254.
Myrobalans, Chebulic.
The dried fruit of Terminalia Chebula, Retz.
Har, Harrá, Pilé-har (Hind.), Haldá, Harlá, Pílá-halrá (Duk.), Hárítakí, Hórá (Beng.), Zard halélá (Punj., Kash.), Kadú-káy (Tam.), Karakkáya (Tel.), Katukká (Mal.), Alale-káyi (Can.), Hiradá (Mah.), Harlé, Pílo-harlé (Guz.), Aralu (Cing.), Buah Kaduka (Malay).
255. Chebulic Myrobalans, met with in all the bazaars of India, are of an ovoid shape, about an inch in length, sometimes tapering towards the lower extremity, round or obscurely five- or six-sided, more or less furrowed longitudinally, smooth, of a yellowish brown colour, and astringent taste.
256. Myrobalans is a safe and effective aperient, and given to natives in the following form, has been found to act very satisfactorily: Take of Myrobalans bruised 6, Cinnamon or Cloves bruised 1 drachm, Water or Milk 4 ounces; boil for ten minutes, strain, and set aside till cold. This quantity taken at a draught generally produces on an adult native three or four copious stools without griping, vomiting, or other ill effects. Youths from twelve to fourteen years require only half the above quantity, or even less. For infants and young children Castor Oil or Senna is preferable as an aperient. It is well adapted for ordinary cases of Constipation occurring in Natives and in other states where aperients are required.
257. Chronic Ulcerations, Ulcerated Wounds, and many Skin Diseases attended with profuse discharge, often manifestly improve under the use of an ointment composed of equal parts of dried Myrobalans and Catechu, both finely powdered, and sufficient ghee or some bland oil to make them into a thick paste: this, spread on a rag, should be applied to the part, and renewed twice daily.
257a. Mr. W. Martindale, chemist, of New Cavendish Street, London, has forwarded to me a preparation of another kind of Myrobalans, Emblic Myrobalans, the fresh fruit of Phyllanthus Emblica (Linn.), a common Indian tree, preserved in sugar. The pulp, which has an agreeable taste, is stated by Mr. M. to possess purgative properties in doses of one or two of the preserved fruit. Commenting on this preparation it is stated in the British Medical Journal (July 29, 1882, p. 173): "We have tried it carefully in several cases of habitual constipation, and have no doubt it is a valuable addition to our list of laxatives.... It may be eaten at dinner or dessert, and it would be absurd to regard it as a medicine. It is most valuable for children." It should be added that it is only in the fresh state that it possesses aperient properties; in the dried state, as they are commonly met with in Indian bazaars, they are astringent, containing a large proportion of gallic acid. Their ordinary vernacular names are Ánvulá, Ánvurah (Hind.), Ámlá Ánlá (Beng.), Nelli-kay, Tóppi (Tam.), Ámala-kamu (Tel.), Nelli-káyi (Can., Mal.), Avalá (Mah.), Nelli, Nellika (Cing.), Zíphiyu-sí (Burm.).
258.