xiv TURMERIC 443 



History. If the calamus of the Bible is the sweet 

 flag (Acorus Calamus), the mention of it in Exodus 

 xxx. 23, Canticles iv. 14, and Ezekiel xxvii. 19 are 

 the earliest records of its use, but there is some doubt as 

 to what was intended in these passages. The plant 

 " Acoron," a native of Colchis, Galatia, and Crete, 

 mentioned by Dioscorides and Pliny, A.D. 23 to 79, seems 

 certainly to refer to it. Celsus (25 B.C. to A.D. 50) 

 mentions Calamus Alexandrinus, probably brought from 

 India by way of the Red Sea. It is said to have been 

 introduced into Western Europe in the thirteenth century. 

 But it first is recorded as abundant in Germany in 1588. 

 The Indian rhizomes, however, were imported extensively 

 till long after it was common in Europe. At present 

 most of the drug is brought from Southern Russia 

 through Germany to the London market, though 

 occasionally a little still comes from India. 



Names. The plant and its rhizome has many names. 

 In English it is knpwn as Sweet Flag ; French, Acore 

 odor ant or vrai, or Roseau aromatique ; German, 

 Kalmus ; in the druggist's Latin, Calamus aromaticus 

 or acorus, the rhizome, Radix Calami aromatici ; in 

 Malay, Jeringu ; Tamil, Vasambu ; Hindu, Gorbach. 



Cultivation. The plant is propagated very readily 

 by portions of the rhizome being planted in damp muddy 

 spots, and is of rapid growth. In the tropics it seldom 

 flowers, and fruits sparingly everywhere. Common as 

 it is in the Malay Peninsula, I have only seen flowers 

 and never fruits. It is never cultivated on a large scale 

 in tropical countries, but it is found in most village 

 gardens. No trouble is taken with it. It is merely 

 planted and left to itself, and the rhizome taken 

 up when required and dried. Dr. Dymock (Watt's 

 Dictionary) says that it is imported into Bombay chiefly 

 from the Persian Gu]f and brings about 3 rupees a 

 maund of 37 ^ seers. There is a very considerable trade 

 in this article done in Calcutta. 



Use. The rhizome of sweet flag is largely used in 

 native Oriental medicines for dyspepsia and bronchitis, 



