9. The best form for medical purposes is a decoction prepared by boiling one ounce and a half of the bruised bark in a pint of water for ten minutes, and straining. Of this the dose is from one and a half to two ounces twice daily, or oftener in Chronic Diarrhœa, &c.; it is, however, chiefly employed as an external or local application—as an injection in Leucorrhœa and other Vaginal Discharges; as an enema in Piles and Prolapsus (descent) of the Anus, and as a gargle in Sore Throat, and in Sponginess and Ulceration of the Gums. In all these cases, however, it is generally used conjoined with alum and other agents.
10.
Acorus, or Sweet Flag Root.
The root stock or Acorus Calamus, Linn.
Bach or Vach (Hind., Duk.), Bach, Saféd Bach (Beng.), Warch (Punj.), Vá'í (Kash.), Vashambú (Tam.), Vasa, Vadaja (Tel.), Vash-anpa (Mal.), Bajé (Can.), Vékhanda (Mah.), Vaj, Vach (Guz.), Lene or Linhe (Burm.), Jaringowe (Malay).
11. This is one of the commonest of bazaar medicines, and generally procurable everywhere, of good quality, at a very small cost. It occurs in pieces of various lengths, about the thickness of the thumb, rather flattened, spongy, provided with numerous sheath-like, ringed appendages; odour peculiar and aromatic; taste, bitterish, warm and somewhat acrid. Till very recently it was included in the British Pharmacopœia. It well deserves a place in every Indian domestic medicine chest.
12. It is a tonic and stomachic of no small value, and is best given in the form of infusion: one ounce of the bruised root to half a pint of boiling water, in doses of a wine-glassful twice or thrice daily. Combined with Chiretta, it has been reported to cure Intermittent Fevers in natives, but though its power in this respect is doubtful, except, perhaps, in cases of the mildest description, yet in Convalescence after this and other forms of Fever, a mixture of equal parts of the infusion of Acorus and Chiretta (98) is as good a formula as can be employed. The same combination proves also most serviceable in Dyspepsia, especially when attended with much flatulence, in Loss of Appetite and Constitutional Debility.
13. In the Dysentery of Natives, and in that especially of Native Children, Dr. Evers (Indian Medical Gazette, Feb. 1, 1875) speaks very highly of Acorus given in decoction as follows: Take of the bruised root-stock two ounces, Coriander seed one drachm, Black Pepper half a drachm, Water one pint; boil down to about twelve ounces (or for about a quarter of an hour), and set aside to cool. The dose for an adult is a wine-glassful three times daily; for a child from one to three tea-spoonfuls, sweetened with sugar, two or three times a day. Astringents or Quinine (the latter when the disease is apparently of malarious origin) may be added if necessary. Dr. Evers found this decoction not only useful in Dysentery and Diarrhœa, but also in the Bronchitic Affections of Children. He considers it worthy of a more extended trial.
14. This root, especially when freshly collected, and retaining its full aroma, is reported, on good authority, to drive away fleas and other insects, a fact well to bear in mind in a sick room, as well as elsewhere.
15.