170 SANSKRIT MATERIA MEDICA. 



ginger, coriander, and black pepper each one tola, long pepper, 

 four tolas, stir well till the confection cools and lastly add eight 

 tolas of honey. This preparation is used in cough, asthma, 

 phthisis, haemoptysis, heart disease, and catarrh. . 



In insanity, epilepsy and other nervous diseases, the fresh 

 juice of the squash is given either with sugar or as an adjunct 

 to other medicines for these diseases. A ghrita for use in these 

 diseases is also prepared as follows. 



Kushm&ndaka ghrita} Take of the juice of Benincasa cerifera 

 eighteen seers, clarified butter, one seer, liquorice root beaten into 

 a paste with water, quarter of a seer. Boil them together and 

 prepare a ghrita in the usual way. Dose, one to two tolas. 



TRICHOSANTHES DIOICA, Roxb. 



Sans. iret% Patola. Vem. Palwal, Hind. 



The Trichosanthes dioica is extensively cultivated as an article 

 of food in Bengal. The unripe fruits are much used by the natives 

 as a culinary vegetable and are considered very wholesome and 

 especially suited for the convalescent. In fact, they constitute 

 one of the most palatable vegetables grown in this country. The 

 tender tops are also used as a potherb and are regarded as tonic 

 and vermifuge. 



The leaves, fresh juice of the fruits and the root are all used 

 medicinally. The leaves are described as a good, light and 

 agreeable bitter tonic. The fresh juice of the unripe fruit is * 

 often used as a oooling and laxative adjunct to some alterative 

 medicines such as the preparation oalled Rasa sindura, etc. The 

 bulbous root is called Ramyaka in Sanskrit and is classified 

 amongst purgatives by Susruta. 



In bilious fever, a decoction of patola leaves and coriander, 

 in equal parts, is given as a febrifuge and laxative. 2 The leaves 



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