310 Toolsi تلسى.—“Ocimum Sanctum. (Roxb. MS.) Shrubby, hairy, branches four-sided, leaves ovate, oblong, serrated with margins, and petioles hairy; bractes petioled, ovate, cordate, ciliate, upper lip of the calyx round, cordate, and hairy, with corol twice its length. Its seed, Tookmi Rehan, H. of a mucilaginous nature.”
A common plant, about a yard high or more; its leaves small and longish, and serrated at the edges. The Hindoos consider it as very sacred, and worship it. It is a species of sweet basil (Raihan); bitter, pungent, hot, cardiac, and stomachic. It increases bile and general heat, cures Juzam, difficulty in making water, affections of the liver and blood.
311 Tumakoo تنباكو.—Nicotiana Tabacum, W. It is said in the Dara Shekoi, that it was first sown in India during the reign of Akber, or in the year of the Hidjera 1014, when it was imported from Europe, and sown by his order; now it is every where common, and is generally smoked. In the opinion of Hukeem Alli Gheelanee, it is hot and dry; its smoke from its heating quality confuses the ideas, and reduces the strength; from its discutient property, it weakens the brain, and depresses the spirits. Those who are of a cold, moist temperament, may derive benefit from its use, but those who are of equal temperament cannot use it with impunity. It is useful in piles the consequence of cold, also in waterbrash, and complaints of this nature; it promotes digestion and dissipates flatulent pains. It increases the strength of vision when it is weakened by the effects of cold, but adds to it when it has been caused by heat. In difficulty of breathing or pain in the chest, proceeding from an accumulation of viscid phlegm, it is very useful. It is prejudicial in thin spare habits; it shuts all the passages, decreases the power of the absorbents, and consequently prevents the absorption of chyle, thereby weakening the system, and drying up and emaciating the body. It produces hectic fever in the aged, and many other disorders in which medicine is useless. Its corrector, according to the author of the Dara Shekoi, is milk; and he gives this wise reason for it, that cloth stained with the smoke of tabacco can only be cleaned with milk. It is used in many ways, chewed, snuffed, smoked, &c. but is least prejudicial when smoked, after being mixed up with goor and preserves. I have by experience found it effectual in wind of the stomach, in pains produced by flatulence, and in the waterbrash; but have found it prejudicial to those labouring under depression of spirits, or who are subject to heartburns.
The dried plant brought from Surat is more drying than any other, and ought to be washed in rose-water or Bedemushk before use.
It is used by the Pytans as snuff: as a cephalic it strengthens the brain, and prevents the effects of indigestion on that organ, but it should not be used when people have weak eyes from heat. The author of the Ulfaz Udwiyeh says, that he had a friend who was blind, and that meeting him afterwards quite recovered, he was surprised to learn that his cure had been effected by his having smoked equal parts of tobacco and Sumhaloo; the women eat the Surat tobacco with pawn: and it increases digestion, and is discutient. It is beneficial in those temperaments which are cold and moist, and its juice is used for drying the vagina.
312 Tamaal تمال.—The Serroe tree. A tree resembling the Jhow, but much larger; in its properties resembling the Saul. It cures swellings, general heat, and blister.
313 Tym تيم.—A kind of fish, producing appetite and general strength.
314 Tamaalputtur تمال پتر.—A name for Teeridje. Some have called it the leaf of the Tamaal tree, and named it Serroe, while others have said that it was the leaf of the Sandal tree. It is therefore uncertain what it is.
315 Toon تون.—A kind of reed; its seed like the Benth; its flowers are used as a dye by the dyers of India, and are of a yellow color; cool, dry, astringent, producing wind, curing eruptions from an overflow of bile, also other eruptions of the skin and Juzam. A. Arheekun, but the author of the Topha says, that Arheekun is a name of the Isperuck, and that it is not like the Toon.
316 Toon تون.—“Cedrela Tuna,” W. See Sir W. Jones’s description, vol. 4. As. R. page 273. Powder of the bark and extract used in the cure of fever.