Vol. VI, No. 10.] Materia Medico, Animaliurn Indica. 513 



[N.8.] 



Pearls have been used in medicine from a very ancient 

 period and are mentioned in Sanskrit literature by Susruta. 

 They are purified for use by boiling with the leaves of certain 

 plants, calcining them in covered crucibles and reducing to 

 powder. The powder is esteemed in urinary diseases and 

 consumption, and is said to increase the strength, nutrition and 

 energy of weak patients. Arabian physicians suppose pow- 

 dered pearls to have virtues in weak eyes. 



The only value possessed by the gem is doubtless that of 

 an antacid, a property for which it was used in former times 

 in European medicine. The supply of pearls for this purpose, 

 no doubt, came from India. Linschoten wrote in the sixteenth 

 century of seed pearls : ■ ' They are sold by the ounce , and used 

 by Potticaries and by Physitions, and to that end many of 

 them are carried into Portingall and Venice, and are very good 

 and cheap." Irvine records that small seed pearls, called 

 Motibuka, were brought from Bombay and prescribed in Ajmir 

 for impotency. They cost Rs. 7 per tola in 1841. 



Placenta orbicularis (Placuna pla- 

 centa, Linn.) . . . • . . Window Oyster. 



The pearls from this species besides being used to some 

 extent for ornamental purposes, are supposed to possess invigor- 

 ating properties and are used as a medicine. In South India 

 the lime prepared from these shells is used by the rich in 

 mixing with pdn-supari. 



Avicula sp. 



Vern. : — Kha-ya-kama, Burm. 



The shells from Tavoy and Mergui are sold in Moulmein. 

 Price, 15 annas each. A paste is made of the shell and water 

 in conjunction with other articles and is given for diabetes. 



Ostrea sp 



• • 



Oyster. 



Vern. : — Sipi, Hind.; Kalu, Guz. ; Teram, Malay. 



These shells are sold in Mandalav under the same name as 



* 



that of the Avicula. They come from Moulmein. They con- 

 tain about 90 per cent, of calcium carbonate. 



Unio spp. 



Freshwater Mussels. 



Vern. : — Yauk-thwa, Burm. 



The shells of two of these species are sold in Mandalay. 

 In combination with other drugs they are said to be useful for 

 coughs. Concha fluviatilis mentioned by Dr. Honigberger is 

 probably of this genus. It is said to be used by the hakims at 

 Lahore as a medicine. The shell with the common people 

 serves for a spoon out of which they take their medicine. 



