266 Beedjbund.--(From the Maadentezerrabad.) A medicine of India, red
and black; its seed resembles that of the onion, red and shining;
the red kind is to be preferred. It is aphrodisiac, increases
seminal secretion, strengthens the back and loins. It is cool and
dry, flatulent and difficult of digestion; its corrector is sugar;
its sucoedaneum, the seed of the Antungun. The dose is one miskal
with equal parts of sugar.
267 Benth.--"Calamus Rotang." Of this there are many kinds; one kind
called ToÊikam, another Jillbenth, a fourth Itchill; the whole four are
cool and cure swellings, piles, pains in the uterus, boils, eruptions,
acne, difficulty in voiding urine, are lithonthriptic, useful in
affections of wind and mucus, also foulness of blood. Jillbenth is
astringent and flatulent, and Itchill is an antidote to poison.
268 Peetul.--(Brass.) P. Bering. It is not an original metal, but
a composition. In its properties it is equally cool, hot, and dry;
it cures disorders of wind, phlegm, jaundice, and affections of the
spleen. A kind of this is called Sonepeetul.
269 Peepul.--"Ficus Religiosa." A tree of India, very large and
common; the young leaves are green, but when well formed become
yellowish; it is cool; cures disorders of bile, phlegm, and blood;
is useful in boils and eruptions. The bark of the tree is aphrodisiac,
strengthens the loins, and restrains watery discharge from the urethra;
and this I have found from experience. Some say, this is called in
P. Lirzan. Its fruit is about twice the size of the PhaÏsa. It tastes
like the fig. It is called Peepulie, and is when ripe of a yellowish
color. In the Maadentezerrabad, it is thus mentioned. "The Peepul
tree in Persian is called Lirzan; in the opinion of the inhabitants
of India, cool and dry. Its fruit diminishes the secretion of bile,
promotes digestion, relaxes the bowels; and if the bark be infused in
water and applied to boils, it will hasten suppuration and promote the
discharge of the matter; if the bark be burnt and thrown into water,
it will quickly purify it."
270 Bale.--A name for Raebale; cool and light; cures disorders of
phlegm, and is an antidote to poisons.
271 Baele.--"Called also Byll, Cratoeva, or ∆gle Marmelos; Wood
Apple." The name of a fruit which grows like the quince; its seeds
are larger than those of the Ryhan. I have seen the tree, it is like
the Bukaen; its leaves very soft and tender, broad and long, somewhat
like the Moong: on each small sprig it has three leaves. Some have
said that it was originally wild, but subsequently brought into our
gardens; that which is now in gardens is larger than that which grows
uncultivated. The fruit is hollowed out and used as snuff-boxes, and
for several other purposes. It is a very common tree in India; it is
bitter, astringent, and a little sweetish, hot, and moist; when ripe it
is heavy, producing phlegm, bile, and wind, causing heat of stomach,
and is difficult of digestion. It destroys appetite and induces
costiveness; but unripe it is light, strengthens the circulation,
and the whole body; induces costiveness; increases appetite, hastens
digestion, and cures disorders of wind and phlegm. I have given it
with other medicines for the cure of diarrhoea with good effect. "And
in dysentery, a table-spoonful of the pulp, made into sherbet, and
taken several times a day, has been effectual."
272 Peeloo.--"Salvadora Persica." "Careya Arborea," (Roxb.) The
Indian name for this, Araak. It is a wild growing shrub, about the
height of a long spear, (8 feet,) with many branches; it is broad
and round in its general appearances; its leaves thin, and about 1/2
an inch long. The fruit is called Peel or Peeludj; it is hot, light,
and aperient; promotes appetite, cures Badgola, piles, affections of
the spleen and wind; is lithonthriptic; useful in disorders of the
blood; it produces bile, and in all favorite formulÊ, it forms an
ingredient. The fruit is also called Jhal; it is bitter, laxative,
lessens phlegm, general heat, Juzam, fever, and worms. The wood of
the Peeloo used as a tooth-brush, is excellent for preserving the gums.
273 Peoke, or Peossie.--The first milk given by any animal after the
birth of its young. A. Lubba. It increases the bulk of the solids,
and inclination towards aphrodisia, but it causes hiccough, and the
formation of stone in the bladder, and is difficult of digestion;
its corrector is sweetmeats.
274 Peease.--"Allium Cepa. Agnon, F. Swiebel, G. Cipolla, I. Pallandoo,
S. Onion." A. Bosool. Pungent, and during digestion sweet; hot in
a small degree, and in its effects resembling Garlic. It increases
mucus, removes disorders of wind, and hydrocele. There is a smaller
sort, called Karinjun, which increases bile, produces costiveness,
and cures piles. There is a third kind, which when dried is white,
and is recommended to be kept in any house to prevent the approach
of snakes or any venomous reptiles.
275 Peeplamool.--The name given to the root of the Peepul tree,
but some give the name to the whole tree, and some give the name
to the fibres of the root of any tree; but judging from the name,
I conceive it to be what I have just stated. Mool being root, and
Peepul must indicate the kind of root. The idiom is Indian, and I
think must be correct. It is bitter and pungent, dry and stomachic;
promotes digestion, cures disorders of wind and phlegm, but impairs
the eye-sight and seminal secretions.
276 Bear.--Called also Konar, "Ziziphus Jujuba." Sweet, cool, heavy,
aperient, causes wind, produces corpulency, cures disorders of bile,
wind, blood, general heat, and the disease called Rajerogue; also
allays thirst. Another kind of this, named Husthkool, and a third
called Kurkund, q. vide.