Part 10

583 Sungtirra.--The author of the Ayeen Akberry calls it Sontirra. A fruit of India of great esteem; it is of a yellowish red color, in shape like the apple, but larger. Its rind is fine, soft, and smooth, like the Sylhet orange, which it in all respects much resembles. It is large, sweet, and acid. There are different names for the different kinds of oranges, but this is the largest and best. It is in my opinion cool, cardiac, drying; allays heat and thirst, and prevents the ill effects of wind, loosens phlegm and bile, strengthens the stomach; is very grateful when ate with sugar; and its acid is less hurtful than many others. I have known a man of a bilious temperament, who told me that he always found relief from the use of this orange. The emperor was in the habit of eating it in Pilaus, when sweetened with sugar and rose-water, and thus used, he called it Rahut Jahn. It is thus rendered more cooling and more grateful to the taste. He also ate it when cooled in ice, and found it useful in giving tone to the stomach. The people of India use it with their food. If ate after having been sprinkled with a little salt, its acid will have less effect on the teeth, mouth, and throat; this however, can only be necessary when unripe or not of the best kind. "Many more trivial properties are ascribed to this orange in the original, which would only be waste of time and paper to record."--Trans. It is said to be hurtful in coughs, and colds.

584 Singhara.--"Trapa natuns." "Trapa Bispinosa." A common triangular water-nut, like the hermodactyls; it is the produce of ponds or reservoirs of water. When green and unripe, it is pleasantest to the taste; when ripe, it becomes hard, and when dried, more so; it is much employed in aphrodisiac formulÊ. It is sweet, cool, and heavy; cures bilious disorders, and those of blood; removes heat of the body, restrains laxities in the bowels, and increases semen. It is generally liked and universally eaten.

585 Sindoorie.--A name for Sud· Soh·gun.

586 Sunkaholie.--A small plant, with very thin branches like common grass; its leaves are very small; it is a creeper on the ground; its flower white and small, and looks very beautiful in the evenings or in moonlight nights. It is astringent, hot, and moist; aperient and aphrodisiac; increases memory, understanding, and perception, and likewise discrimination; cures seminal weakness, and forms an ingredient in all favorite formulÊ; cures gonorrhoea; and I have often used the bark of its root as an aphrodisiac and for increasing the consistence of semen. Some have called this Soorch.

587 Sunn.--"Crotalaria Juncea." A plant, the bark of which is used as hemp; it is usually sown around cotton fields. It is of two kinds, the second called Rasni. It is pungent and acid, and its leaves are used as a culinary vegetable; it is cool, heavy, and astringent. Its flower is used as an astringent in lochial discharge.

588 Sunkh.--A white shell of a very large size; cool, light; strengthens the eye-sight, cures mucous disorders, and those of bile and blood. A. Hulzoom. There is a small kind called Cowrie; if this be burnt and calcined, it will quickly dry up sores by being sprinkled over them.

589 Sebaloo.--or Sebalie, or Nindee, see N. Vitex Trifolia.

590 Sindoor.--The red oxide of lead, used externally. "Sindoora, S." Hot; cures acne and Juzam, and disorders of poison, boils, and eruptions; clears wounds; promotes the junction of broken bones. The ointment of this is very excellent in sores. The receipt is to be found in many other works.

591 Soomboolkhar.--"The white Oxide of Arsenic." It is white and like alum in color; it ought to be chosen thus: when rubbed on a crow's feather and put over the fire, if it does not smoke, and the feather becomes white, it is good. A. Toorabalhalik. There are six kinds of this, one named Sunkia, the third Godunta, the fourth Darma, the fifth Huldia; but each will be noticed under its own proper head. The Yunani physicians do not allow this to form a part of their prescriptions, as they believe it destroys the vital principle; and such medicines as are deleterious in their effects, such as opium, they always exhibit with correctors, for this reason such remedies are seldom noticed or used by them. The physicians of India, on the contrary, find these drugs more effectual in many disorders than others of less power, and such the calx of metals. For this reason too, I am in the habit of seldom giving these remedies internally, but I usually confine my use of them to external application, and as aphrodisiacs, which I prescribe to a few friends, who may have derived no benefit from Yunani prescriptions. It is better, however, to use as few of them as possible. The sixth kind is Hurtaal.

