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hzemorrhoids are believed to yield to thistreatment. In 
Coimbatore native doctors prescribe a paste made by 
mixing chank powder in water or by rubbing it up with 
human milk for use as a salve in the case of eruptions 
(sties) on the eyelids. Chank ointments (basmams) are 
also employed in the same district to cure inflammation 
of the eye, the growth of bad flesh (granulation) on the 
interior surface of the eyelids and also for piles and 
leprosy. 
Chank-shell in the form of powder is also stated to 
be taken internally in South Arcot, Salem, Madura and 
Tinnevelly, either in water or mixed with ghee, as a 
specific for skin eruptions, asthma, coughs, and also to 
cool the system. In Salem and also in Ceylon it is 
used as a remedy for consumption. Both in Tanjore and 
Salem mixed with milk or water it is also employed asa 
salve or lotionapplied to pimples and boils. In Malabar 
and South Canara, I am told, it is used in the case of 
rickets (gvahanz), chank ring powder ground in water 
being rubbed on the breast. At Tanur a street quack 
told me he used chank-shell powder internally as a 
remedy in cases of varchcha (gonorrhea, I believe). 
In South Canara I heard of a similar use of this 
specific ; in the latter case powdered pearl-shell and 
chank ring were mixed with a little sugar—a little of the 
mixture to be swallowed early in the morning. 
Among the Tuticorin Parawas a mixture of camphor 
and chank powder is commonly used to relieve soreness 
of the eyes. A small piece of camphor is partially 
burned and then ground down in a small quantity of 
human milk upon a flat stone by means of a small well- 
cleaned chank-shell ; a small amount of powder from the 
shell is thus incorporated with this peculiar ointment ; 
sometimes the white of an egg is substituted for human 
milk. The ointment thus made is applied round the 
eyelids ; it isreputed to effect a sure and speedy cure. 
Pounded chank-shell is also given internally by native 
practitioners in Trichinopoly, Salem and Coimbatore to 
those who suffer from an acute form of dyspepsia called 
kunmam (@raw). It is administered about three hours 
after each meal—a treatment perfectly rational as the 
carbonate of lime of which the shell is composed is well 
adapted to counteract hyperacidity of the gastric fluids. 
13-A 
