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The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c6: Part III. Animal Materia Medica

The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c6

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English

Contents

Part III. Animal Materia Medica

The Leech

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LEECHES have been employed by the Hindus from a very remote period. Susruta gives a detailed account of their varieties habits, mode of application, etc. His account of leeches has been translated in full by Dr. Wise. Pandit Madhu Sudan Gupta had also furnished a note on the subject for publication in the Bengal Dispensatory. I will not therefore attempt a new translation but will give an extract from Dr. Wise's work. "There are twelve varieties of leeches, six of which are venomous, and six useful. The venomous leeches are found near putrid fish or animals in foul stagnant and putrescent water. Such leeches are consequently to be avoided. The good leeches are found in clear and deep pools of water which contain water lilies, and are surrounded with sweet smelling plants. The middle sized leeches are the best. These leeches are to be caught on a piece of leather or cloth, and placed in a new water pot in which some clay and pure water has been put. Some grass or leaves of aquatic plants are to be placed in the pot for them to lie upon, and the roots of water lilies and dry flesh are to be given them for food. The water is to be changed every third day, and the water pot every seventh day. If the leeches do not fix quickly, apply a drop or two of milk or blood to the part, or make one or two very slight scarifications, which will induce them to fix themselves more readily. When the leeches are sucking, sprinkle a few drops of cold water upon their bodies. When the leeches have removed the necessary quantity of blood, sprinkle a small quantity of salt upon their heads to make them drop off. Put the gorged leeches upon some dry bran, put a little oil and salt upon their mouths and then strip them. Put them next in fresh water and, if they are lively, they will live and may be used again; but if they are languid, they will soon die and they should therefore be at once thrown away. The part upon which the leeches have been is to be smeared with honey, cold water and astringent substances. In other cases poultices may be applied.”

Lac

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Sans. लाक्षा, *Lákshá* Vern. *Lákh*, Hind. *Gálá*, Beng.

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THE lac insect (*Coccus lacca*), has been known to the Hindus from a very ancient period. The *Butea frondosa* is called *Lákshá taru* or lac plant in Sanskrit, this being the principal tree in which lac is said to be produced. The fluid lac-dye obtained by dissolving the crushed stick-lac in water is called *A'lakta*. It is used in colouring silk. Cotton coloured with this dye and pressed into flat circular pieces is sold in the bazars under the name of *A'ltá* and is used in painting the hands and feet of Hindu females. Shell-lac is used in the preparation of sealing wax, varnish for carpenters and ornaments for women. A decoction of shell-lac is much used in the preparation of several medicinal oils, such as *Lákshádi taila*, *Chandanádi taila*, *Angáraka taila*, etc.

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*Laksháditaila.*¹ Take of shell-lac two seers, water sixteen

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¹ लाक्षादि तैलम् । लाक्षारस समं तैलं तैलात्स्त चतुर्गुणम् । अश्व- गन्धा निशा दारु कौन्तीकुष्ठाब्दचन्दनैः । समूर्वा रोहिणी रास्ना शताह्वा मधुकैः समैः । सिद्धं लाक्षादिकं नाम तैलमभ्यञ्जनादिना । सर्व्वज्वर- क्षयोन्माद श्वासपस्मार वातनुत् । यच्च राक्षस भूतघ्न गर्भिनीनां च शस्यते । भावप्रकाशः ।

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1 लाक्षादि तैलम् । लाक्षारस समं तैलं तैलात्स्त चतुर्गुणम् । अश्व-
गन्धा निशा दारु कौन्तीकुष्ठाब्दचन्दनैः । समूर्वा रोहिणी रास्ना शताह्वा
मधुकैः समैः । सिद्धं लाक्षादिकं नाम तैलमभ्यञ्जनादिना । सर्व्वज्वर-
क्षयोन्माद श्वासपस्मार वातनुत् । यच्च राक्षस भूतघ्न गर्भिनीनां च शस्यते ।
भावप्रकाशः ।

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seers, boil till reduced to four seers and strain. To this decoction of shell-lac add four seers of prepared sesamum oil, sixteen seers of whey, and two tolás each of the following substances, namely, *Withania somnifera* (*asvagandhá*), turmeric, *devadáru* wood, root of *Sanseviera Zeylanica* (*murvá*), *Pandanus odoratissimus* (*ketaki*), *Vanda Roxburghii* (*rásna*), dill seeds and liquorice root in the form of a paste and prepare an oil in the usual way; lastly add four tolás of camphor. This oil is much used for inunction in chronic fever and consumption. The other oils containing lac are prepared in a similar way, with the addition of various medicinal substances in the form of paste.

