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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,
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or prescriptions have been superseded by better alternatives, or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; strengthens the system,
restores impaired appetite, (is said to moderate an increased secretion
of bile,) and improves the complexion. The fruit is of various sizes,
from a few drachms to a pound weight; but it is usually met with
weighing about 4 ounces. It becomes acid about a month after the fall
of the flower, in which state it is used as preserves, such as jellies,
pickles, &c.; at this time, too, it is used as seasoning for Pilaus,
and other dishes; for when the stone or kernel has become hard, it
is no longer fit for these purposes. When the fruit has attained its
full growth, and when nearly ripe, it is to be taken from the tree,
and put into dry grass, straw, or the leaves of the Palass tree, and
there allowed to become ripe; this process deprives it of all acidity,
and also prevents the formation of a resinous gum, which it contracts
when allowed to ripen on the tree, and which renders it too pungent
to be eaten with relish.

The fruit is in perfection in the hot winds, and when the rains
commence, it ripens very fast; before the cold weather it is usually
out of season.

There are some trees that blossom the whole year, and some few that
even produce fruit; but instances of this are very rare.

There is a variety of this tree on which the fruit is sweet from its
first formation; this requires to be used early, otherwise it will
in all probability become a prey to insects.

Some trees produce fruit only once in 4 years. In general, it produces
fruit in abundance every second year, and less in the alternate year;
some are even perfectly barren every alternate year.

There is a mode of manuring this tree, which it is said improves
the flavour of the fruit greatly; this is mixing the juice of its
fruit with milk, and pouring it over the roots. It is also said to
be possible to communicate the flavor of any particular fruit to the
mangoe, by its expressed juice being made use of, as an application
to the roots of the tree.

The kernel of the mangoe, roasted, is pleasant to the taste, and
grateful to the stomach; it is much recommended in laxities of the
bowels, and strengthens the primæ viæ; water drank after having eat
of this kernel, seems to possess a flavor peculiarly excellent. The
usual mode of preparing them, is to allow them to remain exposed to
the rains, till the shell shall have become decayed; by this process
it is deprived of any heating or irritating property. Prepared in this
manner, and kept a short time in lime juice, taken out, bruised and
mixed with salt, fennel, &c, it is much extolled for strengthening
the stomach, and promoting digestion.

If preserved for 3 years, pounded, and swallowed to the quantity of a
tolah, with a little water, no medicine is preferable for strengthening
bowels habitually lax.

In the acid state, the fruit is very prejudicial to those who have
any disorders in their teeth, a cough, an affection of the chest, or
who are subject to cholicky pain in the bowels, but very beneficial
when used in irritable habits. The best method of using them is
this. The acid unripe fruit, after the outer rind has been peeled
off, is to be cut into thin slices, and infused for some hours in
water; this water so impregnated, is to be drained off, mixed with
a sufficient proportion of sugar, and used as sherbet. It produces a
great relish for food, and is in other respects beneficial. The same
effects are produced by the unripe fruit, being roasted and allowed to
remain in water, as above mentioned. It is recommended in paralysis,
from coup de vent. Many physicians have considered the mangoe to be
of a cooling nature, but, in my opinion, it is heating in all its
stages. The Yunani physicians have stated the ripe fruit to be hot
in the 2d, and dry in the 3d degree.

Its virtues may be described in a few words. It strengthens the
system, gives tone to the kidnies, restores impaired appetite, &c. It
is aperient, improves the complexion, beneficial in piles, an useful
deobstruent, braces and increases the bulk of the solids, and removes
nervous affections. In some of these disorders I am inclined to doubt
of its good effects, but such virtues are attributed to it. It is
recommended, in order to prevent any bad effects from the fruit in
its unripe state, that raisins be eaten with it. Hukeem Alwee Khan,
a man of eminence in his profession in the reign of Mahommed Shah,
says, that if ever this fruit disagreed with the system, it must have
been eaten when unripe or green.

I had occasion to attend a gentleman of very high rank, who laboured
under dropsy; I cured him of the disease, but 3 years afterwards,
having eaten a large quantity of mangoes, the disease returned,
and I have observed the same effects in other cases.

