Remarks on the Uses of some of the Bazaar Medicines and Common Medical Plants of India / With a full index of diseases, indicating their treatment by these and other agents procurable throughout India; to which are added directions for treatment in cases of drowning, snake-bites &c.

ADDENDA.

400.

Cinchona Febrifuge, or Darjeeling Cinchona Alkaloid.

This was really employed as a cheap substitute for Quinine.

In 1875 Mr. Wood, the Government Quinologist, prepared from the bark of Cinchona succirubra and other species under cultivation at Darjeeling an alkaloid, or rather a mixture of alkaloids, which has received the provisional names of "Darjeeling Cinchona Alkaloid," and "Cinchona Febrifuge." A rough analysis shows that it contains: Quinine, 15·5; Cinchonidine, 29·0; Cinchonine, 33·5; Amorphous Alkaloid, 17·0; and Colouring Matter, 5·0 in 100 parts. It occurs in the form of a buff-coloured powder, of a peculiar disagreeable smell, and bitter, nauseous taste; insoluble in water, soluble in mineral and vegetable acids.

401. In the treatment of Intermittent Fever this remedy ranks next to Quinine, over which it possesses the advantage of being comparatively cheap, and, from its being manufactured in India, is within the reach of all. It has its disadvantages, however, being apt to create nausea, vomiting, with a burning sensation at the pit of the stomach, extending, in some instances, to the throat, and occasionally diarrhoea. Like Quinine, if given in sufficient doses to produce its specific effect, it gives rise to headache, singing in the ears, giddiness, and other symptoms included under the term "Quinism;" but all these pass away on the discontinuance of the remedy, leaving no after ill effects. It is, in fact, a thoroughly safe and efficacious remedy in ordinary simple Intermittents, but its use is limited to these. In the severer forms and in Remittent Fevers it is not to be depended upon: here Quinine remains the sheet anchor. The dose is from 5 to 10 grains twice or thrice daily during the intermission or in anticipation of an expected paroxysm. Dilute Sulphuric Acid (one and a half minim to one grain of the alkaloid) is said to be the best solvent, but given with Dilute Hydrochloric or Citric Acid, its disagreeable taste and smell are partially masked, and hence is more easily borne. Fresh Lime Juice is recommended as an eligible vehicle for popular use.

402. In Debility after Fevers it promises to be of great value as a tonic, given in small doses. It is worthy of a trial in Enlargement of the Spleen in combination with Sulphate of Iron (176). In Neuralgia, Faceache, Tic Douloureux, when assuming a periodical form, this remedy is well worthy of a fair trial. It should be given in full doses (10 grains) thrice daily for adults.

403. Closely allied to the foregoing is another form of collective Cinchona Alkaloids, to which its discoverer, Dr. de Vrij, has given the name of Quinetum. It is said to represent the whole of the alkaloids in Cinchona succirubra bark in proportion of Quinine, 25; Cinchonidine, 50; and Cinchonine, 20 in 100 parts. Dr. Vinkhuysen, who tried it extensively in the treatment of Intermittent Fevers, says that "Quinetum is of great value as a febrifuge, but that it takes longer to act, and will not replace Quinine in pernicious fever. It has the same apyretic effect as Quinine, but is less powerful; larger doses are therefore required at longer intervals before the paroxysms. It produces no ill effects, no noises in the ear, and can be taken by those who cannot take Quinine. It is more efficacious in chronic cases and as a tonic, whilst in masked malaria it is incomparably superior to Quinine." This statement is quoted from Sir Joseph Fayrer's valuable work On the Climate and Fevers of India (London, 1882), and to it he (Sir Joseph) adds the expression of his own belief that "it is a very valuable drug." We learn from the same authority that it is now largely prepared in India. This being the case, and as it is less than half the price of Quinine, it may be regarded as an important addition to Indian Materia Medica. The dose is from 8 to 16 grains in diluted Lime Juice or other acidulated water.

404.

Sugar.

Shakar (Hind., Duk.), BhÚra, ChinÍ (Beng.), Misri (Punj.), SakkarÁ, Sharukkarai (Tam.), Shakkara (Tel.), Sharkkara, PanjasÁra (Mal.), SÍnÍ, Sakkere (Cing.), Saghia or Tagiya (Burm.), GÚla (Mal.).

405. This article is not usually regarded as a medicine, but Dr. Aitchison in his valuable notes, points out how he has utilised it as such with excellent effect; and as it is procurable throughout the length and breadth of India, it seems well worthy of notice in this place. Only the best and purest kinds should be employed for medicinal purposes.

406. In all forms of Ophthalmia (Country Sore Eyes, &c.), Dr. A. states that he has found a solution of one drachm of Sugar in three drachms of Water dropped into the eye every hour or so, never fail to afford relief, and that generally, if applied early, cuts short the disease at once. This practice, he adds, he has followed for twelve years, and used nothing else. Children, according to his experience, will actually come and ask to have the remedy dropped into their eyes, so great is the relief it affords. At bedtime, in these cases, it is advisable to apply to the eyelashes a little sweet oil or grease, and the first thing in the morning carefully to wash the eyes with hot milk and water. This solution is also useful for removing small foreign substances from the eye.

407. In Gonorrhoea and Vaginal Discharges the above solution is an excellent application, though not so uniformly useful as in Ophthalmia. In Gonorrhoea, it may be commenced with at once, the injections being repeated frequently during the day, in addition to general remedies; but in Vaginal discharges other remedies may be tried first. (See Index.)

408. Sugar is an excellent dressing for certain forms of Foul, Gangrenous looking Ulcers, the Sugar (white or refined) in grain being merely sprinkled over the sore, which under its use soon assumes a healthy appearance. As a drawing plaster for Boils equal parts of Sugar and Yellow Soap, is an old remedy. (Dr. Aitchison.)

