Part 1

TRANSCRIBER'S NOTICE

The medical knowledge represented in this book is several centuries old. The publication of this book is for historical interest only, and is not to be construed as medical advice by Project Gutenberg or its volunteers. Medicinal plants should not be used without consulting a trained medical professional. Medical science has made considerable progress since this book was written. Recommendations or prescriptions have been superseded by better alternatives, or invalidated altogether. This book contains a number of prescriptions that are very dangerous.

THE

TALEEF SHEREEF,

OR

INDIAN MATERIA MEDICA;

TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL.

BY

GEORGE PLAYFAIR, Esq.

SUPERINTENDING SURGEON, BENGAL SERVICE.

PUBLISHED BY

The Medical and Physical Society of Calcutta.

Calcutta:

PRINTED AT THE BAPTIST MISSION PRESS, CIRCULAR ROAD. SOLD BY MESSRS. THACKER & CO. CALCUTTA; & BY MESSRS. PARBURY, ALLEN & CO. 1833.

TRANSLATOR'S PREFACE.

In the course of a practice of upwards of twenty-six years in India, I have often had occasion to regret, that I had no publication to guide me, in my wish to become acquainted with the properties of native medicines, which I had frequently seen, in the hands of the Physicians of Hindoostan, productive of the most beneficial effects in many diseases, for the cure of which our Pharmacopeia supplied no adequate remedy; and the few which I had an opportunity of becoming acquainted with, so far exceeded my expectations, that I determined to make a Translation of the present work, for my own gratification and future guidance.

Having finished the translation, I became convinced, that I should not have fulfilled the whole of my duty if I did not make it public; and ill calculated as I know myself for such an undertaking, I have ventured to offer it to the world, with all its imperfections.

Conscious, that the liberal minded will give me credit for the best of motives, I shall not dread criticism; and if it has the effect of inducing those more competent to the task to an inquiry into the properties of native medicines, my views will have been fully accomplished.

In writing the names of the different medicines, I have followed the Author's example, and have been guided solely by the pronunciation, without altering the sound given to the letters in English, and have not borrowed a single name from any work of Oriental literature. In this I may have acted wrong, but I did so from the conviction, that by this method, the names would be more familiar, and better understood, by the Natives in researches after the different drugs.

I have inserted as many of the systematic names as I could trace, both from Dr. Fleming's work, and those of others; but I regret, that I was not honored in the acquaintance of any Botanist who could have assisted me with more.

To the youth of the profession, I trust the work may be acceptable, by leading them to the knowledge, that such medicines are in existence; and my medical brethren of the higher grades may not deem further inquiry into the properties of native drugs beneath their notice.

To the profession at large, then, I beg leave to dedicate this Translation, with the hope, that they will make due allowance for all faults, and that some of the more experienced will favor us with another and better edition.

To my respected friends Messrs. Wilson and Twining, the profession is indebted, that this little work ever saw light; and though they are godfathers to none of its errors, yet without their encouragement and aid, it must have slumbered in oblivion, and remained as was intended, (after the failure of an attempt on the part of the translator,) a manual for his own private use.

GLOSSARY.

Acouta, Herpes. Aruk, Distilled liquid. Boolbul, Indian Nightingale. Badgola, Splenitis. Coir, Fibrous substance surrounding the Cocoanut. Daad, Impetigo. Dhats, Component parts of the human frame. Elaous, Disease of the Intestines. Introsusception. Fetuck, Hernia. Goor, Unrefined Sugar. Juzam, Black Leprosy. Jow, Barley. Junglie Chuha, The Forest Rat. Khoonadeer, Khoonazeer? Lupus, Cancer. Kunzeer, Cancer. Mootiabin, Total blindness, Gutta Serena. Naringee, The Orange. Nachoona, Opacity of the Cornea. Neela Totha, Sulphate of Copper. Nuffsoodum, HÊmoptysis. Pilau, Poolau, Dish made of meat and rice, seasoned with spices. Peshanee, The Forehead. Paddy, Rice in the husk. Panroque, Cold with Fever, also Jaundice. Peendie, A formula for females. Paan, A leaf, chewed by the Natives, with Catechu, Betel, and Lime. Raal, Gum Resin. Rajerogue, Carbuncle. Soonpat, Loss of sensation in parts of the body. Soorkhbad, Erythema.