Hukeem Alli Mughphoor, physician, states, that influenced by the
resemblance of the mangoe to the human kidney, he concluded that
it must be beneficial in that organ, (disorders of;) he therefore
prescribed it in a case of hectic fever, arising from diseased kidney,
and completely cured the disease. In this I differ from him entirely;
he must have mistaken the nature of the complaint, for a remedy given
expressly for the cure of a disease in the kidney, could not, at the
same time, have removed the fever, excepting appropriate medicines
had been administered along with it!!

The best mangoes are those having a thin juice, sweet and free from
fibres; and they ought to be cooled in water or in ice, especially
during the hot weather. It is preferable to use the juice of the fruit
without eating any of the fibrous parts; a neglect of this may produce
various disorders, such as indigestion, cholicky pains, &c. It is very
common to eat the expressed juice, mixed with sugar and other things,
with rice, or with bread, but this is great imprudence; for in the
most healthy subjects it may produce nausea, and general uneasiness.

Should any ill effects follow the use of the mangoe, milk, or the
kernel of the fruit, will be found a corrector. My father's opinion
is, that these are not the only remedies; for if it produces any
heating effect, curdled milk will give relief, or even cold water,
or acidulated sherbet, and he himself was always in the habit of
using the Phalsa sherbet on these occasions.

Should cholic be produced, the Oil of Almonds or other sweet oils,
will remove the complaint; and a diarrhoea is to be cured by the use of
the kernel; and a swelling of the abdomen, by milk, in which a little
ginger has been mixed; or even ginger by itself will have the effect

A substitute for mangoe, as a medicine, may be had in Chobe Cheenee.

In general, it will be adviseable to abstain from the use of the
mangoe, till 2 or 3 showers of rain have fallen; but those of a
cold phlegmatic or melancholic temperament do not require to be
so particular.

Those for whose complaints mangoes have been recommended, have in a
few months derived great benefit from their use, by eating them with
camel's milk. There are many kinds of this fruit, and their names
are as various; but the stronger the scent, the more effectual they
are as a medicine. In Persian it is called Nugzuck.

2 Aramsheetul.--Pungent and cooling; useful in bilious and catarrhal
complaints; also recommended in foulness of the blood.

3 Akaholie.--Vermifuge, also recommended in bilious and catarrhal
disorders, in seminal weakness and gonorrhoea.

4 Adki.--Vide Arhir.

5 Anula. (nasal N.)--Or Amle, (Phyllanthus emblica, W. Murray IV. 127,
Myrobolans.) The fruit round, like a plum. The tree like that of the
tamarind, of a pleasant acid, and sweetish astringent taste. It is
aperient, cooling, and drying; of great use in eruptions of the skin,
arising from a redundance of bile. Other virtues ascribed to this
fruit may be found in all Yunani works. It is also called Bidjee and
Dhatri Phill, used by the natives for cleansing the hair.

6 Aru.--A variety of plum, much resembling the common sort, both in
the tree and fruit; it however possesses more acidity, and is less
easy of digestion.

7 Abi.--Pyrus Cidonia. The Quince; slightly astringent, and cool in
a great degree; heavy and difficult of digestion, yet it is gently
laxative and expectorant, and is recommended for strengthening the
powers of virility. In Arabic Siffirjill, Persian Behi.

8 Aak.--Arug, Mudar, Asclepias gigantea. A milky shrub, very common
all over India; its pod resembles a mangoe, but rather longer in
proportion: when ripe it breaks, and is found filled with a white
substance, resembling silk, to which the seeds are fixed. The leaves
of the plant resemble the Dak, but are somewhat smaller: its height is
generally from 1 to 1 1/2 yard; when its leaves or stalk are broken,
a white milky liquid exudes. There are two kinds, white and red;
both are purgatives, violently so. It is said to be beneficial in
the following disorders. Foulness of the blood, bilious affections,
Juzam, Psora, Zærbad, boils, cuticular eruptions, diseases of the
liver, visceral obstructions, hæmorrhoids, all internal diseases,
dropsy and worms.

("Many and wonderful virtues are ascribed to this plant; but I must
refer those who have faith in charms to the original Taleef Shereef,
when their curiosity will be amply gratified." Translator.)

