PHASEOLFS EOXBUBOHH. 151 



f^H^ Trt'pu/i. Lathyrus miivm, Linn. Kkesdri, H. B. 



Hmrpff Mdsliapami. Glycine labialis, Linn. Yem. Mdshdni, IT. B. 



Some of these pulses have several varieties. For example 

 seven sorts of mudga are mentioned, namely, krishna or black, 

 malid or large, gaura or pale red, harita or green, pita or yellow, 

 sveta or white and rahta or red. 



Mudga, ordinarily known as moong Jed ddl. and especially its 

 green variety, is considered most wholesome and suited to siok 

 persons. A soup made of this pulse is often the first article of 

 diet prescribed after recovery from acute illness. The following 

 varieties are also considered wholesome and suited for use by con- 

 valescent persons, namely, masura, chanaJca, hulatiha and rnaJcmhfha. 

 Vicia Lens or lentils, which take rant first among the pulses as 

 containing the. largest proportion of flesh-forming matter, are 

 regarded by the Hindus as highly nutritive, and useful in bowel 

 complaints.' A poultice made of this pulse is an effectual domestio 

 medicine for checking secretion of milk and reducing distension 

 of the mammary glands. Gicer arieiinum is perhaps the most 

 favourite pulse with the natives, and is used as an article of diet 

 in a great variety of ways. It is taken raw, or cooked in its 

 green as well as ripe state. Gram is made into ddl, is roasted and 

 ground into meal and is prepared in many other ways. 



The acid liquid exuded from the hairs of the stem and loaves 

 of Gicer wriettnum is railed chanahdmla in Sanskrit. It is collected 

 by spreading a cloth over the plants during the night and rinsing 

 the fluid absorbed by it. Chanahdmla is described as acid, 

 refrigerent, saltish, and useful in dyspepsia, indigestion, and 

 oostivenesa. It enters into the composition of some medicines for 

 dyspepsia along with other vegetable acids. 



Dolichos uniforms is used medicinally chiefly as an external 

 application in the shape of poultices and pastes. Its soup is said 

 t<\ be useful in gravel and urinary disorders. 



The Phaseolus Rozhurghif or mdsha is much used in medicine 

 both internally and externally in paralysis, rheumatism and affec- 

 tions of the nervous system. It enters into the composition of 

 several decoqtions used in these diseases. The following is an 