THE TALEEF SHEREEF, OR INDIAN MATERIA MEDICA.

TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL, WITH ADDITIONS.

1 Am, Ambe, Anbe.--The Fruit, Mangifera Indica.

The produce of a large tree very common in Hindostan. The fruit is about the size of, and very much resembling in shape, a goat's kidney, and having the external appearance of an apple. When ripe, it sometimes retains the green color, but oftener becomes yellow, or red and yellow.

The virtues ascribed to this tree, are as follows:--The bruised leaves and young shoots applied to the hair, expedite its growth, and considerably darken its color.

The bark of the trunk of the tree, and of its roots, is cooling and astringent; the former powerfully so. The leaves are astringent, and promote digestion; their ashes styptic.

The young flowers are cool and drying; have a pleasant aromatic scent, and when taken internally, are cooling and astringent; recommended for the cure of chronic Gonorrhoea or Gleet, purulent expectoration, bilious foulness of the blood and boils. The young unripe fruit has much acidity, and is drying; moderately used, it increases all the animal secretions, and is beneficial in chronic affections of the liver; it promotes appetite, and is lithonthriptic. The fruit, when ripe, is sweet, cooling, mucilaginous and heavy, tending to allay thirst, and useful in nervous affections; strengthens the system, restores impaired appetite, (is said to moderate an increased secretion of bile,) and improves the complexion. The fruit is of various sizes, from a few drachms to a pound weight; but it is usually met with weighing about 4 ounces. It becomes acid about a month after the fall of the flower, in which state it is used as preserves, such as jellies, pickles, &c.; at this time, too, it is used as seasoning for Pilaus, and other dishes; for when the stone or kernel has become hard, it is no longer fit for these purposes. When the fruit has attained its full growth, and when nearly ripe, it is to be taken from the tree, and put into dry grass, straw, or the leaves of the Palass tree, and there allowed to become ripe; this process deprives it of all acidity, and also prevents the formation of a resinous gum, which it contracts when allowed to ripen on the tree, and which renders it too pungent to be eaten with relish.

The fruit is in perfection in the hot winds, and when the rains commence, it ripens very fast; before the cold weather it is usually out of season.

There are some trees that blossom the whole year, and some few that even produce fruit; but instances of this are very rare.

There is a variety of this tree on which the fruit is sweet from its first formation; this requires to be used early, otherwise it will in all probability become a prey to insects.

Some trees produce fruit only once in 4 years. In general, it produces fruit in abundance every second year, and less in the alternate year; some are even perfectly barren every alternate year.

There is a mode of manuring this tree, which it is said improves the flavour of the fruit greatly; this is mixing the juice of its fruit with milk, and pouring it over the roots. It is also said to be possible to communicate the flavor of any particular fruit to the mangoe, by its expressed juice being made use of, as an application to the roots of the tree.

The kernel of the mangoe, roasted, is pleasant to the taste, and grateful to the stomach; it is much recommended in laxities of the bowels, and strengthens the primÊ viÊ; water drank after having eat of this kernel, seems to possess a flavor peculiarly excellent. The usual mode of preparing them, is to allow them to remain exposed to the rains, till the shell shall have become decayed; by this process it is deprived of any heating or irritating property. Prepared in this manner, and kept a short time in lime juice, taken out, bruised and mixed with salt, fennel, &c, it is much extolled for strengthening the stomach, and promoting digestion.

If preserved for 3 years, pounded, and swallowed to the quantity of a tolah, with a little water, no medicine is preferable for strengthening bowels habitually lax.

In the acid state, the fruit is very prejudicial to those who have any disorders in their teeth, a cough, an affection of the chest, or who are subject to cholicky pain in the bowels, but very beneficial when used in irritable habits. The best method of using them is this. The acid unripe fruit, after the outer rind has been peeled off, is to be cut into thin slices, and infused for some hours in water; this water so impregnated, is to be drained off, mixed with a sufficient proportion of sugar, and used as sherbet. It produces a great relish for food, and is in other respects beneficial. The same effects are produced by the unripe fruit, being roasted and allowed to remain in water, as above mentioned. It is recommended in paralysis, from coup de vent. Many physicians have considered the mangoe to be of a cooling nature, but, in my opinion, it is heating in all its stages. The Yunani physicians have stated the ripe fruit to be hot in the 2d, and dry in the 3d degree.