All the above virtues have been ascribed to this plant; my opinion
is, that the application of the leaves is useful in swellings,
promotes suppuration in indolent tumors, and cures eruptions on the
skin. The milk blisters, and if applied to the eye, it produces
swelling, itchiness, and loss of vision. The powder of the root,
mixed with goat's blood and fresh butter, and applied to the eye,
is said materially to strengthen vision. In other works it is said,
that the milk of every variety of this plant is poisonous, and
violently cathartic.

9 Aal.--Vide Mujeet, Rubia, Madder, a wood used for dyeing a red
color, and forming a principal article of commerce in some parts of
India. In the "Dhara Shakoi" it is called Mujeet, but I suspect that
they are different plants, as the Mujeet is thin, and of a fine red
color; whereas the Aal is blackish, with a tinge of yellow, though
not thicker than the other.

10 Aditt Bagut.--In Persian, Aftab Perust, Helianthus Annuus. The
sun-flower; the name of a flower called also Soorujmookee. The
stem grows straight about a man's height; the leaves are broad and
triangular, the flower circular, flat and yellow, with serrated edges,
and it is said to follow the sun in his diurnal progress. There are
two kinds, a small and greater; their medical properties the same;
they are bitter to the taste, and heating in a considerable degree. It
is beneficial in cholicks, dropsical affections, foulness of stomach,
and rheumatism; it also improves appetite, and promotes expectoration
in cases of cold, accompanied by fever.

11 Area.--A culinary fruit resembling the cucumber, and grows in
the rainy season; it is so cooling that it produces pains all over
the body; it is moreover difficult of digestion, and if taken in any
quantity produces fever.

12 Anwul (Nasal).--A large tree very common in India, which when
in flower, has a very beautiful appearance; its flowers are yellow,
resembling those of the Cassia. There are two kinds of this, one called
Mahedi Anwul. Of this also there are two varieties. It is cooling, and
the medicinal properties of all varieties are the same. It is used with
good effect in bilious vomitings, and also in leprous affections of the
skin. It is recommended in weakness of the eyes, asthma, affections
of the chest, and foulness of blood. It strengthens the weak and
emaciated, and braces the solids when relaxed by disease or otherwise.

13 Aruk.--This name is indiscriminately given to four different kinds
of trees; Nowa, Cutel, Burhil and Taar.

14 Aloo (Bochara).--A kind of plum.

15 Abnoos (Ebony).--A large tree, producing a sweet fruit like
grapes. Its leaves resemble those of the Sinobir, but are somewhat
broader: it is an evergreen, and its wood is, when good and full-grown,
dark-colored and durable; its leaves are smooth and glassy; its
properties said to be very active and deleterious; it is heating in
a considerable degree, and is said to be lithonthriptic. It dispels
flatulency, and cures tympanites. It is recommended in chronic
affections of the liver. Filings or raspings of the wood are styptic,
and its charcoal more so; a decoction of the wood, in spirits, is very
effectual in discussing scrophulous tumours, when externally applied.

The raspings of the wood, mixed with whites of eggs, is an excellent
application to scalds and burns; they are also famed for cleaning
deep foul ulcers, and inducing the growth of healthy granulation.

Taken internally, the dose is 10 1/2 Mashas, and should it disagree
with the stomach, which it often does, honey, or Gum Arabic, with
sweet basil, are correctors. The large Baer Tree, (Konar), is a good
substitute for the Abnoos; quality, hot 3, dry 2. Persian Awnoos.

16 Anbihildee.--Curcuma zedoaria, (Rox.) Amomum Zed. Wildenow. An
Indian root, hot and dry in the 2d degree; useful in herpes, and
foulness of the blood, and much esteemed as an external application
in wounds and bruises, for which it is also internally exhibited:
orange juice used as a vehicle, corrects, in some degree, its heating
quality; or if this be not procurable, Bapahic, or the seed of the
Penwur, or Turmeric, will have the same effect; the medicine may be
given to the quantity of 3 1/2 Masha.

17 Apurjeeta.--Clitoria ternatea, Crow's beak, a twining shrub. The
natives call it Kowwa Thontee, which literally signifies crow's
beak, also Neelisbund; the plant is about a foot and a half high,
and sometimes less, resembling the Cungheiy, only the leaves of the
latter are smooth and polished, while those of the former are rough and
hard; both the Apurjeeta and the variety Neelisbund, are cooling. It is
beneficial in weakness of sight, in clearing the voice and soreness of
the throat, and is useful in the poisonous bites of leeches. It is also
of use in rheumatic affections of the joints, Juzam, bilious disorders,
mucous discharge from the lungs or bowels; it allays general heat,
and is said to be an antidote to certain poisonous substances, and
of great efficacy in hard indolent tumours, and affections of the skin.

