N. 0. PIPERACEJE. 1001 



Ginger, of each half an ounce ; Arrack, twenty ounces. Mace- 

 rate for seven days and strain. Dose, a drachm twice or 

 thrice daily. A powerful stimulant, with probably no special 

 claim to notice. The root is in great repute amongst the 

 natives of India ; it is the Peepla-mool of the " Taleef Shereef " 

 (p. 55, No. 275), where it is described as bitter, stomachic and 

 useful in promoting digestion. In Travancore, an infusion of 

 the root is prescribed after parturition, with the view of causing 

 the expulsion of the placenta. It appears to partake, in a 

 minor degree, of the stimulant properties of the fruit (Ph. Ind.). 

 As an alternative tonic, long pepper is recommended for use 

 in a peculiar manner. An infusion of three long peppers is to 

 be taken with honey on the first day, then for ten successive 

 days the dose is to be increased by three peppers every day, so 

 that on the tenth day the patient will take thirty at one dose. 

 Then the dose is to be gradually reduced by three daily, and 

 finally the medicine is to be omitted. Thus administered, it 

 is said to act as a valuable alterative tonic in paraplegia, chronic 

 cough, enlargements of the spleen and other abdominal viscera. 

 Long pepper enters into the composition of several irritating 

 snuffs; boiled with ginger, mustard oil, buttermilk and curds 

 it forms a liniment used in sciatica and paralysis. In the Con- 

 can, the roasted aments are beaten up with honey and given in 

 rheumatism ; they are also given powdered with black pepper 

 and rock salt (two parts of long pepper, three of black, and one 

 of salt) in half tola doses in colic. Mahometan writers, under the 

 name of Darfilfil, describe long pepper as a resolvent of cold 

 humours ; they say it removes obstructions of the liver and 

 spleen, and promotes digestion by its tonic properties; more- 

 over, it is aphrodisiacal, diuretic, and emmenagogue. Both it 

 and the root (Filfil-rnuiyeh) are much prescribed in palsy, gout, 

 lumbago, and other diseases of a similar nature. A collyrium 

 of long pepper is recommended for night blindness ; made into a 

 liniment, it is applied to the bites of venomous reptiles. (Dymock). 

 1079. P. Chaba, Hunter, h.f.b.i., v. 83; Roxb., 

 52. 



Sans. :--Chavika. 



