PIPER AC EM 177 



equal parts, is presci-ibed by several writers as a useful com- 

 bination for catarrh and hoarseness. As an alterative tonic, 

 long pepper is recommended for use in a peculiar manner. 

 An infusion of three long peppers is to be taken with 

 honey on the first day, then for ten successive days the 

 dose is to be increased by three peppers every day, so 

 that on the tenth day the patient will take thirty at out 

 dose. Then the dose is to be gradually reduced by three daily, 

 and finally the medicine is to be omitted. Thus administered, 

 it is said to act as a valuable alterative tonic in paraplegia, 

 chronic cough, enlargements of the spleen and other abdominal 

 viscera. Long pepper and black pepper enter into the composi- 

 tion of several irritating snuffs; boiled with ginger^ mustard 

 oil, buttermilk and curds it forms a liniment u^ed in sciatica 

 and paralysis. In the Ooncan the roasted anients- are beaten 

 up with honey and given in rheumatism ; they are also 

 given powdered with black pepper and rock salt (two parts 

 of long pepper, three of blacky, and one of salt) in half tola 

 doses for coKc. Mahometan writers, under the name of 

 Darfilfil, describe long pepper as a resolvent of cold humours ; 

 they say it removes obstructions of the liver and spleen, and 

 promotes digestion by its tonic properties; moreover, it isaphro- 

 disiacal, diuretic, and emmenagogue- Both it and the root 

 (Filfil-muiyeh) are much prescribed in palsy,, gout, lumbago^ 

 and other diseases of a similar nature. A coUyrium of long 

 pepper is recommended for night blindness; made into a lini- 

 ment it is applied to the bites of venomous reptiles. We learn 

 from Roxburgh {Flora Indica, I., p. 1^) ''that it is in. Bengal 

 only that Piper hngmn is cultivated for its pepper. When the 

 ament is full-grown^ it is gathered and daily exposed to the 

 sun till perfectly diy ; after which it is packed in bags for sale. 



The roots and thickest part of the creeping stems, when cut into* 

 small pieces and dried, form a considerable article of commerce 

 all over India, imder the name of Pippali-mula, for which pur- 

 pose it is particidarly cultivated in many of the valleys amongst 

 the Sircar moimtains* This sort is more esteemed^ and bears 

 a higher price than that of Bengal, where by far the largest 



III.— 23 



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