18 Abruc.--Talc, A fossil substance, beneficial in seminal weakness,
redundance of bile, mucus, &c. An antidote to poison. The physicians
of Hindostan prepare it for use by calcination. Arabic, Tulk.

19 Abhea.--A name for Hurr; it also signifies the water of life,
and a medicine called Guloe.

20 Aotungun.--A very common seed, resembling coriander. In powder
it is recommended as giving strength to the system, and rendering
Aphrodisie more permanent. It is a very favorite medicine in India. It
is, moreover, useful in Nephritia and liver complaints, and it is very
innocent in its operation. Some physicians describe it as hot and dry,
in a considerable degree, and disagreeing with the stomach; they,
therefore, recommend it to be taken with a proportion of sugar. In
all its properties the Maadentezerrubad states the Bonphilly to be
nearly the same; dose 4 1/4 Mashas.

21 Atees.--The root. Of this there are two kinds, a white and black,
and both are very common. The white kind resembles the Jedwaar; the
root is very irregular in thickness. It frequently is found resembling
the white Bahmen. Both kinds are bitter, astringent, pungent, and
heating; aiding digestion, useful in dysentery, vomiting, and piles.

22 Adjmode.--Bishop's Weed, Sisson Ammi, (Linn.) Amoos, (Arab.) Ajooan,
(Hind.) Nemkha, P. Ajamodum, S. A hot seed, stomachic cordial and
stimulant. (Ajmood, Parsley? Taylor. Apium Involucratum.) Apium
Involucratum, Rox. M. S. "Sp. Ch. Annual, glaucous, villous, superior
leaflets filiform, both general and partial, involucra, about 6
leaved." Bitter and pungent, light and heating, increases appetite,
induces costiveness, and strengthens the vital energy; increases
the seminal secretion, and removes pains and other disorders,
the consequence of colds; beneficial in nausea, is vermifuge,
relieves hiccup, and is useful in Dysuria, but it produces heat in
the abdomen. It is called Curufs, but it is only a variety of this,
and is something betwixt that and Aniseed, though this may be owing
to the difference of cultivation.

23 Adjwain.--"Anise Seed. In Arabic, Aneesoon. Pimpinella Anisum, Linn.

"Ujwain. The seed of a plant of the Dill kind, Taylor. Ligusticum
Adjwaen, Roxb. Sp. Ch. annual, erect, leaves super de compound,
with filiform leaflets, ridges and furrows of the seeds distinct
and scabrous. This is what is recommended to notice by Dr. Percival,
under the name Ajava seed."

A species of the above, of which there are two kinds, one of which is
called Juhar; both are bitter, pungent, and aromatic; it resembles the
Ajmode, but is smaller, and has a strong aromatic scent. It assists
digestion, improves appetite, is useful in rheumatism and catarrhal
affections; is vermifuge, beneficial in dropsy, dispels flatulence,
and is highly extolled in flatulent cholic. A. Nanchoa.


24 Adjwain. 25 Khorasanee. "Hyosciamus niger, Linn. Black
Henbane. Narcotic. Corrector, Vinegar."

This plant grows thick from the root, and is covered with a hairy
down. The seeds are contained within a hard thick shell, and the
leaves are like those of the pomegranate flower. The pod is filled
with seeds of a small irregular shape. There is a plant called Hulbeh,
which resembles this, but is smaller. A. Buzurulbunje.

26 Adjan.--Or Adjain, a large tree, with wide spreading branches,
in size approaching that of the mangoe; its leaves growing close,
and also resembling those of the mangoe tree, but longer and thinner;
the fruit is about 1 1/2 foot long, and very thin.

27 Akhroat.--"The Walnut, Juglans regia, Linn." This is a native
of hilly countries; its leaves are like the Terpat; the fruit is
sweet to the taste, heating, and heavy; it loosens the bowels, and
restores strength; it is useful in rheumatic affections, increases
mental energy and the powers of manhood, and gives relief in flying
pains in the stomach. A. Jouz.