592 Sunkia.--A kind of arsenic.

593 Sunkhal.--A species of Bindaloo.

594 Sungjerahut.--It obtains its name from being useful in wounds. Throughout India it is also known by the name of Sungderaz. It is a stone of very soft consistence; cool and light; beneficial in fever, bile, asthma, pains in the chest, flatulence, and laxities in the bowels; and when used in ointment, dries up ulcerated parts, removes pain, and acts as an absorbent in the stomach and bowels. I have found it by experience to be extremely useful in the before-mentioned complaints, also in diarrhoea; in Hindostan it is called Surkoola.

595 Sungjoothka.--A name for Jui; having a white flower.

596 Soorinjoothka.--Also a name for the above; having a yellow flower.

597 Sonamukie.--A name for Marka sheesha. "Marcasite stone."

598 Sooroon.--A kind of Baharkund, called Zemeekund. A root, resembling a turtle, used in India as pickles; it is dressed with meat, and also used by itself; it is dry, light, and stomachic; useful in disorders of phlegm and piles; it produces eruptions from diffusion of bile, and some have called it difficult of digestion. Those who are in a reduced state, or have weak stomachs, had better not eat more than 20 direms. To my knowledge, it is much used in piles; it is said to be beneficial in cholics and pains in the bowels. It increases bile; and is hurtful in disorders of blood; it is also injurious to the throat. Its correctors are fresh dhaie, and being parboiled in water and the water changed. It may also be corrected by being boiled with tamarind or anula leaves. Enclosed in clay and roasted in an oven, the outer rind pulled off, it will be found less hurtful; in any other manner it irritates the throat. If used in powder, it must be skinned and dried in the shade; one kind of it is white inside, and of a purple color externally. A third is white on both sides; the former is the strongest: it is also named Soorunsona.

599 Soombullie.--Pungent and bitter, cures disorders of wind and mucus, and is an ingredient in favorite formulÊ.

600 Soos.--"The Porpus Delphinus." Its flesh is moist and heavy, cures disorders of wind, and increases semen and mucus. P. KhookmaiÈ. A. Delphine. The author of the Echtyarat has described this as a large fish of a black color, with a head like that of the hog.

601 Suer.--See Kual.

602 Suwa.--Its flesh is cool, dry, light, and astringents; useful in bruises; cures phlegm, cough, and hectic fever. A. Begha.

603 Soopee.--Any kind of fried pea, deprived of its shell.

604 Sona.--A precious metal; cool, heavy, and aphrodisiac; beneficial as an antidote to poisons, and in repressing the three secretions; used in mania, fever, and dryness; clears the complexion, and is an ingredient in all favorite formulÊ. When prepared for use, it is called Mirganick.

605 Somph.--"Aniseed, Pimpinella Anisum." One kind of it is called Seethka, the other Sowa; the former means the largest kind; both are bitter, sweet, hot, and light; improves appetite; cure affections of wind and mucus; useful in cholic, boils, eruptions, and all disorders of the eyes, and increases bile. One kind, the latter, is used for disorders of females. A. Razeena. P. Valanbuzury.

606 Sonth.--"Amomum Zingiber." The dried root; moist and light; sweet during digestion, and hot; promotes appetite and digestion; allays vomiting, cures difficulty of breathing, cough, itch, affections of the heart, swellings of the scrotum, and swellings in general; rheumatic pains in the joints, pains of the urinary bladder, piles, and flatulence, and clears the voice. Pills made of Sonth are very generally beneficial, and the result of my experience I have published at full in my other works.

607 Sowa.--A. Shibbet. P. Wallankhoord. Hot, dry, and aperient; its smell soporific; its leaves hurtful to the stomach. The seed Dill. Anethum Sowa, Roxb.

608 Soonchur.--A name for the salt Soonchur, also Soonchill.

609 Soorjemooki.--A name for Adittbaqut. "Helianthus Annuus."

610 Sooderie.--Its smell is strong and penetrating, like an animal in the rutting season; pungent and hot; beneficial in wind and fever, and clears the voice; the black kind is used in various formulÊ.

611 Soubustanee.--A name for Valanchoord.

612 Sooe Junglie.--A name for Pitpapra.

613 Soonkullie.--A shrub hurtful to animals.

614 Sowall.--A name for Thaleeb. Cool; improves the color of the skin; cures remittents, and a little of it introduced into the parts of both sexes, useful in gonorrhoea.