Its virtues may be described in a few words. It strengthens the system, gives tone to the kidnies, restores impaired appetite, &c. It is aperient, improves the complexion, beneficial in piles, an useful deobstruent, braces and increases the bulk of the solids, and removes nervous affections. In some of these disorders I am inclined to doubt of its good effects, but such virtues are attributed to it. It is recommended, in order to prevent any bad effects from the fruit in its unripe state, that raisins be eaten with it. Hukeem Alwee Khan, a man of eminence in his profession in the reign of Mahommed Shah, says, that if ever this fruit disagreed with the system, it must have been eaten when unripe or green.

I had occasion to attend a gentleman of very high rank, who laboured under dropsy; I cured him of the disease, but 3 years afterwards, having eaten a large quantity of mangoes, the disease returned, and I have observed the same effects in other cases.

Hukeem Alli Mughphoor, physician, states, that influenced by the resemblance of the mangoe to the human kidney, he concluded that it must be beneficial in that organ, (disorders of;) he therefore prescribed it in a case of hectic fever, arising from diseased kidney, and completely cured the disease. In this I differ from him entirely; he must have mistaken the nature of the complaint, for a remedy given expressly for the cure of a disease in the kidney, could not, at the same time, have removed the fever, excepting appropriate medicines had been administered along with it!!

The best mangoes are those having a thin juice, sweet and free from fibres; and they ought to be cooled in water or in ice, especially during the hot weather. It is preferable to use the juice of the fruit without eating any of the fibrous parts; a neglect of this may produce various disorders, such as indigestion, cholicky pains, &c. It is very common to eat the expressed juice, mixed with sugar and other things, with rice, or with bread, but this is great imprudence; for in the most healthy subjects it may produce nausea, and general uneasiness.

Should any ill effects follow the use of the mangoe, milk, or the kernel of the fruit, will be found a corrector. My father's opinion is, that these are not the only remedies; for if it produces any heating effect, curdled milk will give relief, or even cold water, or acidulated sherbet, and he himself was always in the habit of using the Phalsa sherbet on these occasions.

Should cholic be produced, the Oil of Almonds or other sweet oils, will remove the complaint; and a diarrhoea is to be cured by the use of the kernel; and a swelling of the abdomen, by milk, in which a little ginger has been mixed; or even ginger by itself will have the effect

A substitute for mangoe, as a medicine, may be had in Chobe Cheenee.

In general, it will be adviseable to abstain from the use of the mangoe, till 2 or 3 showers of rain have fallen; but those of a cold phlegmatic or melancholic temperament do not require to be so particular.

Those for whose complaints mangoes have been recommended, have in a few months derived great benefit from their use, by eating them with camel's milk. There are many kinds of this fruit, and their names are as various; but the stronger the scent, the more effectual they are as a medicine. In Persian it is called Nugzuck.

2 Aramsheetul.--Pungent and cooling; useful in bilious and catarrhal complaints; also recommended in foulness of the blood.

3 Akaholie.--Vermifuge, also recommended in bilious and catarrhal disorders, in seminal weakness and gonorrhoea.

4 Adki.--Vide Arhir.

5 Anula. (nasal N.)--Or Amle, (Phyllanthus emblica, W. Murray IV. 127, Myrobolans.) The fruit round, like a plum. The tree like that of the tamarind, of a pleasant acid, and sweetish astringent taste. It is aperient, cooling, and drying; of great use in eruptions of the skin, arising from a redundance of bile. Other virtues ascribed to this fruit may be found in all Yunani works. It is also called Bidjee and Dhatri Phill, used by the natives for cleansing the hair.

6 Aru.--A variety of plum, much resembling the common sort, both in the tree and fruit; it however possesses more acidity, and is less easy of digestion.

7 Abi.--Pyrus Cidonia. The Quince; slightly astringent, and cool in a great degree; heavy and difficult of digestion, yet it is gently laxative and expectorant, and is recommended for strengthening the powers of virility. In Arabic Siffirjill, Persian Behi.

