.
Price.—Wholesale, Rs. 1-4-0 per pound; retail or bazaar, As. 2
per pollum.
Physiological Actions.—Hydragogue and drastic cathartic, and
anthelmintic, due to the resin.
Therapeutic Uses.—Very useful in relieving constipation and also in
some cases of dropsical affections. Round and thread worms are some-
times seen expelled under its use, but this is so rare that it hardly deserves
the name of anthelmintic.
Preparations.—Compound gamboge powder and pill. Compound
gamboge powder : Take of Siam gamboge in powder, three drachms;
cream of tartar, in powder, three ounces and one drachm ; ginger,
in powder, two drachms. Mix and rub them well together and pass
the powder through a fine sieve. Compound gamboge pill : Take of
gamboge, Barbadoes or Indian aloes and compound powder of cin-
namon, each one ounce; hard soap, in powder, two ounces ; syrup,
a sufficiency. Pulverise the gamboge and aloes separately, mix them
with the cinnamon powder, and then with the syrup, and beat the
whole into a uniform mass. (Pharmacopœia of India, p. 30).
Doses.—Of the compound gamboge powder, from forty grains to
one drachm ; and of the compound gamboge pill, from five to ten
grains. The compound gamboge powder can be used in youths and
children in smaller doses according to their age, but contra-indicated
in pregnant women. One drachm of this powder contains six grains
of gamboge, fifty grains of cream of tartar, and four grains of ginger.
There is one grain, of gamboge in every ten grains of the powder.
44MATERIA MEDICA
European Drugs for which it may be substituted.—Jalap and scam-
mony.
Remarks.—The Siam gamboge is well described in the Pharmaco-
graphia, pp. 78 and 79, and in the Pharmacopœia of India, p. 30. It
is one of the best purgatives in India and a much stronger drug than
jalap. Like the latter, it acts very satisfactorily in combination with
other purgatives or laxatives, but not so when employed alone. During
the last 20 years I have used this medicine in Triplicane Dispensary
with cream of tartar whenever jalap was out, and never felt the want
of the latter. The cheapness and abundance of Siam gamboge in
India are other advantages of it over jalap. The compound powder
of Siam gamboge is a very useful preparation, and it is more efficient
and satisfactory and less unpleasant than the corresponding preparation
of both jalap and kálá-dánah (Ipomœa hederacea).
* Garcinia Morella, var. pictoria, Roxb. 81.
Habitat.—Mysore, Canara, Wynaad forests and Malabar Coast.
Part Used.—The gum resin.
Synonyms.—Mysore gamboge, Eng. Mysúrí-ghótá-ghanbá, Duk.
Local S o u r c e s . —A l t h o u g h t h e p l a n t i s p r e t t y c o mmo n i n a l l t h e
places mentioned above, yet the gum resin is very rare. The latter
is either not extracted much, or, if it is so, not exported to other
places. It is never met with in the bazaars of Madras. Having
failed in obtaining a genuine specimen of this article (Mysore gam-
boge) on former occasions of collecting drugs, and knowing what
is sold under its name in many places is Siam gamboge, imported
from Camboja through Bankok, Singapore, &c., I was determined
to get it for the Calcutta International Exhibition. I therefore
commenced the work of my present Collection first by trying to
procure the Mysore gamboge, and wrote to many persons at Mysore,
Bangalore, Tellicherry, Calicut, Bombay, &c., but did not succeed in
my efforts until the end of the seventh month. All the specimens sent
to me from the above places were wrong, they being for the most part
Siam gamboge and in some instances yellow orpiment or some yellow
coloring stuff. The place from which after all I did get the real drug
(No. 81) was Cannanore.
Physiological Actions, Therapeutic Uses, Preparations, and European
Drugs for which it may be substituted.—Similar to those of the preceding
drug (Siam gamboge).
Doses.—In every preparation the dose of Mysore gamboge is some-
what larger than that of the Siam.
Remarks.--The Mysore gamboge occurs in masses of various shapes
and sizes, instead of cylindrical pieces, and there is very little difference
between the physical and chemical characters of this drug and those
of Siam gamboge. The former, however, as a drug, is much inferior
to the latter, as it is collected in a very rough way, and generally
contains sticks, leaves, stones and other impurities. I have used both
these medicines in many cases under similar circumstances as to age,
sex, &c., and found that Mysore gamboge requires to be used in much
larger doses than those of the Siam article to produce the same effect,
OF MADRAS.
