266 SANSKRIT MATERIA MEDICA. 



and is used infernally. Its tubers are about the size of a pigeon's 

 egg and of a dark brown oolour externally ; internally white and 

 fragrant. Those growing in moist soil are preferred for use. The 

 root of Cy per us pert emit s is somewhat tuberous with many dark 

 coloured villous fibres. It grows in low wet places and is chiefly 

 used in the preparation of medicated oils. The properties of both 

 are said to be identical. They are considered diaphoretic, 

 astringent, stomachic and useful in fever, diarrhoea and dyspepsia. 

 The tnhers of Cyperus rotundus are extensively used as an 

 aromatic adjunct to numerous compound medicine*. 



Shadanga pdniya. 1 Take of the tubers of Cyperus rotundus, 

 red sandal wood, root of Andropogon muricatus, (usira). Olden- 

 landia herbacea, (parpata), Pavonia odorata (bald) and dry 

 ginger each one draohm, water two seers ; boil down to one seer. 

 This decoction is given as a drink for appeasing thirst and 

 relieving teat of body in fever. It may be taken ad libitum. 



NAT. ORDER GRAM1NE>£. 



SACCHARUM OFFICINARUM, Linn. ETC. 



Sans. Kg, Ihhu. Vern. Ak, Beng. Uk, Hind. 



The suorar-oane and its products sugar and treacle were known 



to the Hindus from a very early age. From -the Sanskrit term 



sarkara are derived the Arabio takkar, Latin, saccharum and 



English sugar.* Twelve varieties of sugar-oane are mentioned by 



*3f: I 



In the Pharmaoographia by Floehiger and Hanbnry it is Btated : "C*»<*y 

 as sngar ,n large oryetala is called, i 8 derived from the Arabic hand or Jcandat 

 a name of the same signification. An old 8amkrit name of Central Berg*l *• 

 Oura whence is deri^ the word Quia meaning raw engar, a term for r>wr 

 nn.veraally employed in the Malayan Archipelago where on the o'ber b«nd, 

 they have their own names for the aopar-eane, althongh not for angar. f"" 

 fact again speaks, for Bitter's n«in,™ +v.„* ^ !_-*: i ™**r i 



This 



in * 



crystalline state is dne to the inhabitants of Bengal." The Arabio land ii 

 apparently derived from the Sanekrit khanda, that is treacle candied into 

 white aand-like grains. Again the Bengali term Gura is derived from the 

 Sanskrit Guda which is mentioned by arch ancient writers as Charaka and 

 Hnsrnta. The mannfaotnre of sn*ar therefore was evidently nnderetood m 

 Upper India before it was known in Bengal, at any rate there is nothing to 

 Bhew that engar was first prepared in Bengal. 



