Remarks on the Uses of some of the Bazaar Medicines and Common Medical Plants of India / With a full index of diseases, indicating their treatment by these and other agents procurable throughout India; to which are added directions for treatment in cases of drowning, snake-bites &c.

by Edward John Waring

PREFACE TO THE FOURTH EDITION.

That this little work should have reached a Fourth Edition may be taken as pretty clear indication that it has met a recognised want amongst our Indian fellow-subjects, for whose instruction and guidance it was originally issued. To render it worthy of continued favour, and to make it additionally useful, has been my anxious endeavour.

Of any merit which this edition may be found to possess over the preceding one, a very large portion is due to Dr. J. E. T. Aitchison, C.I.E., Surgeon-Major in H.M. Indian (Bengal) Medical Service, who, with a liberality that demands my warmest thanks, placed at my disposal an elaborate MS. commentary on the Third Edition, embodying his own professional experience in India (extending over many years), and supplying the vernacular names of the various drugs in the Punjábí, Kashmírí, and Leh languages. Of this document it need hardly be said I have availed myself largely, my only regret being that I could not insert it in extenso, but to have done this would greatly have exceeded the prescribed limits of the work. As it is, Dr. Aitchison has laid me under a vast obligation, which I am only too happy to have this opportunity of acknowledging.

Five new articles have been added to the List of Drugs: two at the suggestion of Dr. Aitchison; namely, (1) Sugar, and (2) Kerosene Oil, which latter, owing to its extensive use for lighting purposes during the past few years, is now obtainable in nearly every bazaar in the country; the other three being the (3) Cinchona Febrifuge (Quinetum), (4) Petroleum, and (5) Rock Salt. The various ways in which these articles may be utilised in the treatment of disease will be found under their respective headings in the "Addenda," p. 171, et seq.

In addition to these there have been introduced notices of Indian Hemp (Gunjah) smoking in the treatment of Tetanus, of the antiscorbutic properties of Ámchur (dried Mangoes), the lactifuge powers of Sambac flowers (Jasminum Sambac), the emmenagogue virtues of Til or Jinjili Seeds (Sesamum Indicum), and other points unnoticed in previous editions. The therapeutic applications of Water are enlarged upon; as also are those of Carbolic Acid, especially in the treatment of Leprosy. The Sick Dietary has likewise been extended. Amongst the new matter has been introduced a section (pp. 268-272) detailing the "Precautions to be taken by persons residing in snake-infested localities."

By these and other additions (occupying upwards of thirty pages of new matter), and by the revision and modification of other passages, it is confidently hoped that the practical value of the work will be found to be materially increased. Indeed, it has been my earnest endeavour throughout to render this little volume as useful as possible, and if through its instrumentality suffering humanity be in any degree benefited my highest aspiration will be attained.

E. J. WARING.