PIPEBACE^. 169 



dyspepsia, cougli, gonorrhoea and flatulence, and to promote tie 

 secretion of bile. Together with long pepper and ginger it 

 forms the much -used compound known as Trikatu, "the three 

 acrids, " or *^ Ushana-chatu-rushana." Externally, pepper is 

 used as a rubefacient and stimulant of the skin. In obstinate 

 intermittent fever and flatulent dyspepsia, the Hindus administer 

 white or black pepper in the f oUoAving manner : — A tablespoon- 

 ful is boiled overnight in one seer of water, until the water is 

 reduced to one-fourth of its bulk, the decoction is allowed to cool 

 during the night, and is taken in the morning. The pepper is 

 then again boiled in the same manner and the decoction taken 

 at night. This treatment is continued for seven successive days. 

 A compound confection of pepper (Pranada gudiJid) is given as 

 a remedy for piles ; it is made in the following manner : — Take 

 of black pepper 32 tolas, ginger 24 tolas, long pepper 16 tolas, 

 Piper chaha (chavya) 8 tolas, leaves of Taxiis haccata (talisa) 

 8 tolas, flowers of Mesua/errea (nagkesar) 4 tolas, long pepper 

 root 16 tolaSj cinnamon leaves and cinnamon one tola each, 

 cardamoms and the root of Andropogon inuricatus (usira) 2 tolas 

 each, old treacle 240 tolas; rub them together. Dose about 2 

 drachms. When there is costiveness, chebulic myrobalans are 

 substituted for ginger in the above prescription, [Chakradatta.) 



The use of pepper for the cure of intermittents is strongly 

 recommended by Stephanus in his commentary on Galen, and 

 recently some cases of refractory intermittent fever, in which, 

 after the failure of quinine, piperine has been administered 

 with advantage, are reported by Dr. 0. S. Taylor {Brit, Med. 

 Jotirn.y Sept., 1886). In one case, immediately on the accession 

 of an attack, three grains of piperine were given every hour, 

 until eighteen grains had been taken, and on the following day, 

 when the intermission was complete, the same dose was given 

 every three hours. 



Mahometan physicians describe black pepper as deobstruent, 

 resolvent, and alcxipharmic ; as a nervine tonic it is given 

 internally, and applied externally in paralytic affections; in 

 toothache it is used as a mouth-wash. As a tonic and diges- 

 tive, it is given in dyspepsia. With vinegar it forms a good 



111.-22 



