157. In Headache a Ginger plaister, made by bruising Ginger with a little water to the consistence of a poultice, applied to the forehead, affords in many instances much relief. Toothache and Faceache are sometimes relieved by the same application to the face.
158. Relaxed Sore Throat, Hoarseness, and Loss of Voice, are sometimes benefited by chewing a piece of Ginger so as to produce a copious flow of saliva.
159.
Gurjun Balsam, or Wood Oil.
The balsamic exudation of Dipterocarpus lævis, Ham.
Garjan-ká-tél (Hind.), Gorjon-tail (Beng.), Hora-tel (Cing.), Kanyen-si (Burm.).
160. Gurjun Balsam, or Wood Oil, is a transparent liquid of the consistence of olive oil, lighter than water, of a dark-brown sherry colour, with an odour and taste resembling Copaiba, but less powerful. It has been used as a substitute for this latter drug in the treatment of Gonorrhœa, and trials with it in the hands of Europeans have shown that it is a remedy of no mean value in this affection. It is only advisable in the advanced stages, or when the disease has degenerated into Gleet. In the latter affection it is stated to prove most useful. It is also well worthy of a trial in Leucorrhœa and other Vaginal Discharges. The dose is about a teaspoonful twice or thrice daily, given floating on Omum or other aromatic water, or made into an emulsion with lime water. It is apt occasionally to produce an eruption on the skin similar to that which, in some instances, follows the use of Copaiba.
161. In Leprosy the use of Gurjun Balsam was introduced in 1873 by Surgeon-Major J. Dougall, and the reported success of the remedy gave rise to sanguine anticipations that a specific for this disease had at last been discovered. Although subsequent experience proved this hope to be fallacious, yet the lessons imparted by Dr. Dougall's treatment are far from unimportant. His treatment consisted in the internal and external use of the Balsam: for the former purpose it was given in two-drachm doses, with lime-water, twice daily; for the latter, in the form of ointment composed of 1 part of the Balsam and 3 of lime-water, which was directed to be thoroughly and perseveringly rubbed in over the whole body for two hours a day by the patient himself, as far as practicable. This was insisted upon not only for the sake of the action of the ointment on the skin, but because it was considered that any gentle employment conjoined with exercise was likely to prove beneficial both physically and mentally. Under this treatment (no change having been made in the diet) Dr. Dougall obtained signal and manifest improvement in numerous cases; but this was unhappily found to be of only a temporary character, the discontinuance of the remedy being in all cases followed by a relapse. Still further to test this treatment, Dr. A. H. Hilson (Indian Ann. of Med. Sci., Jan. 1877) instituted two sets of trials on leprous subjects (12 of each group), treated respectively by Gurjun Balsam, used externally and internally on Dr. Dougall's system, and by the ordinary Til (Sesamum) or Sweet Oil of the bazaars, used externally only. The results which he arrived at are as follows: 1. That the application of Gurjun oil removes the local manifestations of leprosy to a great extent. 2. That it has no specific influence over the constitutional taint or leprous cachexia. 3. That ordinary Sweet Oil is equally efficacious as far as the local effect is concerned, and therefore it is not improbable that the benefit which patients experience from the application of Gurjun oil is due to the friction producing absorption of the deposits which are effused into the skin and cellular tissue during the course of the disease. Dr. Dougall may have failed in finding in Gurjun oil a specific in leprosy, but he has rendered important service in leading us to a knowledge of the vast benefits to be derived from diligent oleaginous frictions in its treatment; and, as he himself justly remarks, "even temporary improvement is worth striving after in such a disease."
161a.