45
This is one of the reasons of my treating the Mysore gamboge separ-
ately under the head of G. pictoria as a variety of G. Morella.
* Garcinia Indica, Chois. (G. purpurea, Roxb.) 82.
Habitat.—Forests of Malabar, the Konkan and Goa.
Part Used.—The concrete oil and dried fruit.
Synonyms.—Kokum butter, Eng. Kokum-ká-tél, Hind.
D h ú p a d i - e
n n é ,
C a n .
Local Sources.—Not found in Madras, but requires to be sent for
from distant places, as Goa, Bombay and Cannanore. The specimen
(No. 82) in my Collection is from Bombay.
Physiological Actions.—Demulcent, nutrient and emollient.
Therapeutic Uses.—Useful in phthisis pulmonalis and some scro-
fulous diseases, and in dysentery and mucous diarrhœa. I have no
personal experience of its external use, but it is said to be of great
service in ulcerations and fissures or cracks of the feet, hands and lips,
if melted and applied to the affected parts. From its soft and thick
consistence it will likely constitute the basis of simple and several other
ointments.
Preparations.—Used in substance with or without sugar.
Doses.—As a nutrient or remedy for phthisis pulmonalis and scro-
fulous diseases, from half to one ounce, or more ; and as a remedy or
adjuvant to other medicines in dysentery and mucous diarrhœa, from
one to two drachms.
European Drugs for which it may be substituted.—Cod. liver and fish
oils, cetaceum and wax.
Remarks.—A very good and graphic description of kokum butter
occurs in the Pharmacographia, p. 80, which is as follows : —
" Kokum butter is found in the Indian bazaars in the form of egg-shaped
or oblong lumps about 4 inches long by 2 inches in diameter, and weighing
about a quarter of a pound. It is a whitish substance, at ordinary tem-
peratures, firm, dry, and friable, yet greasy to the touch. Scrapings (which
are even pulverulent) when examined in glycerine under the microscope
show it to be thoroughly crystalline. They have a mild oily taste, yet
redden litmus if moistened with alcohol.
" By filtration in a steam bath, kokum butter is obtained perfectly trans-
parent and of a light straw color, concreting again at 27 . 5° C. into a
white crystalline mass : some crystals appear even at 30°. Melted in a
narrow tube, cooled, and then warmed in a water bath, the fat begins to
melt at 42-5° C., and fuses entirely at 45.° The residue left after filtration
of the crude fat is inconsiderable, and consists chiefly of brown tannic
matters soluble in spirits of wine.
" When kokum butter is long kept it acquires an unpleasant rancid
smell and brownish hue, and an efflorescence of shining tufted crystals
appears on the surface of the mass." Stearic, myristic, and oleic acids
have been separated from the fat.
I have used Kokum butter internally in my practice and found that
its best medical properties are its usefulness in phthisis pulmonalis and
some scrofulous diseases, and in dysentery and mucous diarrhœa. In
46
MATERIA MEDICA
the former (phthisis pulmonalis), its action is something like that of cod
liver oil, of which it is a pretty good and very cheap and pleasant
substitute ; and, in the latter (dysentery) it is of great service in reliev-
ing tormina and tenesmus when employed as an adjuvant to other
medicines.
The fruit is used as an acid ingredient in curries. It is freed from
seeds, sliced and dried in the sun. As a medicine, antiscorbutic pro-
perties are attributed to it.
t Calophyllum inophyllum, Linn. 83.
Habitat.—Being an ornamental plant, it is found in many gardens
of Madras and other parts of Southern India.
Parts Used.—The seeds (No. 83) and oil.
Synonyms.—Of the seeds or fruits—Alexandrian laurel seeds,
Eng. Surpan-ké-bínj, Hind. Surfan-ké-bínj, Duk. Punnai-kottai,
Tam. Ponna-vittalu, Tel. Punna-vitta, Malyal. Suragonne-bíja, Can.
Sultáná-chámpá-bíj, B eng. Punnága-bíjam, Sans. Domba-atta, Cing.
Of the oil—The Pinnay or Alexandrian laurel oil, Eng. Surpan-ká--
tél, Hind. Surfan-ká-tél, Duk. Punnai-enney, Tam. Ponna-núne,
Tel. Punna-enne, Malyal. Suragonne-enne, Can. Sultána-champá-
tail, Beng. Punnága-tailam, Sans. Domba-tel, Cing.
