170 



In Gujarat and Kathiawar chank powder is prescribed 

 as a specific in the following diseases : — Jaundice, 

 phthisis, coughs, shooting pain in the side, general 

 debility and, very commonly, in affections of the eyes. 



With regard to the practice of prescribing it in the 

 case of asthma, cough and consumption, a medical friend 

 points out that while of no value in asthma, this 

 treatment has reason for its employment in phthisical 

 cases — the introduction of quantities of lime into the 

 system facilitating the deposit of lime salts around tuber- 

 cular centres, encapsulating them and rendering them 

 innocuous. 



In rickets the use of lime taken internally is also 

 indicated emphatically, the disease being characterised 

 by an insufficient deposit of lime in the bones. He also 

 points out that in the case of hsemorrhoids, the use of 

 lime administered internally may assist a cure by increas- 

 ing the coagulative property of the patient's blood. 



It appears therefore that the employment of chank- 

 shell powder by native practitioners is not without reason 

 in regard to certain diseases, and while it may be 

 objected that a non-organic form of carbonate of lime 

 should prove equally beneficial, it has to be remembered 

 that the carbonate of lime of shells is laid down within a 

 delicate framework of animal membrane, and this mi- 

 nutely divided form may possibly render it more easy of 

 assimilation in the body and therefore more efficacious. 

 The relio^ious associations surrounding" the chank have 

 also their value in inspiring the confidence of patients in 

 the value of this medicine, faith that may help largely 

 towards a cure. 



The wearing of chank rings, the rubbing of the 

 affected parts with them and the laving of them with 

 water which has been in contact with these rings, are 

 forms of treatment on a different footing. They are 

 to be considered purely as charms, without direct thera- 

 peutic value. They bear the same relation to the 

 internal employment of powdered shell as does the 

 quack exploitation of electricity by means of belts and 

 bands containing discs of metal to the legitimate use of 

 current electricity in the hands of qualified medical practi- 

 tioners. If the former have any value it is by reason 

 of faith alone. 



