the Bit-Nobeh of the Hindoos. ciO() 



dlftinftion to the Chebul, Belleric and Emblic myrabolans. 

 I liiuft here obferve, that there is not a particle of fulphur, 

 alkali, or calcareous earth, ufecJ in the procefs. I have often 

 tried folutions of the I'alt with infulions of flowers., that af- 

 forded very delicate tefts of the prefence of acids and alkali^i, 

 but never difcovered the fmallefl appearance of either. 



As a medicine for man and b'jatt, ialt of bitumen is more 

 extenfivelv ufed in Hindooilan than any article of tht materia 

 Jtiedica that I know of; and, except common culinary fait, 

 I know no medicine the confumpiion of which comes near it. 

 It forms the bafis of thole compofitions called m J/iilas, which 

 the natives in charge of horfes, elephants, camels, and other 

 cattle, are in the habit of demanding, once a month, or 

 oflener, as ellcntially neceOary to keep them in proper con- 

 dition. The Hindoos then I'elves alio ufe great quantities of 

 it, and have frequent recourfe to it to improve their appetite 

 and digeltion. They confider it a fpecific for obil^ruAions of 

 the liver and fpleen, particularly tor that atfe(5)i.):i of the 

 fpleen called in England ilie ai(ue cake*; which is a very 

 frequent difeafe in India, and well known there by tue trivi^ll 

 names pcely and bo/i;.; It is a niofb ubltinate dilordcr, often 

 continuing for years, and relifting the moll powcrtul reme- 

 dies: after every other has failed, it has been frequently known 

 to give way to a courfe of the bit-7iobcn. 



It is in high cflimation as a remedy in paralytic diforders, 

 particularly for that Ipccies of palfy where the organs of 

 fpeech are affefted. It is tuuch ufed for different cutaneous 

 afl'eilions, worms, old rheumatifms, indigeltion, want of 

 appetite; in fliort, it is confidered the grand rellorative fur 

 man and beaft in all chronic diforders. Great quantities of 

 the fait are ufed by the fululras^ ornative farriers, who feem 

 perfectly to underftand the principle on which its efficacy 

 depends ; for, after giving a horfe a dofe of the fait, which is 

 done by mixing it with his food, they always give him water 

 to extricate the" gas. 



* This nffcflion is, I believe, a rare difeafe in Englind, and feldom 

 treated of in medical books. In the Kaft, it is not only often brougiit on 

 by long-continued fevers, but is a fitqueiit piim.iry difeafe, and under the 

 titles -wurm d ubul and omuji Jt:[^uix is ().irticnlarly defcnbcd in almolt 

 every I'crfun and Arabic MS. on the piadlicc of phyfic. 



There is a reruidy for ihe enlargement of ilie fpleen, now very popular 

 in Bengal, cslicd Lynt/'s fill for ibif L-fe, which, from the heterogeneous 

 ingredients of which it is compoled, has generally been confidered by the 

 pr^dtitioncrs there as an ufelefs Urraj;o: however, its elficicy has been 

 iuch as to bring it into high repute. It was in analyfiiig thi^ pill thai i 

 tccamc acquainted with the virtues of filt of liitunicn. 



Mr. LyniJ wj>i a head furgcon of eminence on the Ben;;al eftabli(hmfnt. 



Vol. XIV. No. 55. O XXXII. Mc^ 



