Bo RANUNCULACE®. 
NIGELLA SATIVA, Sibthorp. 
Fig.—Zorn. /c. 119. Small Fennel-flower (Eng.), Nielle, q 
Toute €pice (I’r.). a 
Hab.—The Mediterranean countries. Cultivated in India. — 4 
Vernacular.—Kalajira, Mugrela (Hind., Beng.), Kalonji_ 7 
(Bomb.), Karun-shiragam (Tam.), Karijirigi (Can.), Nalla- 
jilakara (Tel.), Kalejiré (Mar.), Shuniz, Siyah danah (Pers.). 
History, Uses, &c.—According to Birdwood, it is th 
Black Cummin of the Bible, the Melanthion of Hippocrates 
and Dioscorides, and the Gith of Pliny.* Ainslie mentions its 
use aS a carminative, also as an external application mix 
with sesamum oil in skin eruptions, as a seasoning for food, 
and as a protection for linen against insects. Forskahl, in 
his Medicina Kaharina, says that it is a native of Egypt, where 
it is called Hab-es-souda.t Roxburgh believes it to be a 
native of Hindostan. Anyhow, it must have been long known 
in India, as it has a Sanskrit name, Krishnajiraka. Nig: 
seed is extensively used as a spice, and as a medicine; 
prescribed by the Hindus with other aromatics and plumbago 
root in dyspepsia. The Hakeems describe it as heating, 
attenuant, suppurative, detergent and diuretic, and consid 
that it increases the menstrual flow and the secretion of milk 
also that it stimulates uterine action. They give it, too, as 
ol 
humours, and credit it with anthelmintic properties, It is 
sprinkled over the surface of the bread made by Mahometan 
bakers along with Sesamum seed. (See Cuminum Cyminum 
M. Canolle has recently published (De Pavortement crimine 
* Plin. 19, 52, 20, 71; Cels. 2, 34; Serib. Comp. 181. 
+! Su das ! El-habbat-es-souda, i. q., 22“! E]-shooniz, or proper! 
535)! El-sheeniz, for thus the Arabs called it according to Ibn-el-Aarabi, 
or, aS some say, i.q., | pat lege} py habbat-el-khizra, because the Ara 
often call black »@4! and green o9!. This seed is said in a eon 
: ss be a . remedy for every disease except death. (Madd-el-Kamus. eee. 
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