266 Beedjbund بيج بند.—(From the Maadentezerrabad.) A medicine of India, red and black; its seed resembles that of the onion, red and shining; the red kind is to be preferred. It is aphrodisiac, increases seminal secretion, strengthens the back and loins. It is cool and dry, flatulent and difficult of digestion; its corrector is sugar; its sucoedaneum, the seed of the Antungun. The dose is one miskal with equal parts of sugar.
267 Benth بينة.—“Calamus Rotang.” Of this there are many kinds; one kind called Toæikam, another Jillbenth, a fourth Itchill; the whole four are cool and cure swellings, piles, pains in the uterus, boils, eruptions, acne, difficulty in voiding urine, are lithonthriptic, useful in affections of wind and mucus, also foulness of blood. Jillbenth is astringent and flatulent, and Itchill is an antidote to poison.
268 Peetul پيتل.—(Brass.) P. Bering. It is not an original metal, but a composition. In its properties it is equally cool, hot, and dry; it cures disorders of wind, phlegm, jaundice, and affections of the spleen. A kind of this is called Sonepeetul.
269 Peepul پيپل.—“Ficus Religiosa.” A tree of India, very large and common; the young leaves are green, but when well formed become yellowish; it is cool; cures disorders of bile, phlegm, and blood; is useful in boils and eruptions. The bark of the tree is aphrodisiac, strengthens the loins, and restrains watery discharge from the urethra; and this I have found from experience. Some say, this is called in P. Lirzan. Its fruit is about twice the size of the Phaìsa. It tastes like the fig. It is called Peepulie, and is when ripe of a yellowish color. In the Maadentezerrabad, it is thus mentioned. “The Peepul tree in Persian is called Lirzan; in the opinion of the inhabitants of India, cool and dry. Its fruit diminishes the secretion of bile, promotes digestion, relaxes the bowels; and if the bark be infused in water and applied to boils, it will hasten suppuration and promote the discharge of the matter; if the bark be burnt and thrown into water, it will quickly purify it.”
270 Bale بيل.—A name for Raebale; cool and light; cures disorders of phlegm, and is an antidote to poisons.
271 Baele بيل.—“Called also Byll, Cratœva, or Ægle Marmelos; Wood Apple.” The name of a fruit which grows like the quince; its seeds are larger than those of the Ryhan. I have seen the tree, it is like the Bukaen; its leaves very soft and tender, broad and long, somewhat like the Moong: on each small sprig it has three leaves. Some have said that it was originally wild, but subsequently brought into our gardens; that which is now in gardens is larger than that which grows uncultivated. The fruit is hollowed out and used as snuff-boxes, and for several other purposes. It is a very common tree in India; it is bitter, astringent, and a little sweetish, hot, and moist; when ripe it is heavy, producing phlegm, bile, and wind, causing heat of stomach, and is difficult of digestion. It destroys appetite and induces costiveness; but unripe it is light, strengthens the circulation, and the whole body; induces costiveness; increases appetite, hastens digestion, and cures disorders of wind and phlegm. I have given it with other medicines for the cure of diarrhœa with good effect. “And in dysentery, a table-spoonful of the pulp, made into sherbet, and taken several times a day, has been effectual.”
272 Peeloo پيلو.—“Salvadora Persica.” “Careya Arborea,” (Roxb.) The Indian name for this, Araak. It is a wild growing shrub, about the height of a long spear, (8 feet,) with many branches; it is broad and round in its general appearances; its leaves thin, and about ½ an inch long. The fruit is called Peel or Peeludj; it is hot, light, and aperient; promotes appetite, cures Badgola, piles, affections of the spleen and wind; is lithonthriptic; useful in disorders of the blood; it produces bile, and in all favorite formulæ, it forms an ingredient. The fruit is also called Jhal; it is bitter, laxative, lessens phlegm, general heat, Juzam, fever, and worms. The wood of the Peeloo used as a tooth-brush, is excellent for preserving the gums.
273 Peoke پيوک, or Peossie.—The first milk given by any animal after the birth of its young. A. Lubba. It increases the bulk of the solids, and inclination towards aphrodisia, but it causes hiccough, and the formation of stone in the bladder, and is difficult of digestion; its corrector is sweetmeats.
274 Peease پياز پياس.—“Allium Cepa. Agnon, F. Swiebel, G. Cipolla, I. Pallandoo, S. Onion.” A. Bosool. Pungent, and during digestion sweet; hot in a small degree, and in its effects resembling Garlic. It increases mucus, removes disorders of wind, and hydrocele. There is a smaller sort, called Karinjun, which increases bile, produces costiveness, and cures piles. There is a third kind, which when dried is white, and is recommended to be kept in any house to prevent the approach of snakes or any venomous reptiles.
275 Peeplamool پيپل مول.—The name given to the root of the Peepul tree, but some give the name to the whole tree, and some give the name to the fibres of the root of any tree; but judging from the name, I conceive it to be what I have just stated. Mool being root, and Peepul must indicate the kind of root. The idiom is Indian, and I think must be correct. It is bitter and pungent, dry and stomachic; promotes digestion, cures disorders of wind and phlegm, but impairs the eye-sight and seminal secretions.