Honey and Wax

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*Sans.* मधु, *Madhu*, माक्षिक, *Mákshika*.

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*Vern.* *Madhu*, *Beng.* *Shahad*, *Hind.*

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Eight sorts of honey are described by Susruta, namely:

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1. *Mákshika* or the honey collected by the common bee called *madhumakshiká*.

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2. *Bhrámara*, or the honey collected by a large back bee called *bhramara*.

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3. *Kshaudra*, or honey collected by a sort of small bee of tawny colour, called *Kshudra*.

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4. *Pauttika*, or honey collected by a small black bee resembling a gnat, and called *puttika*.

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5. *Chhatra*, or honey formed by tawny or yellow wasps which make their hives in the shape of umbrellas.

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6. *Argha* or wild honey collected by a sort of yellow bee like the *bhramara*.

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7. *Audálaka* is a bitter and acrid substance like honey found in the nests of white ants.

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8. *Dála* or unprepared honey found on flowers.

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Of these varieties the first four only are described by recent writers and the first alone is used in medicine. New honey is considered demulcent and laxative. Honey more than a year old is said to be astringent and demulcent. Old honey is preferred to new. It is much used in the preparation of confections and electuaries, and as an adjunct to decoctions, pills and powders.

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Wax, called *siktha* in Sanskrit, is used in the preparation of ointments and *ghritas* for external application.

Serpent Poison

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*Sans.* सर्पविष, *Sarpavisha*, गरळ, *Garala*.

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Serpent poison has been used in Hindu Medicine since a very recent period only. Even the *Bhávaprákasa* which is not more than three centuries old does not mention it. Prescriptions containing it are found in such modern compilations as the *Bhaishajya ratnábali*, *Sárkaumudi*, etc.

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The poison of the black cobra (*Naga tripudians*. *Vern.* *Keute sáp*, *Beng.*) is used. It is collected by making the reptile bite on a piece of stick or wood when the poison is poured out and received on a piece of plantain leaf. It is preserved in two ways. The liquid poison is allowed to congeal and dry in a cup or it is rubbed with a fourth part of mustard oil and spread out on a piece of plantain leaf. Thus treated it rapidly coagulates into a granular agglutinated mass of a yellowish-brown colour. When allowed to dry spontaneously, serpent poison coagulates into shining, crystalline yellowish white granules. It is used in complicated fever in combination with arsenic, aconite and other medicines. Numerous formulæ containing this poison are given in recent compilations. The following are a couple of examples.

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*Suchiká bharana rasa.*¹ Take of mercury, sulphur, prepared tin, aconite and cobra poison, equal parts, mix them together and soak the mixed powder in the bile of rohitaka fish (*Cyprinus Rohita*), wild boar, peacock, buffalo and goat successively and make into a pill-mass. This medicine is administered in doses that can be taken up by the point of a needle, hence it is called *suchikábharana*. It is given in remittent fever with cerebral complications.

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¹ सूचिकाभरणरसः । रसगन्धकनागञ्च विषं स्थावरजङ्गमम् । मत्स्य-वराहमायूरछागपित्तैश्च भावयेत् । सूचिकाभरणो नाम भैरवेण प्रकीर्त्तितः । सुचिकाग्रेण दातव्यः सन्निपातकुलान्तकः । भैषज्यरत्नावली ।

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*Kálánala rasa.*¹ Take of black cobra poison, sulphur, white arsenic, aconite, black pepper, long pepper, ginger, borax, mercury, prepared iron and copper equal parts ; soak them in the five kinds of bile mentioned above and make into one-grain pills with the juice of *datura* root. These are given in fever with coma, delirium and drowsiness.

