

112 3Ay<*l\RTT MATERIA MEPICA. 



made of emblic myrobalans and the filaments of the lotus is also 

 used for the same purpose. Similar compositions are recommended 

 for external inflammations, erysipelas etc. 



The large leaves of Neliimbium speciosum are used as cool bed- 

 sheets. in high fever with much heat and burning of the skin. 1 



NAT. ORDER. PAPAVERACE^. 



PAPAVEB SOMNIFERUM. 



Sans, ^fff^ir, Ahiphena. Vem. A'phim. 



Opium appears to have been brought into India by the Mussul- 

 mans, as its Sanskrit name is evidently derived from the Arabic 

 Afyun, and as it is not mentioned by the older Sanskrit writers. 



The capsules »i the poppy are called KMUas and the seeds, 

 Khnmt;ia, in Sanskrit. The seeds yield a bland oil, which is used 

 for culinary purposes and in lamps. The seeds themselves are 

 innocuous and used as food. They are boiled, mixed with a little 

 oil and salt, and taken as curry with rice, or they are made into 

 balls and formed with tamarind, into an acid curry. Poppy seeds 

 are sprinkled over some sorts of native sweetmeats. 



Sanskrit writers describe poppy seeds as demulcent and 

 nutritive, and useful in cough and asthma. The capsules of the 

 poppy are regarded as light, astringent, and narcotic. They 

 promote talkativeness and destroy or diminish the sexual power. 

 The properties of opium are said to be analogous to those of the 

 capsules. Opium is used as an astringent and narcotic in bowel 

 complaints, cough, external inflammations, urinary 'diseases, 

 fractures, skin diseases etc. 



In diarrhoea and cholera the following, called ' JE*M4k*J* 

 wused. Take of opium, nutmeg, cloves, cinnabar and camphor, 



*Wj ^n^mrn^mRv.y wi^i^^f 



1. 



• ' . , ^^: i 