8 Aak.--Arug, Mudar, Asclepias gigantea. A milky shrub, very common all over India; its pod resembles a mangoe, but rather longer in proportion: when ripe it breaks, and is found filled with a white substance, resembling silk, to which the seeds are fixed. The leaves of the plant resemble the Dak, but are somewhat smaller: its height is generally from 1 to 1 1/2 yard; when its leaves or stalk are broken, a white milky liquid exudes. There are two kinds, white and red; both are purgatives, violently so. It is said to be beneficial in the following disorders. Foulness of the blood, bilious affections, Juzam, Psora, ZÊrbad, boils, cuticular eruptions, diseases of the liver, visceral obstructions, hÊmorrhoids, all internal diseases, dropsy and worms.

("Many and wonderful virtues are ascribed to this plant; but I must refer those who have faith in charms to the original Taleef Shereef, when their curiosity will be amply gratified." Translator.)

All the above virtues have been ascribed to this plant; my opinion is, that the application of the leaves is useful in swellings, promotes suppuration in indolent tumors, and cures eruptions on the skin. The milk blisters, and if applied to the eye, it produces swelling, itchiness, and loss of vision. The powder of the root, mixed with goat's blood and fresh butter, and applied to the eye, is said materially to strengthen vision. In other works it is said, that the milk of every variety of this plant is poisonous, and violently cathartic.

9 Aal.--Vide Mujeet, Rubia, Madder, a wood used for dyeing a red color, and forming a principal article of commerce in some parts of India. In the "Dhara Shakoi" it is called Mujeet, but I suspect that they are different plants, as the Mujeet is thin, and of a fine red color; whereas the Aal is blackish, with a tinge of yellow, though not thicker than the other.

10 Aditt Bagut.--In Persian, Aftab Perust, Helianthus Annuus. The sun-flower; the name of a flower called also Soorujmookee. The stem grows straight about a man's height; the leaves are broad and triangular, the flower circular, flat and yellow, with serrated edges, and it is said to follow the sun in his diurnal progress. There are two kinds, a small and greater; their medical properties the same; they are bitter to the taste, and heating in a considerable degree. It is beneficial in cholicks, dropsical affections, foulness of stomach, and rheumatism; it also improves appetite, and promotes expectoration in cases of cold, accompanied by fever.

11 Area.--A culinary fruit resembling the cucumber, and grows in the rainy season; it is so cooling that it produces pains all over the body; it is moreover difficult of digestion, and if taken in any quantity produces fever.

12 Anwul (Nasal).--A large tree very common in India, which when in flower, has a very beautiful appearance; its flowers are yellow, resembling those of the Cassia. There are two kinds of this, one called Mahedi Anwul. Of this also there are two varieties. It is cooling, and the medicinal properties of all varieties are the same. It is used with good effect in bilious vomitings, and also in leprous affections of the skin. It is recommended in weakness of the eyes, asthma, affections of the chest, and foulness of blood. It strengthens the weak and emaciated, and braces the solids when relaxed by disease or otherwise.

13 Aruk.--This name is indiscriminately given to four different kinds of trees; Nowa, Cutel, Burhil and Taar.

14 Aloo (Bochara).--A kind of plum.

15 Abnoos (Ebony).--A large tree, producing a sweet fruit like grapes. Its leaves resemble those of the Sinobir, but are somewhat broader: it is an evergreen, and its wood is, when good and full-grown, dark-colored and durable; its leaves are smooth and glassy; its properties said to be very active and deleterious; it is heating in a considerable degree, and is said to be lithonthriptic. It dispels flatulency, and cures tympanites. It is recommended in chronic affections of the liver. Filings or raspings of the wood are styptic, and its charcoal more so; a decoction of the wood, in spirits, is very effectual in discussing scrophulous tumours, when externally applied.

The raspings of the wood, mixed with whites of eggs, is an excellent application to scalds and burns; they are also famed for cleaning deep foul ulcers, and inducing the growth of healthy granulation.

Taken internally, the dose is 10 1/2 Mashas, and should it disagree with the stomach, which it often does, honey, or Gum Arabic, with sweet basil, are correctors. The large Baer Tree, (Konar), is a good substitute for the Abnoos; quality, hot 3, dry 2. Persian Awnoos.