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¹ कालानल रसः । अमृतं गरलं शङ्खं लौहताम्रञ्च टङ्कणम् । रसं गन्धं तु मरिचं पिप्पलं पञ्चपित्तैर्विभावयेत् । मातुलुङ्गद्रवै र्भाव्यं वटिका यवमानतः । धत्तूरक रसञ्चानु दापयेत् सान्निपातिके । अति तीव्र ज्वरं हन्ति सर्वोपद्रव संयुतं । हरिद्रा तैल संमिश्रं मर्दयेत् तीव्रतापिनं । तथा स्नानान्तरे गाढं लेपयेत् गन्धचन्दनं । दध्यन्न दापयेत् पथ्यं द्राक्षादिचाष्ट दाडिमं । कालानल रसो नाम्ना गोप्यः परमदुर्लभः । रसरत्नाकरः ।

Musk

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*Sans.* मृगनाभि, *Mriganábhi*, कस्तूरी, *Kasturi*.

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The *Bhávaprakása* describes three varieties of musk, namely, *Kámrupa*, *Nepála* and *Káshmira* musk. *Kámrupa* musk is said to be of black colour and superior to the others. It is probably China or Thibet musk brought via Kamroop. *Nepála* musk is described as bluish colour and intermediate quality. *Káshmira* musk is of inferior quality.

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Musk is regarded as stimulant and aphrodisiac and is used in low fevers, chronic cough, general debility and impotence. In low fevers with prostration, two grains of musk with two of *Makaradhvaja* are given every three hours with the addition of honey.

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*Svalpa kasturi bhairava.*² Take of cinnabar, aconite, borax, nutmeg, mace, long pepper, black pepper and musk, equal parts and make into four-grain pills. These are given in remittent fever of low type.

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² स्वल्पकस्तूरि भैरव रसः । हिङ्गुलञ्च विषं टङ्कं जातिकोष फलन्तथा । मरिचं पिप्पली चैव कस्तूरीच समांशिका । रक्तिद्वयं ततः खादेत् सन्निपाते सुदारुणे । रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः ।

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Mriganávyádyavaleha.¹ Take of musk, cardamoms, cloves, cinnamon and dates, equal parts and make into a linctus with honey and clarified butter. This is given in hoarseness and loss of speech.

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¹ मृगनाभ्यादिरवलेहः । मृगनाभि सस्तैला लवङ्गक सुमानि च । त्वक्क्षीरी चेति लेह्यं मधुसर्पिः समायुतः । वाक्स्तम्भसुगं जयति स्वर भ्रंश समन्वितम् । भावप्रकाशः ।

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Vasantatilaka rasa.² Take of prepared gold one part, talc and tin two parts each, iron three parts, the preparation of mercury called rasasindura and calcined pearls and coral, four parts each; mix them together, soak for seven days in the juice of sugar-cane, of the fruits *Tribulus terrestris* (*gokshura*) and of other strengthening vegetables. Enclose the mass in a covered crucible and roast it in a sand-bath for three hours. Lastly add to it four parts of camphor and four of musk and make into four-grain pills. These are given as an alterative tonic in a variety of diseases, but more especially in chronic affections of the lungs supposed to be caused by deranged phlegm.

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² वसन्ततिलकरसः । हेम्नोभस्मकमभ्रकं द्विगुणितं लौहास्त्रयः पारदाः चत्वारो नियतन्तु वङ्गयुगलं चैकीकृतं मर्दयेत् । मुक्ताविद्र मयो रसेन समता गोक्षुरवासिक्षुणा सर्व्वं वल्यकरेण तेन सुदृढं तत्तत् पचेत् सप्तधा । कस्तूरी घनसारमर्हितरसः पश्चात् सुसिद्धोभवेत् । कासश्वास सपित्त वात कफजित् पाण्डुजयादीन् हरेत् । मूलादिमहणी विषादिहरणं मेहाप्रसरो विंशति । हृद्रोगापहरं ज्वराच्छिवशमनं हृष्यं वयोवर्द्धनं श्रेष्ठं पुष्टिकरं वसन्त-तिलकं मृत्य ज्ञयेनोदितम् । रसेन्द्रसारसंग्रहः । अयमपि मारालक-कफरोगे प्रसिद्धः ।

