  This work, it is presumed, will fall into the hands of many who are wholly ignorant of, or very partially acquainted with, matters pharmaceutical; hence some few introductory remarks are indispensable to enable such persons to understand fully, and follow out correctly, the directions given. 1. Weights and Measures.—In Appendix C, a small set of Apothecaries' scales and weights is included, but in the absence of the former it is well to remember that a small set of scales, such as is used by native jewellers, can be procured for a few annas in every bazaar; care, however, is necessary to see that the balance is strictly correct and even. Weights.—The Apothecary weights supplied from England have the following marks or signs impressed upon them:
The small circular indentations on the grain weights indicate the number of grains each weight represents. In the absence of these, the following hints may be useful: A new rupee of the present currency weighs 180 grains or three drachms. A half rupee of the present currency weighs 90 grains or a drachm and a half. A quarter rupee of the present currency weighs 45 grains or three quarters of a drachm. To obtain smaller weights beat a new quarter rupee into a long, thin, narrow plate, and divide it carefully into three equal parts. You have thus three 15 grain weights. One of these divided again into three equal parts, furnishes three 5 grain weights. One of these subdivided into five equal parts furnishes five 1 grain weights. Care should be taken to see that the parts are of equal weight, and each part should be marked with a figure to denote its weight. A native jeweller, at a very small cost, will readily carry out the above subdivision. With these, you may obtain any small weights you require; thus, if you require nine grains, you use a 5 grain weight and four single grain weights. If you want a drachm weight (60 grains), you use a quarter rupee (45 grains) and a 15 grain weight, which makes exactly the 60 grains or one drachm. To get a scruple (20 grains) weight, you use one of the 15 grain and one of the 5 grain weights = 20 grains or one scruple. Two rupees and a half rupee together weigh 450 grains or slightly over one ounce, which weight they may be taken to represent, in the absence of regular weights in making up any of the prescriptions given in the following pages. Measures of Capacity.—For these, the English Graduated Measures, glasses included, in Appendix C, should be employed. The marks on them signify as follows:
In default of a graduated measure glass, it may be useful to know that a small cup of silver or other metal, exactly the circumference of a quarter rupee and 3¾ inches deep, will hold exactly one ounce, and twenty of these full of liquid make one pint. Each ounce contains eight fluid-drachms, so with the aid of this ounce measure you can calculate the quantity required pretty accurately. The measure should be made of silver, as some medicines, especially the acids, act on the other metals. Any native jeweller would manufacture one of these measures in a short time, and at a very small cost. In the following pages other domestic measures, as they may be termed, are mentioned; they represent approximately the following quantities:
"A drop" may be taken generally to represent a minim, though in many instances they differ considerably in capacity. It must be borne in mind that these measurements apply solely to fluids—never to solids. A tablespoonful of some solids, as powders, would weigh two or three ounces, whilst of others it might only be as many drachms. Preparations.—A few hints on these may be useful to the uninitiated. Infusions.—In preparing these, the following points require attention: a, the solid ingredients should be cut into small pieces or slices, or bruised in a mortar, so that the water shall readily penetrate into the substance; b, the water should be boiling; c, the vessel or chattie containing the ingredients on which the boiling water has been poured, should be covered over to prevent evaporation, and set aside till the liquid is cold, when it should be strained through a muslin or thin rag. In hot climates infusions soon spoil, hence they should be freshly prepared every other day at the furthest. Decoctions.—These differ from Infusions so far that the ingredients are subject to the process of boiling. The requisite quantity of water having been heated Ointments.—Animal fats, e.g., Lard, which is so generally used in English pharmacy, are apt to become rancid and irritating in hot climates; hence they should be discarded in tropical practice. In India there is another cogent reason for abandoning them, viz., the religious prejudices of the natives, especially of the Mussulman, to whom hog's fat is an abomination. The only allowable animal fat in India is freshly prepared Ghee, or clarified butter; but this in the hotter part of India is of too thin consistence for ordinary ointments. Fortunately India supplies at least two vegetable substitutes, Kokum Butter and Piney Tallow (the expressed Oil of Vateria Indica). In addition to these, I have introduced a third article, Ceromel (a mixture of wax and honey). With these three agents it is believed that animal fats may be altogether dispensed with in Indian pharmacy. Native Names.—These have been mainly derived from Mr. Moodeen Sheriff's valuable Catalogue, which forms the Supplement to the Pharmacopoeia of India. It is only necessary, in this place, to indicate the pronunciation of the vowels met with in this work.
Explanation of the Abbreviations employed in the lists of the native names of the drugs:
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