309. The root of this plant, common in gardens throughout India, is of great value as a means of raising a blister when other articles of the same class are not available. For this purpose take the fresh bark of the root and rub it into a paste with water and a little rice flour; spread this on a piece of rag and apply it to the surface; in about five minutes it begins to give pain, which increases in severity for about half an hour, when it may be removed; a rice poultice may then be applied over the part, and within twelve or eighteen hours a large uniform blister will be found to have formed. The fluid having being let out, it may be dressed with plantain leaf, in the usual way. The chief objection to the use of a Plumbago blister is the great pain it occasions, hence it should only be used when other blistering agents are not at hand, and a blister is an immediate necessity.
310.
Pomegranate Tree.
Punica Granatum, Linn.
Anár-ká-pér (Hind.), Anár-ká-jhár (Duk.), Dálimgásh (Beng.), Dháun (Kash.), Mádalai-chedi (Tam.), Dálimba, Dádima-chettu (Tel.), Mátalam-chetti (Mal.), Dálimbe-gidá (Can.), Dálimba-jhàda (Mah.), Dádam-nujháda (Guz.), Delun-gahá (Cing.), Salé-bin, or Talí-bin (Burm.), Dalima (Malay).
311. Two parts of the Pomegranate tree, common in gardens and elsewhere throughout India, are employed medicinally, viz., the Rind of the Fruit and the Bark of the Root or Root-Bark.
312. In Diarrhœa and the advanced stages of Dysentery, the rind of the fruit is a valuable astringent. It is best given in Decoction prepared by boiling in a covered vessel, 2 ounces of the bruised Dried Rind, and 2 drachms of bruised Cloves or Cinnamon in a pint of water for fifteen minutes and straining. Of this, when cold, the dose is 1½ ounces three or four times a day; in obstinate cases, five drops of Laudanum may be added to each dose. It is said to be especially useful in the Diarrhœa of Natives.
313. In Relaxed Sore Throat the above decoction, with the addition of a drachm of Alum to the pint, is a very useful gargle, and it also forms a good astringent injection in Vaginal Discharges; in these cases the cloves or cinnamon should be omitted.
314. For Tape Worm the Root-bark is a remedy of established value given as follows: Take of the fresh Bark sliced, 2 ounces: Water, 2 pints; boil to 1 pint and strain. Of this, two ounces should be taken fasting, early in the morning, and repeated every half-hour, until four doses have been taken. This should be followed by an aperient (1 ounce of Castor Oil), and the worm will generally be expelled within twelve hours.