Civet Cat

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*Sans.* गन्धमार्जार, *Gandha márjára*. *Vern.* *Khátási*, *Beng.* The pouch of the civet cat (*Viverra Zibetha*, Linn.) contains an unctuous odorous secretion which is extracted and used in perfumery. The pouch together with the secretion contained in it, are used by native physicians in scenting medicated oils.

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HARTSHORN. Sans. मृगशृङ्ग, *Mrigasringa*. The antler of the deer incinerated in closed vessels is used in painful affections of the heart, pleurodynia, sciatica and lumbago. It is given in doses of about twenty-two grains with clarified butter. Burnt hartshorn leaves 57·5 per cent of phosphate of lime.¹

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¹ शरावसंपुटे दग्धं शृङ्गं हरिणजं पिबेत् । गव्येन सर्पिषापिष्टं हृच्छूलं नश्यति ध्रुवम् । शार्ङ्गधरः । दग्धमनिर्गतधमं मृगशृङ्गं गोघृतेन सहपीतम् । हृदयमितम्बजशूलं हरतिशिखीदारुणवहमिब । चक्रः ।

Milk and Its Products

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The properties of the milk of various animals are described in great detail by Sanskrit writers. Milk in general is considered cooling, nutritive, strengthening and vitalizing. Cow's milk is pleasant to take and very wholesome. It promotes memory, strength and longevity and increases the secretion of semen. Buffalo's milk is said to be sweeter, heavier and more cooling than cow's milk. It induces sleepiness, spoils the appetite and brings on cold. Goat's milk is sweet, cooling and astringent. It promotes the digestive power and is useful in hæmorrhagic diseases, phthisis, bowel complaints, etc. Ewe's milk is saltish, disagreeable and not easily digested. Mare's milk is saltish, acidulous and easily digested. Ass's milk is saltish, easily digested, and useful in debility and urinary complaints. Camel's milk is light, sweet, saltish, laxative and useful in dropsical affections. Human milk is light, cooling, nutritive, strengthening and useful as a collyrium or wash in eye diseases. All milk except human milk should be taken boiled. Warm milk just as it comes out from the teats is said to be like nectar.

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As an article of diet, milk is considered demulcent, laxative, and especially adapted for children, old men, consumptive people or those reduced by debauchery, for women who are suckling and for patients suffering from chronic fever, mental diseases, dyspepsia, diarrhœa, urinary complaints, ascites and anasarca. A pure milk-diet to the exclusion of every other article (not excepting even salt and water) is often prescribed in the later stages of anasarca, ascites and chronic bowel complaints. Along with this milk diet, some sort of medicine, such as *Dugdha vaṭi*, *Svarṇaparpaṭi*, or *Mána maṇḍa*, is usually prescribed.

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तक्र Takra or butter-milk. Four sorts of butter-milk are described, namely *ghola* or pure butter-milk without admixture of water, *takra* or butter-milk with one-fourth part of water, *udasi* or that mixed with half its bulk of water, and *chhachchhiká* or very dilute butter-milk. The second form called *takra* is used in medicine and as an article of sick diet. It is regarded as astringent, light, cooling, appetizing, nutritive, tonic, and useful in diarrhœa, dysentery, dyspepsia, urinary diseases, ascites, poisoning, etc. It is not suited to the weak, or consumptive nor to those suffer-from fever and nervousness. The habitual use of butter-milk is said to be conducive to health and a preservative against disease.

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दधि Dadhi or curdled milk is prepared by adding some acid or a little curdled milk as a ferment to milk previously boiled. In the course of twelve hours the whole of the milk thus acted upon is changed into a more or less thick, acidulous, jelly-like mass. It is considered agreeable, digestive and cooling, and is much used as an aricle of diet by all classes of natives. Taken to excess it causes biliousness and catarrh. It is useful in fever, diarrhœa, dysentery, urinary disorders and disinclination for food.

