N. 0. UMBELLIFER^. 625 



diarrlioea, and often recommended for cholera. They are 

 used most frequently in conjunction with assafetida, myroba- 

 lans, and rock salt. A decoction is supposed to check dis- 

 charges, and it is therefore sometimes prescribed as a lotion, 

 and often constitutes an ingredient in cough mixture. Dr. 

 Bidie is strongly in favour of the extended use of this medicine. 

 " As a topical remedy, it may be used with advanatge, along 

 with astringents, in cases of relaxed sore-throats. For dis- 

 guishing the taste of disagreeable drags and obviating their 

 tendency to cause nausea and griping, 1 know of no remedy 

 of equal power." 



Omum Water— or distilled water from the seeds— is also sold 

 in the bazaars, and a crystalline essential oil (Ajwan-he-phul)* 

 This is chiefly prepared at Oojein and elsewhere in Central In- 

 dia (Pharm. Ind.). 



By distillation a Water and an Oil are obtained, the percentage of the 

 latter being about 3—4. 



A crystalline substance or stearoptine separates from the oil and forms on 

 the surface during distillation. This is sold as a'lvain-ka-phal (" flowers of 

 ajowun "), and is identical with thymol, which is the principal constituent (45 

 to 55 per cent.) of aj'ouxm- oil and for which alone the fruits are distilled in 

 Europe. It is prepared on a fairly extensive scale in Ujjain and other towns 

 of Central India and was first made known to Europe by Dr. Stocks. The 

 price is from Rs. 6 to Rs. 12 per lb. [Cf. Rept. Cent. Indig. Drugs Comm., i., 

 125.] The value of thymol is mainly as an antiseptic, and very large orders 

 have recently been received from Japan. The price in Europe varies with 

 the charactor of the Indian season ; during cholera and plague years it has 

 been high (e.g. 22s. per kilo in 1901), but over-production has tended to keep 

 prices low e.g. 13s. 6d. in 1897, 13s. in 1903). Besides thymol certain hydro- 

 carbons called thymene are obtained from aj owan-oil and used as a soap- 

 perfume. A sample of the fresh plant itself cultivated at Miltitz (Saxony) 

 yielded 0*12 per cent, oil, but the oil had only 1 per cent, of thymol. Of 8,641 

 cwt. of the fruit exported from Bombay in 1903, 8,443 cwt. went to Germany 

 and the rest to America and Egypt. [Cf. Schimmel & Co., Semi-Ami. Rept., 

 Oct.-Nov., 1903, 104 ; Apr.-May, 1904, 130.] The distilled dried fruit contains 

 15 to 17 per cent, protein and 25 to 32 per cent, fat, thus making an excellent 

 food for cattle. (Watt's Commercial Products p. 285). 



574. Pimpinella Heyneana, Wall. H.F.B.i., n. 684. 



Vern. : — Tirio ; Marcheia (Chutia Nagpur). 

 Habitat: — Circars ; Deccan Peniosnla and Ceylon, frequent 

 in the hills. Chittagong ; at Burkul. Jaspur ; Sitonga. 



79 