615 Soorudjjhall--A name for Lootooperie.

616 Sohora.--Cures affections of blood and mucus, and restrains laxities of the bowels.

617 Sahunserbede.--A soft stone, of a dark-red color; cool and dry in the second degree; used by Indian physicians in disorders of blood, in laxatives from indigestion, acne, boils, psora, and infantile eruptions; given with milk or butter to the quantity from two to four soorkhs.

618 Sohunjena.--or Sahinjena, or Sajena, or Sekir. "Hyperanthera morunga, W. Sobhanjana, S. Guilandina moringa. The root of the tree scraped exactly resembles horse-radish, and is used as such in all parts of India. It is a rubifacient, and useful as a stimulant." A tree common in India; hot and light; useful in disorders of the eyes; creates appetite; restrains diarrhoea, cures disorders of wind, mucus, acne, and swellings of the body, affections of the spleen, boils, and eruptions, and cleanses the blood. It is of three kinds; the second kind, which is red, is said to be aperient and astringent; in other properties the same. Its flower is heavy and astringent; cures disorders of mucus, swellings of the body, and increases the wind. The people of India use its flowers as a pickle in oil, and my father used to recommend this pickle to those of a cold temperament, but it is prejudicial to the eyes; it is thus prepared:

The flowers are put into water for a day, and washed; a little mustard seed added, and the whole put into serson oil. This pickle is less hot than the plant. Pickle made from the root, removes wind; the leaves bruised and applied to ulcers, cleans and heals them.

619 Sahidei.--A plant about half a yard in height; its leaves like the Toolsi, cool and moist; useful in suppressed wind, fever, pains in the limbs, swellings of the throat; its use increases the complexion and volume of blood. It is used for killing mercury.

620 Sohaga.--A name for Tunkhar.

621 Sembill.--"Bombax Heptaphyllum. Silk-cotton Tree." A large tree of India; its leaves like the Jamin, but broader and more long, about half the breadth of the peepul and twice the length; in thickness, color, and mark, the same. Its flowers resemble the Bukaen when small, but when more advanced, it becomes more like the goolur, and when full grown, the flowers are as large as a large lime. It then spreads and becomes red; after this it again closes; the flower then falls, and leaves the seed vessel. The capsule is twice as large as that of the Mudar, and when ripe, is filled with cotton. I have ate of the flower when at its middle growth, and found it pleasant to the taste, but it produces flatulence. It is cool and aphrodisiac; induces corpulence; is astringent, and cures boils and eruptions, Juzam, and disorders of the blood and bile: some call its gum Moocherus, the author of the Topha for instance; but Moocherus is the gum or flower of the Phoopul tree. In the opinion of the physicians of India, the Sembill is a powerful medicine as an aphrodisiac. If the juice of the root be made into sherbet with equal part of sugar, it will increase age by restoring the vital energy, increase understanding and semen; the larger and older the tree, and the thicker the root, the greater its strength as a medicine. The small roots are cut into slices, dried on a rope, and sold; in this state, it resembles Bhamun Soorkh.

Ascetics have said, that the perpendicular root of a large full grown Sembill tree, cut in pieces, dried and reduced to a powder is powerfully aphrodisiac, in the quantity of 4 direms daily. I have taken this powder to the quantity of one tolah with sugar, and have also prescribed it with advantage; it strengthens the stomach, and is gently laxative. If given with honey, I conceive that its virtues will be increased. The author of the celebrated work Ahmed Ben Shirazee has told the following story, which I shall relate as nearly as may be in his own words. "I was," says he, "on a journey, when coming to a village in India, and being very thirsty, I met an old man from whom I requested water to drink; I observed that this old man had a peculiarly healthy appearance, and seemed plump and stout; he had a young woman with him, whom he sent to his house for water, and who brought it me to drink. I then asked him whether that young girl was his daughter; he laughing answered that she was his wife, and that he had three others equally young. I was somewhat surprised at this, and asked him if this was not too many for him; he replied no! More and more astonished, I asked him if this was really the case; he avowed it to be so. I then questioned him how he came to be endowed with so much strength, and how old he was; he told me that his age was 110 years, and related the following facts: That when 50 years' old he had already become aged and feeble, and was so much decayed in constitution, that he seldom rose from his bed, and when he did so, was obliged to support himself on a crutch. That a fakeer passing that way observed his feeble state, and feeling compassion for his helpless situation, asked him what ailed him: he replied, nothing; but that old age had come upon him. The fakeer then gave him a medicine which he had taken ever since, with an injunction to abstain from all acids: this he had done, and that the effect was such as I saw. He likewise told me that he had a son nearly 80 years of age, who had also used the fakeer's prescription, and who was much stouter and more healthy in every respect than he.