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मस्तु Mastu or whey is said to have properties similar to those of curdled milk. In particular it is said to favour the circulation of the animal fluids and to be useful in constipation.

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किलाटक Kiláṭaka or curd of milk (*Vern. chhená, Beng.*) is hard of digestion, but is nourishing, tonic and suited to persons with strong digestive powers.

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सन्तानिका Santániká or cream is also hard of digestion but nourishing, agreeable and demulcent.

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नवनीत Navanita or butter is tonic, astringent, invigorating, stomachic and useful in phthisis, piles, facial paralysis, etc. It agrees best with the old and young.

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घृत *Ghrita* or clarified butter is much used both as an article of diet and in pharmacy. Clarified butter obtained from cow's milk is considered superior to that prepared from the milk of the buffalo and is preferred for medicinal use. Clarified butter is considered cooling, emollient and stomachic. It increases the fatty tissues and mental powers, improves the voice, beauty and complexion and is useful in eye diseases, retained secretions, insanity, tympanites, painful dyspepsia, ulcers, wounds, etc. It is the basis of a form of medicinal preparation called *ghritapáka* already described in the introduction, (see page 14).

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पुराणघृत *Purána ghrita*. Clarified butter more than ten years old, passes by this name.¹ It has a strong pungent odour and the colour of lac. The longer this old butter is kept the more efficacious it is said to prove as an external application. Clarified butter a hundred years old is often heard of. The richer natives always have a stock of old *ghrita* of this description which they preserve with care for their own use as well as for distribution to their poorer neighbours. I have seen some specimens of old clarified butter which were quite dry and hard and nearly inodorous. They looked more like some sort of earth than an animal substance. Old clarified butter is used externally. It is first repeatedly washed with cold water, and then rubbed with it till it is reduced to a soapy frothy fluid which is used as a liniment. It is regarded as cooling and emollient and is much used in nervous diseases such as insanity, epilepsy, neuralgia, paralysis, cephalalgia and asthma, in rheumatic affections, stiff joints, burning of the body, hands or feet, affections of the eyes, etc.²

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¹ उन्मादहृतो दृष्टः वा पुराणं वैकं घृतम्। डयगन्धं पुराणं स्याद्- वर्षस्थितं घृतम्। लाक्षारस निभं शीतं प्रपुराणमतःपरम्। चक्रः।

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² शतधौत घृताभ्यङ्गः शीतवातादि सेवनम्। शीतस्पर्शश्च संसेव्याः सदा- दाहार्त्ति शान्तये। चक्रः।

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The following treatment is recommended for reducing the temperature of the skin in strong fever. The patient's body should be anointed with an emulsion of sandal wood and of old clarified butter that has been washed a hundred times in cold water. He should then enter a tepid bath for a short while. His bedding should be made of the leaves of *Nelumbium speciosum* (*kamala*).¹

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¹ शिताम्बुः सानुशतयश्च विलोडितेन गव्येनचन्दन युतेन घनेनदिग्धा । दाहज्वरी सकमलोत्पलमालधारी क्षिप्रंविशेत् सलिलकोष्णमल्पकालं । काञ्जिकाद्र्ध पटेनावगुण्ठनं दाहनाशनम् । दर्पः ।

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BILE. Sans. पित्त, *Pitta*.

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The bile of the buffalo, wild boar, goat, peacock and *rohitaka* fish (*Cyprinus Rohita*), is used in medicine, either singly or in combination under the designation of *Pancha pitta* or the five biles. Bile is considered laxative and is chiefly used in soaking powders intended for being made into pill-masses.

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*Udakamanjari rasa*.² Take of mercury, sulphur, calcined borax, and black pepper each one part; sugar and the bile of *rohitaka* fish, four parts each; rub them together for three days and make into six-grain pills. These are given with ginger juice in recent bilious remittent fever. If there is much heat of head, cold water should be applied to it. For other preparations containing bile, see under serpent poison, page 278.