Local Sources.—The fruits are one of the common drugs in Madras,
and the oil is largely exported from Travancore. The latter can be
obtained by expression from the kernel of the seeds in any quantity.
Price.—Of the fruits—Wholesale, Rs. 2 per maund ; retail or
bazaar, As. 1¼ per pound. Of the oil, Rs. 8 per cwt.
Physiological Actions.—Stimulant to the mucous membrane and
skin.
Therapeutic Uses.—The oil exercises a great beneficial influence
over the mucous membrane of the genito-urinary organs, and therefore
highly useful in the treatment of gonorrhœa, and gleet. Externally, it
is a good and useful embrocation in rheumatism and gout. The watery
paste of the kernel of the seeds applied to the painful joints and dried
by the heat of fire, often affords a great relief in the same diseases, and
may be resorted to in the absence of the oil.
Preparations.—The best and most convenient way of using the oil
is floating on water, or as an emulsion with mucilage. The latter is
preferable. The kernel of the seeds is bruised with hot water and
made into a paste for external use, as mentioned above.
Doses.—If the oil is greenish brown, from fifteen to twenty minims ;
and if pale and greenish-yellow, from twenty to thirty minims ; three
or four times in the twenty-four hours.
European Drugs for which they may be substituted.—The oil for
eopaiba and cubebs.
Remarks.—The fruits are spherical, varying in diameter from half
to one inch and a quarter, generally grey or greyish brown, and
covered with a thin and shrivelled epidermis. The pericarp or shell is
hard, thin, easily broken, and contains a loose and movable kernel.
OF MADRAS.
47
The latter is roundish, pale yellow or reddish yellow, and bitterish in
taste.
The fixed oil extracted from the seeds of C. inophyllum is pale and
greenish-yellow with an odour of Tonquin beans if the seeds are such as
those generally sold in the bazaar, a greater portion of which are small
and young ; but greenish brown, thicker and more viscid with a smell
like that of an old and rancid ghee, if they are large and well matured.
The oil is bitter in both cases.
The oil of C. inophyllum is one of the few drugs which had been
omitted by mistake from my Collection of Drugs, when its first portion
was forwarded in haste to the Calcutta International Exhibition in
1883. It, however, deserves to-be noticed here in a special manner
from its great usefulness when administered internally.
Although there is nothing in the sensible properties of this oil to
indicate a poisonous character, yet, as far as my knowledge extends, it
has never been administered internally in this or any other country.
Having satisfied myself by personal use that it is neither detrimental
to life nor deleterious to health up to certain quantity, I employed it in
my practice and found it to be a very valuable drug. It acts as a
specific on the mucous membrane of the genito-urinary organs, and its
control, therefore, over gonorrhœa and gleet is very considerable. It is
so certain and speedy in its action that its good effect in the above
diseases is often noticed a few hours after the exhibition of its first
dose.
† Mesua ferrea, Linn. 84.
† Ochrocarpus longifolius, Benth. 85.
Ha bitat.—Malabar and Western Ghâts.
Part Used.—The flowers.
Synonyms.—Nág-Késar-ké-phul, Hind. Nágésar-ké-phúl, Duk. and
Beng. Nágap-pú, Nágasháp-pú, Nágésar-pú, Tam.
N á g a - k é s a r - p u v v u , G a j a - p u s h p a m u ,T
e l .
V e l u t t a - c h e m p a k a p - p ú ,
M a l y a l .
Nága-késaram-pushpam, Sans. Whether sold separately or together, the
vernacular synonyms of the flowers of both M. ferrea and. 0. longifolius
are the same.
Local Sources.—The flowers of either M. ferrea or 0. longifolius
are never met with in the bazaars of Madras, and what are sold here
under their names (Nágésar-Ké-phúl), are Cassia-buds, which are the
produce of species of Cinnamomum. The Hindustani name of the
latter is Kabáb-chíní at Madras and Sítal-chíní at some other places.
The native druggists of Madras are aware of this fact, yet, they sell
the Cassia buds as different drugs under two or three different names.
The samples of the flowers of M. ferrea and 0. longifolins (Nos. 84
and 85) in my Collection of Drugs at Calcutta are from a distant place.
Physiological Actions.—Stimulant and carminative.
Therapeutic Uses.—Useful in some forms of dyspepsia and in
hemorrhoids.
