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                         TRANSCRIBER'S NOTICE

The medical knowledge represented in this book is several centuries
old. The publication of this book is for historical interest only,
and is not to be construed as medical advice by Project Gutenberg
or its volunteers. Medicinal plants should not be used without
consulting a trained medical professional. Medical science has made
considerable progress since this book was written. Recommendations
or prescriptions have been superseded by better alternatives, or
invalidated altogether. This book contains a number of prescriptions
that are very dangerous.




                                  THE

                            TALEEF SHEREEF,

                                   OR

                         INDIAN MATERIA MEDICA;

                     TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL.

                                   BY

                         GEORGE PLAYFAIR, Esq.

                SUPERINTENDING SURGEON, BENGAL SERVICE.



                              PUBLISHED BY

             The Medical and Physical Society of Calcutta.

                               Calcutta:

          PRINTED AT THE BAPTIST MISSION PRESS, CIRCULAR ROAD.
  SOLD BY MESSRS. THACKER & CO. CALCUTTA; & BY MESSRS. PARBURY, ALLEN
                                 & CO.
                                 1833.








TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.


In the course of a practice of upwards of twenty-six years in India,
I have often had occasion to regret, that I had no publication to
guide me, in my wish to become acquainted with the properties of
native medicines, which I had frequently seen, in the hands of the
Physicians of Hindoostan, productive of the most beneficial effects
in many diseases, for the cure of which our Pharmacopeia supplied no
adequate remedy; and the few which I had an opportunity of becoming
acquainted with, so far exceeded my expectations, that I determined
to make a Translation of the present work, for my own gratification
and future guidance.

Having finished the translation, I became convinced, that I should
not have fulfilled the whole of my duty if I did not make it public;
and ill calculated as I know myself for such an undertaking, I have
ventured to offer it to the world, with all its imperfections.

Conscious, that the liberal minded will give me credit for the best
of motives, I shall not dread criticism; and if it has the effect
of inducing those more competent to the task to an inquiry into
the properties of native medicines, my views will have been fully
accomplished.

In writing the names of the different medicines, I have followed the
Author's example, and have been guided solely by the pronunciation,
without altering the sound given to the letters in English, and have
not borrowed a single name from any work of Oriental literature. In
this I may have acted wrong, but I did so from the conviction, that by
this method, the names would be more familiar, and better understood,
by the Natives in researches after the different drugs.

I have inserted as many of the systematic names as I could trace,
both from Dr. Fleming's work, and those of others; but I regret,
that I was not honored in the acquaintance of any Botanist who could
have assisted me with more.

To the youth of the profession, I trust the work may be acceptable, by
leading them to the knowledge, that such medicines are in existence;
and my medical brethren of the higher grades may not deem further
inquiry into the properties of native drugs beneath their notice.

To the profession at large, then, I beg leave to dedicate this
Translation, with the hope, that they will make due allowance for
all faults, and that some of the more experienced will favor us with
another and better edition.

To my respected friends Messrs. Wilson and Twining, the profession is
indebted, that this little work ever saw light; and though they are
godfathers to none of its errors, yet without their encouragement and
aid, it must have slumbered in oblivion, and remained as was intended,
(after the failure of an attempt on the part of the translator,)
a manual for his own private use.








GLOSSARY.


Acouta,          Herpes.
Aruk,            Distilled liquid.
Boolbul,         Indian Nightingale.
Badgola,         Splenitis.
Coir,            Fibrous substance surrounding the Cocoanut.
Daad,            Impetigo.
Dhats,           Component parts of the human frame.
Elaous,          Disease of the Intestines. Introsusception.
Fetuck,          Hernia.
Goor,            Unrefined Sugar.
Juzam,           Black Leprosy.
Jow,             Barley.
Junglie Chuha,   The Forest Rat.
Khoonadeer,      Khoonazeer? Lupus, Cancer.
Kunzeer,         Cancer.
Mootiabin,       Total blindness, Gutta Serena.
Naringee,        The Orange.
Nachoona,        Opacity of the Cornea.
Neela Totha,     Sulphate of Copper.
Nuffsoodum,      Hæmoptysis.
Pilau, Poolau,   Dish made of meat and rice, seasoned with spices.
Peshanee,        The Forehead.
Paddy,           Rice in the husk.
Panroque,        Cold with Fever, also Jaundice.
Peendie,         A formula for females.
Paan,            A leaf, chewed by the Natives, with Catechu, Betel,
                 and Lime.
Raal,            Gum Resin.
Rajerogue,       Carbuncle.
Soonpat,         Loss of sensation in parts of the body.
Soorkhbad,       Erythema.








                          THE TALEEF SHEREEF,
                                   OR
                         INDIAN MATERIA MEDICA.

                            TRANSLATED FROM
                     THE ORIGINAL, WITH ADDITIONS.


1 Am, Ambe, Anbe.--The Fruit, Mangifera Indica.

The produce of a large tree very common in Hindostan. The fruit is
about the size of, and very much resembling in shape, a goat's kidney,
and having the external appearance of an apple. When ripe, it sometimes
retains the green color, but oftener becomes yellow, or red and yellow.

The virtues ascribed to this tree, are as follows:--The bruised
leaves and young shoots applied to the hair, expedite its growth,
and considerably darken its color.

The bark of the trunk of the tree, and of its roots, is cooling and
astringent; the former powerfully so. The leaves are astringent,
and promote digestion; their ashes styptic.

The young flowers are cool and drying; have a pleasant aromatic scent,
and when taken internally, are cooling and astringent; recommended
for the cure of chronic Gonorrhoea or Gleet, purulent expectoration,
bilious foulness of the blood and boils. The young unripe fruit has
much acidity, and is drying; moderately used, it increases all the
animal secretions, and is beneficial in chronic affections of the
liver; it promotes appetite, and is lithonthriptic. The fruit, when
ripe, is sweet, cooling, mucilaginous and heavy, tending to allay
thirst, and useful in nervous affections