409.

Petroleum. Rock Oil.

MittÍ-kÁ-tÉl (Hind., Duk.), MÁtiyÁ-tail (Beng.), Man-yenney, Man-tayilam (Tam., Mal.), Manti-tayilam, Manti-nÚnÉ (Tel.), MannunyannÉ (Can.), MattÍ-cha-tÉla (Mah.), MattÍ-nu-tel (Guz.), YÉ-nÁ (Burm.).

409a. Petroleum, a mineral oil, semi-liquid, somewhat of the consistence of treacle, tenacious, semi-transparent, of a deep sherry red or nearly opaque, tar-like brown, with a peculiar though not unpleasant aromatic odour and pungent acrid taste, exudes spontaneously from the rocks in volcanic regions, and collects on the surface of certain lakes in Persia, Burmah, Assam, and the islands on the Arracan Coast, as well as in Barbadoes, Trinidad, and other West Indian Islands. As a medicinal agent, it is a terebinthinate (turpentine-like) stimulant, and as such appears to act specially on the kidneys, increasing in a marked degree the urinary secretion. The dose is about half a fluid drachm (thirty drops) suspended in mucilage.

410. Petroleum is very generally employed by the Native practitioners externally as a stimulant in Paralytic Affections and in Chronic Rheumatism, and Dr. Fleming (Cat. p. 53), commenting on this, adds that he can, from his own experience, recommend it in the latter disease as an efficacious remedy, having derived more benefit from it than from the more costly Cajeput Oil, which he had previously used. A case of Beri-beri successfully treated by it, externally and internally, is recorded by Mr. S. Arokeum (Madras Quart. Med. Journ., July 1863), but how far the recovery was due in this instance to the Petroleum seems doubtful. Still, it seems worthy of further trials in this obscure affection.

411. In Skin Diseases, it is a useful external application, and a case of Chronic Eczema, which had resisted a host of remedies cured by it, is recorded by Dr. J. W. Mudge (Indian Ann. of Med. Science, 1854, p. 450). He used it incorporated with Soap in the proportion of a drachm to an ounce.

412. As an Antiseptic agent in Surgical Practice, some trials have been made with it by Sir Joseph Fayrer (Indian Med. Gazette, Sept. 1869, p. 184), and he comes to the conclusion that it possesses some, if not all, the advantages assigned to Carbolic Acid in this character. He used it, pure or diluted, with equal parts of oil or glycerine; and he states that whilst it certainly has some deodorising power, it appeared also to have that of limiting suppuration and of restraining the development of septic miasmata in the discharges. He likewise found it useful as a stimulating and detergent application to Sloughing and Ulcerated Surfaces, and in one case of Carbuncle it proved most efficacious. It causes little inconvenience beyond slight smarting. "The evidence of its virtue," Sir J. Fayrer observes, "is as yet but limited, yet it is such as to suggest the advantage of making further trial of what may prove to be a valuable addition to our surgical resources, and it has the advantage of being produced in the country." The summaries of twenty cases are appended to illustrate the use of this hydrocarbon. It is to be hoped it will meet with further trials.

413.

Kerosene Oil.

A burning oil, refined from crude Petroleum.

Pathar-ka-tÉl (Punj.).

414. Owing to the extensive use of this mineral Oil for lighting purposes during the past few years, it can now be obtained in nearly every bazaar in the country. According to the experience of Dr. Aitchison, no local remedy is so pre-eminently useful in all Skin Diseases as this, especially when of a parasitic origin. It is comparatively of little use in syphilitic eruptions.

415. The oil may be employed pure when no large surface is involved, but if the disease to be treated extensively covers the body, it should be diluted with equal parts of sweet oil. Nothing can come up to it, he asserts, in removing and destroying bugs from old wood. It is also said to be of use in removing white ants.

416. In Itch, when of limited extent, after opening each pustule, rub into the part carefully twice or thrice daily pure Kerosene Oil. If it be extensively diffused over the whole body, after thoroughly washing with soap and water, rub in a solution of equal parts of Kerosene and Sweet Oil. This, observes Dr. Aitchison, far surpasses the Sulphur treatment. In Ringworm it is sufficient to paint the affected spot with the pure oil twice or thrice daily. In Scalled Head, after cutting the hair as short as possible, apply a poultice to clean off the scab from the scalp, and then thoroughly saturate the cleansed surface with Kerosene Oil. During treatment the patient should wear an oil-skin cap. Oil alone, applied thus, adds Dr. Aitchison, will cure the disease, but Kerosene does it more quickly and effectually. Lice of all kinds are at once destroyed by rubbing Kerosene Oil into the parts they occupy, and are totally exterminated by two or three free applications. (Dr. Aitchison.)

417.

Rock Salt.

An impure Chloride of Sodium.

Senda-lon, Senda-namak (Hind., Duk.), IndÚppÚ (Tam., Tel.), IntÚppa (Mal.), NÍmak, Lun (Punj.).

418. Rock Salt occurs in large masses varying in weight from 2 or 3 to 8 or 10 lb.: dull or brownish-white externally, white and crystalline internally, of a pure saline taste; procurable in all large Indian bazaars at four or five annas per lb. Though known to be a mere variety of Chloride of Sodium (common salt) it is possessed of far stronger purgative properties, it is also stronger than Cream of Tartar; but like this, it is not a satisfactory cathartic given alone; in combination with other purgatives, however, it is equal if not superior to it, and may advantageously replace it in Kaladana and other officinal Powders. (Dr. Moodeen Sheriff.)

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