PREFACE TO THE SECOND EDITION.
Fourteen years have elapsed since this work, in an elementary form, was first issued for the use of the District Vaccinators of Travancore, whose sphere of action was far removed from regular medical aid. It was originally published in English and Tamil on opposite pages; subsequently it was reprinted in Tamil alone by the London Missionary Society's Press at Nagercoil, for the use of the catechists and others connected with that Mission. In 1868, a Malyalim translation, by Dresser Ramswammy Rajoo, was issued by the Travancore Government. From reports received from various quarters, there is reason to believe that the work has enjoyed a wide circulation amongst the people of Travancore and Tinnevelly, and that it has exercised a considerable influence on the practice of the native doctors of those districts.
Were I wise, I ought, perhaps, to rest satisfied with these results, which far exceed what were originally contemplated; but recent observation has convinced me that there are other classes scattered through our great Indian possessions to whom a work of the kind would prove most acceptable, by pointing out to them the agents—either purchasable in the bazaars at an almost nominal price, or procurable at the cost of collection, from the road-sides, waste places, or gardens in the immediate neighbourhood of almost every out-station—by means of which, with the exercise of ordinary intelligence, they may often be enabled to relieve the sufferings of those amongst whom their lot has been cast.
And at the head of these classes stand the Missionaries, whose stations, for the most part, are too far removed from the busy haunts of men to allow of their calling in regular medical aid in cases of sickness, and who are consequently thrown, at such times, very much on their own resources. Many of the missionaries have under their charge large establishments of catechists, pupils, &c.; and it cannot be otherwise than highly desirable that they should be put in possession of any information regarding the available means of relieving the sufferings, and treating the diseases, of those placed under their care. This is not the place to enter into a disquisition on missionary work, but I cannot refrain from expressing my firm conviction that the more the principle of Medical Missions—making Religion and Medicine go hand in hand—is carried out, the greater, humanly speaking, will be the success of missionary efforts. How many a door for the admission of Gospel truth, which would otherwise be shut, would be opened, and that readily, to one who, with "the glad tidings of great joy" in the one hand, would bring in the other the means of relieving physical suffering and curing bodily disease! The highest distinction that I would claim for this little work is, that it may constitute, as far as India is concerned, a Missionaries' Medical Vade Mecum.
Next on the rôle comes a large army of European and Anglo-Indian officials, whether within the magic circle of "the Service" or beyond its pale, who are attached to the Public Works, Forests, Railway, Telegraph, or other Departments, or employed in Tea, Coffee, or Cotton plantations, in commercial pursuits, &c., many of them married men, with families and a large number of dependants, the majority at distant "up-country stations," miles away from medical aid; how important for persons under such circumstances to possess a knowledge of the means lying (literally so in many instances) at their very feet, by which pain and suffering may be alleviated, and, perhaps, a valuable life saved.
Lastly, but by no means least, either in point of numbers or importance, comes the daily increasing array of educated Natives, who, as a class, readily avail themselves of every scrap of knowledge drawn from trustworthy European sources, which tends to throw light on the products and resources of their native land. Whilst, on the one hand, I am perfectly prepared to admit that much of the knowledge I possess of the properties and uses of Indian drugs has been derived from Native sources, I think I may, on the other hand, without presumption, claim the credit of repaying the debt with interest, furnishing in return a considerable amount of information on the uses of even the same drugs, of which the Natives themselves had previously no idea. It is to this class that I venture to think this little work will prove most useful and acceptable.
In addition to the above, I venture to hope that to even duly qualified Medical Officers, especially at up-country stations, a work like the present may prove serviceable on emergencies, e.g., a failure of the supply of European drugs, &c., by showing them what resources they have at command in the bazaars or in their immediate neighbourhood, by means of which many a gap may be stopped till more efficient remedies are available.
In undertaking a Second Edition of this work, I have been further influenced by a desire to render its scope and contents more complete. With more extended knowledge on my part, drawn partly from subsequent personal experience in the use of Indian drugs, and partly from the Reports received from Medical Officers during the preparation of the Pharmacopœia of India, I realised how imperfect the original work was; and feeling myself in a position to add much information which would tend to increase its usefulness, I determined upon issuing another edition. The whole work has accordingly been rewritten and greatly enlarged.
It was evidently quite out of the question, in a small work like the present, to include the host of medicines included under the general headings of "Bazaar Medicines" and "Common Medical Plants of India," but from them I have made a selection of about 80, comprising—1 Antacid, 8 Astringents, 3 Antispasmodics, 2 Antiscorbutics, 6 Antiperiodics, 5 Demulcents and Emollients, 4 Diaphoretics or Sudorifics, 4 Diuretics, 3 Expectorants, 2 Emmenagogues, 4 Emetics, 6 Purgatives, 3 Narcotics or Sedatives, 5 Refrigerants, 9 Stomachics or Carminatives, 7 Bitter Tonics, 5 Alterative Tonics or Alteratives, 2 Metallic Tonics, 7 Local and 4 General Stimulants, 2 Vesicants, or Blistering Agents, 6 Vermifuges, and 17 Miscellaneous Articles, not included in the above classes.
In making this selection I have been guided by the following principles:—1. By the safety of the drug; hence Arsenic, Aconite Root (Bish), Nux Vomica, Indian Hemp, and some other powerful medicines have been omitted, as it was felt to be inadvisable, in a work like the present, to introduce agents which, in the hands of unprofessional persons, might do more harm than good if employed in unsuitable cases. Where, however, a powerful drug, e.g., Opium, has been admitted, minute directions as to its employment have been given. 2. By the acknowledged utility or efficacy of the drug as proved by European experience. 3. By the drug possessing a generally well-known, recognised native name. 4. By its wide distribution and easy procurability in all parts, and in all the bazaars of India generally. It is hoped that by the addition of the native names and descriptions of the drugs (which were omitted in the First Edition), even a new-comer will have little difficulty in obtaining and recognising any particular article he may require.
With this native "Apparatus Medicaminum" very much may be accomplished under ordinary circumstances, in the way of relieving suffering and curing disease; but it must be admitted that there are certain articles included under the class "European Medicines" for which the Indian bazaars supply no adequate substitutes. I have therefore (in Appendix E) added a list of nine drugs which it appears desirable should be kept in store. They are—1. Sulphate of Quinine; 2. Ipecacuanha; 3. Smyrna or Turkey Opium; 4. Calomel; 5. Acetate of Lead; 6. Santonin; 7. Liquor Ammoniæ; 8. Blistering Fluid; and 9. Carbolic Acid.[1] No attempt has been made in the body of the work to enter into a description of the properties and uses of these drugs generally (with the exception of Opium), but in the Synopsis or Index of Diseases (Part II.) it has been pointed out how these valuable agents may be utilised in the most efficient manner. It is believed that, by adopting this course, the practical utility of the work will be greatly enhanced.
Attention is particularly directed to the Synopsis or Index of Diseases in Part II.; it is not pretended that the modes of treatment therein detailed are the best which could be adopted; the object has rather been to show how much good may be effected by the simple means at command at almost every "upcountry station" throughout India; and those who follow the directions may feel assured, that with the exercise of ordinary prudence, if they fail to do good they will at any rate do no harm.
London, 1874.
[1] To these Bromide of Potassium and Biniodide of Mercury have since been added.