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ducts rogardinjTf Carum copiicuni. I am obtaining a supply of 

 seods Trom the locul ba/ar to s(!nd to you etc. 

 I am 

 Yours most siticerely 



(s.) Daviu Prai.v. 

 Copy 



To 



Surgeon-Major D. Prain, M. A , M. B., I. R. C. E., I. L. S,, 

 Superintendent, Royal Botanie Gardcns 

 Sibpur, near Calcutta. 

 D. O. No. 2255/145. Tndian Museum 1, Sudder Street, 



Calcutta 2"'!. September 1898. 

 Dear Dr. Prain, 



On searching through our records, both printed and manuscript, 

 on the subject of Carinn copticum, I can find nothing about the 

 fruits being used for foot and mouth disease. 



„Ajwain" seeds are distinctly carminative in their action. The 

 water obtained as a bye-product in distilling the seeds for oil is 

 sold largely in bottles as „Oraum water" in South India. I have 

 also heard of the water being given to cattle as a drench for colic. 

 The essential oil, wliich holds thymol in solution, is, as far as we 

 know, the active principle. The drug is warming and stomachic 

 internally and antiseptic, when applied to foul sores 



The fruits are sown in October and November and the plant is har- 

 vested in February. The drug is obtainable in the bazars in most 

 towns in India at a cheap rate. Dymock quotes the Bombay price at 

 Rs 2 for 35 Ibs., which is reasonable enough even for a cattle medecine. 



I am sending you a few ounces of the drug which we have 

 found in our surplus stock and which you may like to keep. 

 I should be pleased to hear of any definite results obtained by 

 the use of „Ajwain". I presume the „extract" you speak of is simply 

 an infusion: an evaporated extract of tlie fruits is not likely to 

 possess much virtue. 



Yours sincerely 



(sd.) D. HooPER. 

 Uit de gezonden zaden, waarvan slechts een klein gedeelte 

 ontkiemde, zijn eenige weinige plantjes verkregen, die echter nog 

 niet gebloeid hebben. 



De Directeur van 's Lands Plantentuin, 



Treüb. 



