The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c5.s24.t2.3

c5.s24.t2.3

THE Amorphophallus campanulatus is cultivated for the sake of its tubers, which are cooked and eaten by the natives like yams or potatoes. The tubers contain an acrid juice which should be got rid off by thorough boiling and washing, otherwise the vegetable is apt to cause troublesome irritation in the mouth and fauces. Medicinally, *surana* is considered serviceable in hæmorrhoids; in fact one of its Sanskrit synonyms is *arsoghna* or the curer of piles. It is administered in this disease in a variety of forms. The tuber is covered with a layer of earth and roasted in a fire; the roasted vegetable is given with the addition of oil and salt.¹ Several confections are described such as the *Laghusurana modaka*, *Vrihat surana modaka*, *Surana pindi*, *Kánkáyana modaka* etc. These are all confections made of the tubers of *Amorphophallus campanulatus* with the addition of treacle and various aromatics and acrids.