504 PIPERACE^— LILIACE^. App. C. 



PIPERACEiE. 



Chavica Betle, Miq. (== Piper Beth, Linn.), 



This aftords the celebrated Betle leaves, so extensively employed as a 

 masticatory in the East. Ainslie says that the warm juice of the leaves is 

 l)rescribed by the native doctors as a febrifuge, in the quantity of a small 

 sjjoonful twice daily. 



Piper nigrum, Linn. 



Black pepper has long been knowTi to possess febrifuge powers : an 

 infusion of it in some kind of spirit is a popular remedy for preventing the 

 return of the paroxysms in intermittent fevers. The root, however, is the 

 part used by the native doctors in India, and is administered in the form of 

 a decoction. Piperin, one of the constituents of pepper, has been said to 

 be a more certain and speedy febrifuge than the chinchona alkaloids, but 

 O'Shaunhnossy says that after repeated and careful trials he found it was 

 not of the least utility. The Tamul name of the plant is " Shuvium." 



ZINGIBERACEiE. 



Curcuma lonqa, Linn. 



The uses of the various kinds of Turmeric for dyeing purposes and as 

 a condiment, particularly for the preparation of curry-powder, are well 

 known, lx)th in this country and to the natives of India ; but the latter 

 consider that it also possesses medicinal virtues, and give it as a stimulant 

 and tonic in intermittent fever and some other diseases. European practi- 

 tioners at one time regarded it as useful in jaundice. 



LILTACE^. 



Allium sativum, Linn. 



Ainslie says that the Hindus express a stimulating oil from common 

 garlic, which they prescribe internally in ague to prevent the recuri-cnce of 

 the paroxysms, and use externally in paralytic and rheumatic affections. 

 Garlic is called " Vullay poondoo " in Tamul ; " Lassun " in Hindostanee ; 

 and " Lasuna " in Sanscrit. 



ORONTIACE^. 



AcoRUs Calamus, Linn. 



The rhizomes of the common Sweet-Flag are well known in some parts 

 of England as a cure for ague, and the natives of the East are well a^\are 