48
MATERIA MEDICA
Preparation.—Infusion, which is prepared in the ordinary way, the
proportion of the flowers to boiling water being one to eight. I have
not yet used the flowers in any other form.
Dose.—From one and a half to three fluid ounces.
European Drugs for which they may be substituted.—A very weak
substitute for Spirit. ammon. arom., lavender and peppermint.
TERNSTRŒMIACEIR
Camellia theifera, G riff. 86, 87 and 88.
Habitat.—Cultivated in China ; and in the Nílgiris, Travancore,
Darjeeling, Assam, Punjab and some other places of India.
Part Used.—The prepared leaves.
S y n o n y m s . — T e a , E n g .
T h é ,
F r .
D e r T h e e ,
G e r .
C h á ,
pattá Duk. and Hind. Te-ilai, Tey-áku, Tel. Chá-pátá, Beng.
Chá, Guz. Té-kóla, Cing. Laphé-khiáv, Bur. Sáé, Arab. Cháye,
Pers. The tea growing in, or imported from, some particular places
is generally named after those places in the bazaar ; as N í l g i r i - k i - c h á
or the tea growing on the Nílgiri hills (No. 86), Chin-ki-chá or
China tea (No. 87) and Singapúr-ki-chá or the tea imported from
Singapore (No. 88).
Local Sources.—Tea is one of the common and abundant articles in
Madras. The black tea (Káli-chá) is more abundant and cheaper than
the green one (Harí-Chá).
Price.—Of the Nílgiri tea—Wholesale, Rs. 10 per maund; retail or
bazaar, As. 8 per pound. Of the China tea—Wholesale, Rs. 15 per
maund ; retail or bazaar, Rupee 1 per pound. Of the Singapore tea—
Wholesale, Rs. 14 per maund ; retail or bazaar, As. 12 per pound.
Physiological Actions.—Nervine
diuretic, nutritive and slightly astringent.
Chemical Composition.—Volatile oil, gallotannic and gallic acids,
quercetin, boheic acid, and the alkaloids theine, zanthine, and theoph
y - l i n e .
Therapeutic Uses.—Useful in some nervous disorders depending on
exhaustion or depression of the nerve power. A strong and hot
infusion of tea without milk and sugar, like that of coffee, is a means
of arousing the nervous system when depressed by opium or some
other narcotic, and also of removing drowsiness or sleep for some
hours whenever it is desirable to do so. With milk and sugar, tea is a
well known nutritive and very pleasant beverage, well suited to
many cases of general and nervous debility brought on by previous
illness.
Preparation.—Infusion, which is usually known as tea. As a
nutritive beverage to be used with milk and sugar, as generally is the
case, this infusion is prepared by infusing in a covered vessel two
drachms of the prepared tea leaves in ten ounces of boiling water for
10 or 15 minutes. The infusion should be three or four times stronger
for use in cases of poisoning from opium or other narcotic medicines.
Dose.—From four to eight ounces.
OF MADRAS,
49
DIPTEROCARPEÆ.
* Dipterocarpus turbinatus, Gœ r tn., and other species. 89, 90
and 91.
Hatitat.—Chittagong, Tipperah and the Malay Islands.
Part Used.—The balsamic exudation.
Synonyins.—The Wood oil or Gurjun balsam, Eng.
G a r j a n - k a - t é l ,
H i n d .
L a k r í - k á - t é l , S á g v á n - k á - t é l ,D
u k .
M a r a - e n n e y ,
T a m ? .
Although the meaning of the Dukhni name Ságrán-ká-tél is teak oil,
yet it is applied to the Wood oil in many bazaars of Southern India.
As the teak tree produces no balsam or oil, there is no fear of the above
error giving rise to any confusion.
Local Sources.—The wood oil is pretty common in many large
bazaars of Southern India.
Price.—Of the black or dark-brown variety (No. 89)—Wholesale,
Rs. 12 per maund ; retail or bazaar, As. 10 per pound. Of the red or
reddish-brown variety (No. 90)—Wholesale, Rs. 24 per maund ;
retail or bazaar, Rs. 1¼ per pound. Of the pale-white or grey variety
(NO. 91)—Wholesale, Rs. 18 per maund ; retail or bazaar,. Rupee 1 per
pound.
Physiological Actions.—Internally, stimulant, diuretic and alterative ;
and externally, stimulant.
