309 Till or Tillee.--The name of a seed, from which oil is extracted,
and which leaves much refuse after the oil has been drawn. When green,
it is dry, increases knowledge, and promotes appetite. Is astringent,
reduces corpulency, clears the voice and complexion, and allays
thirst. There are three kinds of this, the 1st called Pooth, the 2nd
Tilbund, or white Till, the 3rd is wild; it is heavy and astringent,
increases mucus and bile, strengthens the head, cures boils, and all
rheumatic affections. Is stomachic, increases knowledge, and restrain
the secretion of urine. The best kind is black, next the white, and
last in order the red. The flower of the Till is useful in disorders
of the eye, such as specks, and that affection called Nachoona, and
is applied mixed with Soorma with good effect. This is stated both
in the Ejalenapheh and Elajejul-umrae.
310 Toolsi.--"Ocimum Sanctum. (Roxb. MS.) Shrubby, hairy, branches
four-sided, leaves ovate, oblong, serrated with margins, and petioles
hairy; bractes petioled, ovate, cordate, ciliate, upper lip of the
calyx round, cordate, and hairy, with corol twice its length. Its seed,
Tookmi Rehan, H. of a mucilaginous nature."
A common plant, about a yard high or more; its leaves small and
longish, and serrated at the edges. The Hindoos consider it as very
sacred, and worship it. It is a species of sweet basil (Raihan);
bitter, pungent, hot, cardiac, and stomachic. It increases bile and
general heat, cures Juzam, difficulty in making water, affections of
the liver and blood.
311 Tumakoo.--Nicotiana Tabacum, W. It is said in the Dara Shekoi,
that it was first sown in India during the reign of Akber, or in
the year of the Hidjera 1014, when it was imported from Europe, and
sown by his order; now it is every where common, and is generally
smoked. In the opinion of Hukeem Alli Gheelanee, it is hot and dry;
its smoke from its heating quality confuses the ideas, and reduces
the strength; from its discutient property, it weakens the brain,
and depresses the spirits. Those who are of a cold, moist temperament,
may derive benefit from its use, but those who are of equal temperament
cannot use it with impunity. It is useful in piles the consequence of
cold, also in waterbrash, and complaints of this nature; it promotes
digestion and dissipates flatulent pains. It increases the strength
of vision when it is weakened by the effects of cold, but adds to it
when it has been caused by heat. In difficulty of breathing or pain
in the chest, proceeding from an accumulation of viscid phlegm, it is
very useful. It is prejudicial in thin spare habits; it shuts all the
passages, decreases the power of the absorbents, and consequently
prevents the absorption of chyle, thereby weakening the system,
and drying up and emaciating the body. It produces hectic fever in
the aged, and many other disorders in which medicine is useless. Its
corrector, according to the author of the Dara Shekoi, is milk; and
he gives this wise reason for it, that cloth stained with the smoke
of tabacco can only be cleaned with milk. It is used in many ways,
chewed, snuffed, smoked, &c. but is least prejudicial when smoked,
after being mixed up with goor and preserves. I have by experience
found it effectual in wind of the stomach, in pains produced by
flatulence, and in the waterbrash; but have found it prejudicial
to those labouring under depression of spirits, or who are subject
to heartburns.
The dried plant brought from Surat is more drying than any other,
and ought to be washed in rose-water or Bedemushk before use.
It is used by the Pytans as snuff: as a cephalic it strengthens
the brain, and prevents the effects of indigestion on that organ,
but it should not be used when people have weak eyes from heat. The
author of the Ulfaz Udwiyeh says, that he had a friend who was blind,
and that meeting him afterwards quite recovered, he was surprised to
learn that his cure had been effected by his having smoked equal parts
of tobacco and Sumhaloo; the women eat the Surat tobacco with pawn:
and it increases digestion, and is discutient. It is beneficial in
those temperaments which are cold and moist, and its juice is used
for drying the vagina.
312 Tamaal.--The Serroe tree. A tree resembling the Jhow, but much
larger; in its properties resembling the Saul. It cures swellings,
general heat, and blister.