"Astonished at this relation, I procured the receipt, and thus hand it down to posterity.

"Take the white roots of a full grown, healthy Sembill tree, which is soft; cut them in pieces, dry them in the shade, and reduce them to a powder: sift it very fine, with equal parts of sugar, and over the fire, form it into an electuary: of this 5 direms are to be eaten daily, and no acid to be used.

"To this the old man swore, and brought his son and introduced him to me to prove the truth of his story. The son corroborated the assertion of his father, and added that he had ate the remedy only two years, when he became as he then was; certain it is, he had not a grey hair in his head."

622 Semb.--also SÈme. A common creeper; its leaves very green and small, broad in the centre and pointed: a smaller leaf rising from the same part of the stem; its flower is small and of a yellowish color. Its seed is like the pistachio nut, but more broad and longer in some degree, like the stone of the tamarind; it is called B·kl· Hindui; it is cool, astringent, flatulent, and from its astringency strengthens the stomach; is aphrodisiac; cures bilious disorders; increases mucus, and the Hindoos have recommended it for the cure of wind; but in this I do not concur, as it is rather apt to produce wind; they are however in the habit of recommending all medicines that procure a discharge of flatus. One kind is called Golesemb, also called Krishnphilla; its seed is larger and longer than the one now described; it is hot, and cures disorders of wind, bile, and mucus.

623 Sehoond.--A prickly plant, growing wild. A. Zakoom. It is so called, but the seed of the Zakoom is said to be like the Hurr, whereas the Sehoond has no seed; it is pungent, heavy, laxative; increases appetite, cures dropsy; is an antidote to poison, useful in affections of the spleen, Juzam, idiotism, marasmus, and itchiness of the bowels, flatulent swellings, badgola, swellings in general, and is lithontriptic. The best kind is red or of a rose color; its milk is also red, but if put on a cloth it becomes white. All kinds of it are used in transmutation of metals. There are several kinds in use for various purposes, the juice is an ingredient in many formulÊ.

624 Sisoo or Sishum, and another kind called Rusispa. It is a very common tree of Hindostan, large like the Jamin, and its wood is durable and excellent; it is not readily attacked by insects nor liable to decay. If cut down when the moon is in the wane, no insect will ever touch it; its leaves are small and round, a little inclining to oval, with very little point, like the leaf of the Semb. Its seed-vessel is light, and contains only two or three seeds; it is about half an inch long; both kinds of the tree are hot, and reduce corpulency. It also causes abortions; cures Juzam and white leprosy; is vermifuge; removes pains in the urinary bladder; useful in boils, eruptions, heat of body, disorders of the blood and mucus, and allays vomiting. It is particularly useful in disorders of the blood and cuticular eruptions; this is a favorite wood among Europeans. It is also useful in Lues Venerea, and is thus used: one and half masha of the filings of the centre or dark-colored wood is boiled in 3/4 pound of water, till only one-half shall remain, then strain and drink with the following plain sherbet: the same quantity repeated in the evening, and every five or six days. The sherbet of Morukub mixed or drank with it. This must be repeated for 14, or 21, or 40 days.

Receipt for the plain Sherbet.

Filings of the wood, a pound, infused in 12 lbs. of river water, for 24 hours, then boiled, and when half is evaporated, strain and add to it 3 rittals of sugar (23 ounces), and preserve for use. Six tolahs to be taken morning and evening, with the decoction above specified. If this is required of additional strength, four tolahs of Pitpapra is to be added when the decoction is nearly complete.

Receipt for the mixed Sherbet.