28 Andaluck.--A kind of grain.

29 Aderuck.--"Ginger, Amomum zinziber, Linn. Amomum zinziber,
Wild. Adraca, S. Sonth (dried root,) H. Sunthi, S." A very common root,
the stem of which is knotty, and from every knot, a leaf is produced;
it is hot and heavy; promotes digestion if eaten before meals, mixed
with Lahore salt, (rock salt;) it prevents flatulent swellings in
the stomach and bowels. P. Zinzibeel tur. It is much extolled as a
stomachic when prepared as sweetmeats; but if the syrup be allowed to
dry, it spoils, becomes less grateful to the taste, and its heating
quality is much increased.

30 Arnee.--The name of a tree, in height that of the Peach tree, but
it is full of branches from the root upwards, and the leaves are like
those of the Sumhaloo; it is heating, and beneficial in rheumatic
complaints and swellings from cold. In the Dhintri it is described
as oleaginous and heavy; effectual in Jaundice, increasing appetite,
loosening the bowels, and removing flatulence.

31 Arhir or Toor.--"Cytisus cajan." Some consider these as distinct
species, but in my opinion Toor is only Arhir in an overgrown
state. The plant grows to the height of a yard and half; and the
taste of the pea of the Arhir is preferable to that of the Toor. Toor
is sown and cut down at the same time as the sugar-cane; whereas the
Arhir is sown, and cut with the barley. The pod of the Toor is larger
than that of the Arhir; and the former has an unpleasant smell, which
is wanting in the latter; they are both used very commonly as food,
all over India. It is in its properties cool and dry, and produces
costiveness; it is useful in bilious and catarrhal disorders,
and in foulness of the blood. It is even said to be an antidote
to poisons. In its taste it is sweet, like that of the Cassela. I
conceive it hot in the 2d, and dry in the 3d degree, and recommend it
for strengthening the stomach. When used as food it is heavy; but is
beneficial in complaints having their origin in cold. If twice scalded
in hot water, before it is boiled, it will cause less thirst; and if
boiled in milk, or whey, it becomes less heating. A decoction of the
leaves is recommended as a wash for the mouth, in cases of toothache,
and diseases of the teeth. P. Shakool.

32 Aord, or Aort, or Mash..--vide M. (Phaseolus Max.)

33 Arne'.--The wild buffaloe. Its flesh recommended in
Marasmus. P. Gowmeche Serhaie.

34 Arnd.--"The Castor, Ricinus communis, W. Palma Christi." Wildenow
says, "Planta semper annua, nunquam fructicosa vel arborea, nec in
calidissimis terræ plagis liguescit." But this is incorrect; for the
plant is perennial, and becomes a moderate sized tree. The natives,
however, have a prejudice against allowing it to grow beyond 3 or
4 years, and even this is only in solitary places. The chief reason
I fancy is, that it interferes with the cultivation of the soil, if
permitted to remain. They usually sow it with grain, and reap the grain
crop before it has attained its full height; this they can do annually,
but seed sown under its shelter the second year, would not succeed.

A shrub, with broad soft leaves, like the fig tree; it grows about 6
or 8 feet in height; the root is hollow, and without flaw or wrinkle;
the seed grows in bunches like grapes, and the shell of the pod,
which resembles gall-nuts, is covered with soft prickles. The seed is
like the coffee bean, and is stained with different colored spots,
so as to appear like marbled paper; the kernel is white, soft, and
oleaginous. There are two kinds of this; one with a red, the other
with a green pod; the former is culled Jongia Arnde; both varieties
are sweet, heating, and heavy. The oil of the kernel is useful in
removing obstinate constrictions of the intestines, when given warm;
also in flatulency; rheumatic swellings of the joints and lumbago;
in strangury, spasms in the urinary bladder, headaches, dropsy, and
feverish complaints. It is also recommended as an expectorant in
difficulty of breathing, and in cough; in affections of the skin,
and in superabundance of mucus in the intestines. It is a warm,
stimulating purgative; the dose one or two table spoonsful. Both
my father, uncle, and I, have used it with great success, in cases
of obstinate cholic from costiveness. They also used the leaves
moistened with ghee, as an external application in rheumatic pains
and swellings. If the seeds are bruised, and mixed with curdled milk,
