N. 0. UMBELLIFER.35. 
625 
diarrhoea, 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 drugs and obviating their 
tendency to cause nausea and griping, 1 know of no remedy 
of equal power.” 
Otnum Wata • — or distilled water from the seeds— is also sold 
in the bazaars, and a crystalline essential oil ( Ajwan-ke-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 8—4. 
A crystalline substance or stearoptine separates from the oil and forms on 
the surface during distillation. This is sold as a woin-ka-phul (“ flowers of 
ajowun ”), and is identical with thymol, which is the principal constituent (45 
to 65 per cent.) of ajowcin-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. [Of. 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 character of the Indian season ; during cholera and plague years it has 
been high (e.g. 22s. per kilo in 1901), but over-production lias tended to keep 
prices low e.g. 13s. 6d. in 1897, 18s. in 1908). Besides thymol certain hydro- 
carbons called thymene are obtained from a/oiuan-oil and Used as a soap- 
perfume. A sample of the fresh plant itself cultivated at Miltitz (Saxony) 
yielded O' 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 1908, 8,443 cwt. went to Germany 
and the rest to America and Egypt. [Of. Schimmel & Co., Semi-Ann. Rept., 
Oet.-Nov., 1903, 104 ; Apr.-May, 1904, 130.] The distilled dried fruit contains 
16 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 Heyneanct, Wall, h.f.b.i., ii. 684. 
Vern. : — Tirio ; Marcheia (Chutia Nagpur). 
Habitat : — Circars ; Deccan Peninsula and Ceylon, frequent 
in the hills. Chittagong ; at Burkul. Jaspur ; Sitonga. 
79 
