164 



Native Medicinal Oils. 



The processes, by which all Medicinal oils are prepared, would 

 seem to be almost the same, except in the case of a few. 



The general process followed in these preparations, is this:—- 



The drugs prescribed for the first decoction, being cut up and 

 pounded together, are put into a vessel (earthen or copper) with 

 well-water four times the weight of the drugs; the whole is then 

 gauged by means of a piece of stick, on which accordingly a mark 

 is put to denote the quantity, and three times as much water is 

 again added. This is boiled down to a quarter of the whole or 

 until it is reduced to the mark. The boiling must go on very 

 slowly, continuing for seven days. Sometimes the juices of certain 

 plants are substituted for this docoction. 



This first decoction being then strained is put into a vessel, 

 generally copper, with oil (Sessamum or other as the case may be) 

 equal to a quarter of it in weight, and is next boiled with a medi- 

 cal composition, called " Kalhe" compounded of a number of me- 

 dicinal drugs well ground together, which kalke itself must, in 

 weight, be equal to a quarter of the oil. The boiling of this, which 

 may be called the second decoction, is continued for nearly five 

 days more, except where juices are used instead of the first decoc- 

 tion, in which case, the boiling should not exceed three days. 

 When the Kalke assumes the consistency of Bees' wax, the vessel 

 is taken off the fire, and the liquid being then well strained, becomes, 

 the Medicinal Oil. 



Oils. No. \.—Sidharte Tide. 

 First Decoction. 

 Bely — -ZEgle marmelos, Corr. 

 Middy — Premna serratifolia, Linn, 



