284 
Reviews, 
j  Am.  Jour.  Phartru 
\       May,  1892. 
application  to  burns,  and  for  promoting  the  growth  and  darkening  the  color  of 
the  hair  ;  for  the  latter  purpose  a  decoction  of  the  root  is  likewise  used. 
Verbena  officinalis  is  considered  tonic  and  astringent,  and  useful  in  paralysis 
and  amenorrhcea.  The  smell  of  Ocimum  Basilicum  is  disliked  by  the  Hindus,, 
but  the  Mahometans  are  very  partial  to  it.  Lavandula  Stcechas  is  regarded  in 
India  as  "the  broom  of  the  brain  sweeping  away  all  phlegmatic  impurities,"  etc. 
Mentha  spec.;  the  mints  are  considered  to  be  hot  and  dry,  and  are  prescribed 
in  dyspeptic  affections,  fluxes  and  dropsy.  Origanum  Majorana  is  similarly 
employed.  Thymus  Serpyllum  is  lauded  by  Mahometan  writers  for  a  variety  of 
purposes.  The  seeds  of  Plantago  major  are  largely  imported  into  India  from 
Persia,  and  have  a  great  reputation  in  dysentery. 
The  seeds  of  Mirabilis  Jalapa,  Four-o'clock,  are  said  to  be  sometimes  used 
to  adulterate  pepper  ;  the  root,  with  spices,  is  employed  as  a  strengthening  medi- 
cine, the  leaves  for  cataplasms,  and  the  juice  as  a  cooling  application  in 
urticaria.  Spinach,  Spinacia  oleracea,  is  much  valued  by  the  Mahometans  for 
its  cooling  and  emollient  properties,  the  juice  as  a  diuretic  and  gargle,  and  a 
decoction  in  febrile  affections,  in  lithiasias,  and  in  inflammation  of  the  lungs 
or  bowels.  Polygonum  aviculare,  knotgrass,  is  still  used  by  the  Hakims  as 
in  ancient  times,  as  a  vulnerary  and  astringent.  The  rhubarb  found  in  the 
Indian  bazars  is  very  inferior,  in  long  stick-like  pieces,  comes  from  China,  has 
hardly  any  aroma,  and  but  slight  purgative  action,  and  is  used  by  the  natives 
as  a  tonic  and  stomachic.  Mahometan  physicians  describe  black  pepper  as 
deobstruent,  resolvent  and  alexipharmic,  and  use  it  as  a  nervine  tonic,  diuretic 
and  emmenagogue.  Lotig  pepper  is  employed  in  a  similar  manner  ;  and  in 
addition  the  roots  and  creeping  stems  are  largely  used  under  the  name  of 
pippali-mula.  Cubeb  is  diuretic,  deobstruent,  and  a  useful  application  to 
putrid  sores  and  pustules  in  the  mouth  ;  some  Mahometan  writers  have  called 
it  hab-el-anh,  bridegroom's  berry.  Nutmeg  and  mace  are  described  by- 
Mahometan  doctors  as  stimulating,  narcotic,  digestive,  tonic  and  aphrodisiac. 
Camphor  is  largely  used  in  India  in  performing  the  &rtiy  a  ceremony  in  adora- 
tion of  some  god,  by  waving,  in  a  circle  before  the  image,  a  platter  containing 
a  five-wicked  burning  lamp,  flowers  and  incense,  the  lamp  being  fed  with  cam- 
phor ;  the  same  rite,  only  substituting  a  bridegroom  for  the  idol,  is  called  drtar 
and  is  performed  on  the  arrival  of  the  bridegroom  at  the  house  of  the  bride. 
Chinese  cinnamon  and  the  volatile  oil  imported  from  China  are  used  medi- 
cinally in  India  in  much  the  same  manner  as  in  Europe  ;  Ceylon  cinnamon  is 
not  an  article  of  commerce  in  India.  Of  Laurus  nobilis  it  is  stated  that  "the 
dry  leaves  are  distilled  in  America  for  the  essential  oil  used  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  bay  rum."  This  is  an  error;  the  oil  of  bay,  used  for  bay  rum,  is 
obtained  from  Myrcia  acris,  as  we  showed  in  1861.  The  wood  of  Santalum 
album,  grown  in  the  Mysore  Province  is  little  known  outside  of  India,  and  the 
sandalwood  oil  is  sold  by  the  Mysore  government  at  the  annual  auction  along 
with  the  wood,  and  chiefly  bought  up  for  exportation  to  China  and  Arabia. 
Euphorbia  pilulifera  is  a  popular  remedy  for  worms,  bowel  complaints,  cough 
and  gonorrhoea,  and  as  a  local  application  for  the  cure  of  ringworm  ;  its 
Marathi  name  Nayeti  signifies  ringworm.  The  purging  nut,  Jatropha 
Curcas,  is  sometimes  used  by  Hindu  physicians  as  a  purgative  and 
alterative  ;  the  oil  is  reckoned  a  valuable  application  to  itch,  herpes,  chronic 
rheumatism  and  sores  or  wounds  ;  the  leaves  are  rubefacient  and  discutient, 