16 Anbihildee.--Curcuma zedoaria, (Rox.) Amomum Zed. Wildenow. An Indian root, hot and dry in the 2d degree; useful in herpes, and foulness of the blood, and much esteemed as an external application in wounds and bruises, for which it is also internally exhibited: orange juice used as a vehicle, corrects, in some degree, its heating quality; or if this be not procurable, Bapahic, or the seed of the Penwur, or Turmeric, will have the same effect; the medicine may be given to the quantity of 3 1/2 Masha.

17 Apurjeeta.--Clitoria ternatea, Crow's beak, a twining shrub. The natives call it Kowwa Thontee, which literally signifies crow's beak, also Neelisbund; the plant is about a foot and a half high, and sometimes less, resembling the Cungheiy, only the leaves of the latter are smooth and polished, while those of the former are rough and hard; both the Apurjeeta and the variety Neelisbund, are cooling. It is beneficial in weakness of sight, in clearing the voice and soreness of the throat, and is useful in the poisonous bites of leeches. It is also of use in rheumatic affections of the joints, Juzam, bilious disorders, mucous discharge from the lungs or bowels; it allays general heat, and is said to be an antidote to certain poisonous substances, and of great efficacy in hard indolent tumours, and affections of the skin.

18 Abruc.--Talc, A fossil substance, beneficial in seminal weakness, redundance of bile, mucus, &c. An antidote to poison. The physicians of Hindostan prepare it for use by calcination. Arabic, Tulk.

19 Abhea.--A name for Hurr; it also signifies the water of life, and a medicine called Guloe.

20 Aotungun.--A very common seed, resembling coriander. In powder it is recommended as giving strength to the system, and rendering Aphrodisie more permanent. It is a very favorite medicine in India. It is, moreover, useful in Nephritia and liver complaints, and it is very innocent in its operation. Some physicians describe it as hot and dry, in a considerable degree, and disagreeing with the stomach; they, therefore, recommend it to be taken with a proportion of sugar. In all its properties the Maadentezerrubad states the Bonphilly to be nearly the same; dose 4 1/4 Mashas.

21 Atees.--The root. Of this there are two kinds, a white and black, and both are very common. The white kind resembles the Jedwaar; the root is very irregular in thickness. It frequently is found resembling the white Bahmen. Both kinds are bitter, astringent, pungent, and heating; aiding digestion, useful in dysentery, vomiting, and piles.

22 Adjmode.--Bishop's Weed, Sisson Ammi, (Linn.) Amoos, (Arab.) Ajooan, (Hind.) Nemkha, P. Ajamodum, S. A hot seed, stomachic cordial and stimulant. (Ajmood, Parsley? Taylor. Apium Involucratum.) Apium Involucratum, Rox. M. S. "Sp. Ch. Annual, glaucous, villous, superior leaflets filiform, both general and partial, involucra, about 6 leaved." Bitter and pungent, light and heating, increases appetite, induces costiveness, and strengthens the vital energy; increases the seminal secretion, and removes pains and other disorders, the consequence of colds; beneficial in nausea, is vermifuge, relieves hiccup, and is useful in Dysuria, but it produces heat in the abdomen. It is called Curufs, but it is only a variety of this, and is something betwixt that and Aniseed, though this may be owing to the difference of cultivation.

23 Adjwain.--"Anise Seed. In Arabic, Aneesoon. Pimpinella Anisum, Linn.

"Ujwain. The seed of a plant of the Dill kind, Taylor. Ligusticum Adjwaen, Roxb. Sp. Ch. annual, erect, leaves super de compound, with filiform leaflets, ridges and furrows of the seeds distinct and scabrous. This is what is recommended to notice by Dr. Percival, under the name Ajava seed."

A species of the above, of which there are two kinds, one of which is called Juhar; both are bitter, pungent, and aromatic; it resembles the Ajmode, but is smaller, and has a strong aromatic scent. It assists digestion, improves appetite, is useful in rheumatism and catarrhal affections; is vermifuge, beneficial in dropsy, dispels flatulence, and is highly extolled in flatulent cholic. A. Nanchoa.

24 Adjwain. 25 Khorasanee. "Hyosciamus niger, Linn. Black Henbane. Narcotic. Corrector, Vinegar."

This plant grows thick from the root, and is covered with a hairy down. The seeds are contained within a hard thick shell, and the leaves are like those of the pomegranate flower. The pod is filled with seeds of a small irregular shape. There is a plant called Hulbeh, which resembles this, but is smaller. A. Buzurulbunje.