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

133.

Dill Seeds.

The fruit of Anethum Sowa, Roxb.

Sóyah, Suvá (Hind., Punj.), Sóyí (Duk.), Sóí-biól (Kash.), Shulphá, Shonvá, Shóvá (Beng.), Shatta-kuppi-virai (Tam.), Shata-kuppi-víttulu (Tel.), Shata-kuftá (Mal.), Sab-basagi (Can.), Suvá-nu-bi (Guz.), Sada-kuppa, Sata-kuppi (Cing.), Samin (Burm.), Shatha-kupay, Adas pudus (Malay).

134. The Indian Dill Seed possesses no specific characters to distinguish it from the European article, for which it may be substituted. The Distilled Water, when procurable, is the best form, but in its absence an infusion of the bruised seeds, 3 drachms to half a pint of hot water, may be used; of this, when strained and cold, the dose for an infant is a dessert-spoonful or more, sweetened with a little sugar. It proves very effectual in relieving Abdominal Pain, Flatulence, and Colic in Children. Its efficacy is often much increased by the addition of a teaspoonful of lime water.

135.

Fish-liver Oil.

Mach-chí-ká-tél (Hind., Duk.), Machár-tail (Beng.), Mín-yenney (Tam.), Chépa-núne (Tel.), Mínnai, Malsyam-nai (Mal.), Míniná-yanne (Can.), Mo-solícha-téla (Mah.), Mín-tel, Mal-tel (Cing.), Miniak hati-yu putch (Malay).

136. Oil from the livers of the White Shark (Squalus Carcharias, Linn.), the Seir (Cybium Commersonii, Cuv. et Val.), and other fish, is now extensively prepared in various sea-coast towns of India. When properly made it is of a fine amber colour; the smell and taste are similar to Cod-liver Oil, but more strongly marked and more disagreeable. The great objection to its use is its nauseous taste, but this might probably, in a great measure, be obviated by extracting it by the process of boiling the fresh livers in water, instead of allowing them to undergo a degree of putrefaction before the process of extraction is commenced, as is the usual practice. As a medicinal agent it appears to be quite equal to Cod-liver Oil, for which it forms an excellent substitute; but where the stomach is very irritable, and the aversion to it unconquerable, it may be advisable to have recourse to the European imported article. "Turtle Oil," prepared from "turtles" (tortoises?) which abound in the Straits of Manaar, between India and Ceylon, has been proposed by Surgeon Y. Anthony Pillay (Madras Journal of Med. Science, March 1870), as a substitute for Cod-liver Oil, over which it has the advantage of being much cheaper. After two years' experience of it in dispensary practice he reported highly of its efficacy in that large class of scrofulous and anæmic cases in which fish-oil is indicated. Specimens of this oil sent to the Madras Medical Stores were pronounced unfit for medicinal use; but the principal storekeeper (Dr. F. Day) adds, "If this turtle oil were prepared from the animal after it had been well cleansed from all blood, and the straining properly carried out, an oil would probably be produced but little inferior to the present fish-oil." It seems well worthy of notice in the southern portion of the Peninsula, where it is procurable at very small cost.

137. Remarks on its Use.—a. The best time for administering the oil is immediately after or, to those who prefer it, during a solid meal. Taken on an empty stomach it is almost sure to nauseate. Patients who can take it at no other time will sometimes retain a dose if given the last thing before going to bed.