Chemical Composition.—Volatile oil, acid resin (gurgunic acid) and
an indifferent resin.
Therapeutic Uses.—As an internal remedy the Gurjun balsam
exercises a great beneficial influence over the membrane of the genito-
urinary organs, and is therefore very useful in gonorrhœa and gleet.
It also produces some good effect in early stages of leprosy. As an
external remedy it is one of the few best local stimulants in several
forms of cutaneous affections, particularly those of a scaly nature. It
is also a useful application in rheumatism.
Preparation.—The best way of using this balsam internally is in.
the form of emulsion with mucilage.
Dose.—From one to three fluid drachms three times in the 24
hours.
European Drags . for which it may he substituted.—Copaiba, Donovan's
solution and Citrine ointment. It is also a substitute for
Chaul-mugra oil.
Remarks.—There are several varieties of Gurjun or Wood oil, but
out of these, three are generally met with in the bazaar, which are
known as Sufél Garjan-ká-tél or Suféd Lakrí-ká-tél (the pale-white or
grey variety), Lál Garjan-ká-tél or Lal Lakri-rá-tél (the red or
reddish brown variety) and Kálá Garjan-ká-tél or Kálá Lakrí-ká-tél
(the black or dark brown variety). All the varieties of Gurjun oil
are equally useful as a local stimulant, but the red or reddish-brown
and the white or grey varieties are the best for internal use. The
'best medical properties of this oil are its usefulness in gonorrhœa and
G
50
MATERIAL MEDICA
gleet, and in all forms of psoriasis, including lepra-vulgaris. In
gonorrhœa and gleet it is at least equal to Copaiba, and the only
difference between these two drugs is that the former (Gurjun balsam)
requires to be used in a much larger dose (3ii to 3iii) to produce the
same effect as the latter. As Gurjun balsam is always used in the
form of emulsion with mucilage the largeness of its dose is no disad-
vantage. With regard to its usefulness in psoriasis and lepra-vulgaris,
I am not aware of any other local stimulant which is more efficacious
in those diseases than this drug. I have either cured or relieved many
eases of the above affections by the use of this drug, with little or no
assistance of internal remedies. The internal use of Gurjun oil is also
attended with benefit in some cases of true leprosy in its early stage ;
but its efficacy in this respect is greatly enhanced with the addition of
from five to ten drops of Chaulmugra oil to each drachm of it. If well
mixed in the above proportion, the combination of Chaulmugra oil
cannot be detected. Some years ago I had received a bottle of Gurjun
oil of this kind from a medical friend, which proved mere useful in a
case of true leprosy than all its varieties in the bazaar, but I did not
know the existence of Chaulmugra oil in it until I was informed of it.
*Shorea robusta, Gœrtn.. 92, 93 and 94.
Habitat—Godávari forest, Goomsur and foot of the Himalayas.
Part Used.—The resin.
Synonyms.—Rál, Dhúná, Dámar, Hind. Rál, Duk. Kungiliyam,
Tam. Guggilamu, Tel. Kungiliyam, Guggala, Can. Dhúná,
Rál, Beng. Guggilam, Konshi-kaha, Sans. Rála, Guggilu,
Dummala, Cing. Qaiqahar, Qanqahar, Arab. Laâle-moâabbari, Pers.
The tree, Sâl.
Local Sources.—Out of the several varieties of this resin met with
in every large bazaar of Southern India, only three are fit to be noticed
as drugs. Two of these are known as suféd or white Rál, and the third
as lál or red Rál. One of the white varieties is almost colorless and
transparent (No. 92), and the other pale, yellowish or greenish white
(No. 93). The third variety is either pale-red, yellowish-red or
reddish-brown (No. 94).
Price.—Of the white varieties—Wholesale, Rs. 4 per maund ; retail
or bazaar, As. 3 per pound. Of the red variety—Wholesale, Its. 2
per maund ; retail or bazaar, As. 1½ per pound.
Physiological Action s.—Local stimulant and deodorant.
Therapeutic Uses.—It is not prescribed internally, but used occa-
sionally for fumigation of rooms and houses to remove bad odors. It
does not destroy offensive smell, but rather cenceals it under its thick
and odoriferous smoke. There is every reason to think that it will
prove itself an efficient ingredient in many ointments and plasters if
employed instead of pine and other resins.
European. Drugs , for which it way be substituted.—For pine and other
resins imported from Europe.