When the above sherbet is nearly ready for use, add to it Soorinjan (Hermodactyls), Irkhir (Camel's hay), each three tolahs and 9 mashas, separately bruised, strained, and gradually mixed; when fully boiled add 10 tolahs of senna, and take it from the fire. If this is required of additional virtue for the cure of foulness of the blood and Lues Venerea, add four tolahs of the Pitpapra before the others are mixed with it. Ten tolahs of this in the morning is to be used as before specified. No food to be used during the cure, except kullia, pillau, and bread; no acid to be admitted, and no greens of any description, and the day on which the mixed sherbet is taken, even bread is not to be eaten. "Dalbergia Sissoo. Roxb."

625 Sial "The Jackal." Its flesh strengthens the system, increases semen, cures disorders of wind and hectic fever. A. Ebn··vee. P. Sheghal.

626 Sendhi.--The juice of the date tree; this is less powerful than the tarrie; it is flatulent and aperient; induces corpulency, and is aphrodisiac.

627 SendhÊ.--A kind of Kutcherie.

628 Sealie.--The wild carrot, long and cone-shaped. A. Shakakul.

629 Seenaki.--A name for Karoonus Soombul.

630 Seenku.--A name for Shummie, vide Sh.

631 Seotie vide Kurkooja. "Rosa glandulifera. Roxb."

632 Seelidj.--A kind of ChÈreela, which grows in stony places or near water; it has a sweet smell; is bitter and cool, cures mucous and bilious disorders, heat, thirst, vomiting, and asthmas.

633 Seep or Seepie. A name for Suduf (a shell). It is pungent, shining, and promotes digestion and appetite, strengthens the system, and is an antidote to poisons.

634 Saeb.--A name for Tuffah. In Yunani works, the Indian kind is called Harara or Seoharara; it is cardiac, and its preserve is more so; it is aphrodisiac, and produces flatulence; when unripe it is acid and astringent, and hurtful, produces cough and decreases bile. Its corrector is salt.

635 Seetaphill.--The common Shereefa, q. v.

636 Singia or Singia Jur, (Aconite.) A root like Gentian, but a most deadly poison, and as such used by the Nepaulese. It is also called Singia Khar or Beechnak. It is described in several works as a most active poison, and not to be given by itself even in the smallest quantity. It is made up for internal use as follows:

Take of quicksilver, Singia, Hurtaal (refined), chillies, sulphur (purified), Peepul, fine ginger, Hurrha, (large) Anula, borax (refined), Bahera, nutmeg, each a pice weight.

Mix the quicksilver and sulphur together with a little of the juice of the Bhangra, then add the Hurtaal, rubbing them well, and add all the others, with more of the juice of the Bhangra, till 10 pint bottles or five seers shall be expended; this and these must be rubbed continually during 12 days, and till it acquires the consistence of a mass proper for pills. It is then to be made up into small pills of the size of a small pea each. These are given one for a dose, with the following vehicles, and in the cure of the following disorders; and during their exhibition, only simple food, and no acid to be used.

With Kutkuleja leaves, in Vomiting, Cholera, &c. ,, Cow's urine, in the cure of Diarrhoea. ,, Toolsi leaves, Internal heat. ,, Lime juice, and applied to the eyes, Evil spirits depart. ,, Kusskuss water, in the cure of Bilious disorders. ,, Tirphilla and ginger, in Asthma. ,, Seed of Methi infusion, Dysentery. ,, Honey, Emaciation. ,, Ditto, to thicken Semen. ,, Butch, in the cure of Tooth-ache. ,, Pounded Kusskuss, Dropsy. ,, Nutmeg, Rheumatism from wind. ,, Onion Juice, Bites of snakes. ,, Infus. of Adjwain, Thirst. ,, [1]Juice of Kussownda, Wind. ,, Radish juice, Offensive breath. ,, [1]Soopearie juice, (rubbed,) Cholicks of children. ,, Gopie earth, Strangury. ,, Cow's Ghee, Bites of snakes. ,, Root of Semel tree, Every thing. ,, Old Goor, Internal heat. ,, [1]Eleachee, (Guzerathee,) Intermittents. ,, Mugrela and salt, Indigestion. ,, Doob grass, Diarrhoea. ,, Mace, externally in Night blindness. ,, Goonchee, in the cure of General Rheumatism. ,, Pith of Bela, Vertigo. ,, Water of burnt wheat, Sunpat.

637 Shaldan.--A kind of rice, in virtue like the Saatie.

638 Shalook.--The root of the Kawul flower, q. v.