Vol. VI, No. 10.] Materia Medico, Animalium Indica. 515 



[N.S.] 



In Patna the shavings of conch shells are sold as medicine 

 under the name of Sunk-choorum. They are considered ant- 

 acid and alterative. 



Conch shell lime (SanJcha bhasma) is a favourite caustic in 

 Hindu medicine : it is prepared from the refuse shells left by the 

 bangle-makers of Dacca. 



Fusus sp. 



Vern. : — Khayu-thin, Burm. 



This is sold in Mandalay under the same vernacular name 

 as the conch shell. It is brought from Moulmein. 



Turbo sp. 



The Operculum. 



Vern. : — Navi sankha, Beng. ; Ghesm sirlan, Pers. 



Ainslie informs us that the Persians employ crab's eyes or 

 crab's stones as an absorbent. They were procured in abundance 

 from Astracan. In Calcutta they are used as a charm for 

 rheumatism and other complaints. The stones are white with 

 brown patches, weighing less than one gramme each. The 

 inner surface is plane with a spiral groove n the centre, the 

 outer surface is convex. They contain calcium carbonate. 



Indian Cuttle Fish. 



Sepia sp. 



Vern. : 



mudraf 



Dirya-ka-kuff, Dec. ; Keddelnuray, Tarn. ; Samudrajm-nurugu , 

 Tal ; Kaf-i-daria (the foam of the water), Pers.; Cuttle fish 

 bone, Eng. 



The internal calcareous skeleton of the cuttle fish is fre- 

 quently used in medicine. It is the Os sepice of old pharma- 

 copeias. The fine scrapings of the bone boiled in oil are 

 dropped into the ear in ear-ache and otorrhoea. Sometimes 

 the powder is placed in the ear, lime juice being added to 

 produce effervescence which relieves the pain. It is usually 

 brought by returned pilgrims from Mecca and hence is looked 

 upon as a very important medicine. In Burma a species of 

 Sepia is called Ye-jiet or " Water-hen." Sepia bone is consi- 

 dered refrigerant, absorbent and ant-acid. In Ajmir it is used 

 in eye ointments. 



The Indian cuttle fish bone has the following composition : 

 calcium carbonate 88*7, calcium sulphate 76, organic matter 

 and water 9-3. iron oxide and alumina *46, magnesia and alkalis 

 1'7, silica -1, phosphoric acid -02. 



PISCES. 



The oil from the livers of certain fish is palatable and has a 

 similar composition to that of cod-liver oil, and has been 

 recommended as a substitute. Some of the oils were prepared 



