The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c4.s4.16

c4.s4.16

धूमपान Dhumapána or inhalations. Tapers or pastilles made of medicinal substances are set fire to, and their fumes inhaled through a tube by the mouth or nose. Pastilles for inhalation are thus prepared : a reed, half a cubit in length, is smeared or laid over with a paste of the drugs to be used, to two-thirds of its extent and is dried in the shade. When dry, the reed is withdrawn from the paste, leaving it in the form of a hollow tube. This is smeared with clarified butter and lighted. The lighted extremity is introduced into one end of the inhaling tube and the fumes drawn in by the other end through the mouth or nose, as the case may be, and emitted again through the mouth. In affections of the throat and chest, inhalation through the mouth is recommended, while in diseases of the head, eyes or nose, the fumes are drawn in through the nose. The tube for inhalation may be metallic or made of wood or ivory. Its length varies from two cubits to half a cubit, and its calibre should be sufficient to allow a large pea to pass through. The shorter tubes are used in administering expectorant and emetic fumes. Inhalations are useful in cough, asthma, catarrh, pain in the neck or head, etc. They may be used for soothing the air passages, for promoting discharge from them, for the relief of cough, or for inducing vomiting. Another form of inhalation, called Samana, is recommended to be used daily after washing the face, bathing, breakfast, etc. The pastille for this was made of cardamoms and other aromatic substances. This sort of smoking is not seen in the present day. Probably it was in vogue before the introduction of tobacco and has been displaced by the latter.