318 Tumbole.--A designation for Paan, but what is properly called
so is a preparation used at marriages, composed of Paan bruised and
the juice expressed, mace, nutmeg, cloves, and cardamoms, all bruised
and mixed with sugar, and allowed some time till it ferment. Its use
causes exhiliration of spirits, slight intoxication, and strengthens
the system. It removes wind, is cardiac, and promotes dryness; those
of a hot and dry temperament will be injured by its use; it sweetens
the breath, and is generally known by this name.
319 Tunkaar.--"Impure Borate of Soda, Boras SodÊ." A name of Borax,
called also Zirkur; it is of two kinds, one white, called Curia,
the other named Telia. The proportion of both are the same; it is
refrigerant and detergent; strong, hot, and useful in mucus and wind,
cough, and asthma. It is burnt in the fire, pounded, and with equal
parts of Aloes and a little treacle made into pills, and as many
used daily as will agree with the stomach. These will remove pains in
the stomach, internal parts, chronic cough, difficulty of breathing,
or any complaint of that nature. It is recommended, that it be taken
every day for at least 20 days, but if this cannot be done, it may be
used at intervals for the above-mentioned complaints; this advice is
given from the Echtyarat Casmi. The whole properties of this medicine
are only known to Indian physicians, and from experience, I know it
to be a powerful promoter of digestion if taken about an hour after
meals with a little water only; it is called also Tunkunka·r.
320 Tawakeer.--A medicine of India, useful in gonorrhoea and dysuria
ardens.
321 Tombrir, also Tombie.--A bitter cuddoo. There is a kind of this in
which the seed is not bitter; it is heavy, though some call it light;
it is aphrodisiac; cures disorders of mucus and bile.
The one in which the seed is bitter, is cool, cardiac, and an
antidote to poisons; useful in cough and bile. If the seed be taken
when the moon is in the wane, bruised, and for 21 days, steeped in
the juice of ginger, its oil extracted and preserved in a bottle,
it will be found that this oil, when a year old, rubbed over the body
in weakly habits will renovate strength, and it is also said that it
will consolidate mercury.
322 Turai.--"Cucumis Acutangulus, Roxb. Hibiscus Esculentus?" A
common vegetable, bitter and dry, light and suppurating; beneficial in
swellings, marasmus, dropsy, affection of the spleen, Juzam, piles,
mucous disorders, and bile. Another kind is called Geea, and is very
mucilaginous and cool, but increases mucous disorders. A third kind
is named Arra, and is aperient and useful in bilious disorders.
Turai is a very common culinary vegetable of India, and the people sow
it in their houses; its flower is very beautiful, of a yellow color,
and the fruit is extremely mucilaginous. If it is sown at the root of a
tree or wall, it will climb for support; its leaves resemble the vine,
its fruit is about 2 or 3 inches long, and about the thickness of
the thumb or even thicker; the second and third kinds are larger and
thicker than the first, but the latter is the best, and those are to
be chosen which are thin, small, and soft. It is in my opinion cool,
moist, and aperient; beneficial in hot temperaments and weakness of
the stomach; those of a dry temperament will find it particularly
beneficial; it is a proper food for those labouring under fever. The
2nd kind is the most mucilaginous; the 3rd less so than the 1st.