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² उदकमञ्जरीरसः । सूतं गन्धकञ्च शोषणञ्च सर्वैस्तुल्याः शर्करा मत्स्य-पित्तैः । भयोभयो मर्दयेत् विरात्रं वल्लोदेयः शृङ्गवेर द्रवेण । तोयेशीतं भोजनैस्तक्रभक्तन्नाकाद्यं पथ्यमेतत् प्रदिष्टं । अङ्गैवोमं हन्ति सद्यज्वरन्तु पित्ताधिकं मूर्ध्नि तोयञ्च दद्यात् । रसप्रदीपः ।

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गोरोचना *Gorochaná*, or the concretions found in the gall-bladder of the ox, are considered cooling, aromatic and useful in abortion and diseases supposed to be caused by evil spirits. *Gorochaná* is sometimes given to infants in small doses as a laxative. It enters into the composition of some medicines for skin diseases.

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URINE. Sans. मल, *Mutra*.

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The properties of the urine of various animals, such as the cow, buffalo, goat, sheep, horse, elephant, ass, and camel are minutely described. Of these, cow's urine is much used both internally and externally, in the purification of various metals and in the preparation of oils, decoctions, etc. It is described as laxative, diuretic and useful in constipation, suppression of urine, colic, anasarca, jaundice, leprosy and other skin diseases. Goat's urine is sometimes given internally as for example in the prescription quoted under *Nardostachys jatamansi*. In congestive fever with constipation, flushed face and headache, an ounce of fresh and warm cow's urine is given as a domestic medicine. It is sometimes given as the vehicle for administering castor oil, (see page 231). Cow's urine is used in the preparation of various medicines for jaundice, anasarca and allied diseases. The following is an illustration.

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*Punarnavá mandura*.¹ Take of *Boerhaavia diffusa* (punarnavá) *Ipomœa Turpethum* (trivrit), ginger, long pepper, black pepper, *báberang* seeds, *devadáru* wood, plumbago root, *pátchak* root, the three myrobalans, turmeric, wood of *Berberis Asiatica*, (*dáruharidrá*) root of *Baliospermum montanum*, (*danti*), *Piper Chaba* (*chaviká*), indrajava seeds, root of *Picrorrhiza Kurroa* (*katuki*), long pepper root and the tubers of *Cyperus rotundus* (*mustaka*), equal parts; iron rust in weight equal to twice that of all the other ingredients; mix them together and boil the mixed powder in eight times its weight of cow's urine till the watery part is evaporated. Dose, about twenty-two grains, in jaundice, ascites, anasarca, enlargements of the abdominial viscera, painful dyspepsia, etc.

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¹ पुनर्नवामण्डूरम्। पुनर्नवात्रिवृच्छटी पिप्पलीमरिवानि च। विडङ्गं देवकाष्ठञ्च चित्रकं पुष्कराह्वयम्। त्रिफलां द्वे हरिद्रे च दन्तीञ्च चविक-नथा। कुटजस्य फलं तिक्तापिप्पलीमूल सुस्रकम्। एतानि समभागानि मण्डूरं द्विगुणं ततः। गोमूत्रेऽष्टगुणे पक्त्वास्थापयेत्स्निग्धभाजने। पाण्डु-शोथोदरानाह मूलाथैः क्रिमिशूलनुत्। भावप्रकाशः।

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*Marichádya taila*. Take of mustard oil four seers, cow's urine sixteen seers, aconite eight tolás, orpiment, realgar, black pepper, milky juice of *Calotropis gigantea* (*arka*), root of *Nerium odorum* (*karavira*), root of *Ipomœa Turpethum* (*trivrit*), colocynth root, *Aplotaxis auriculata* (*kushtha*), turmeric, wood of *Berberis Asiatica* (*dáruharidrá*), *devadáru* wood, and red sandal wood, each four tolás, and prepare an oil in the usual way. This oil is said to be useful in leucoderma, chronic prurigo and other obstinate skin diseases.¹

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¹ मरिचाद्यं तैलम् । मरिचालशिखाऽर्कपयोऽरिजरटातिह्वत् । शक्रद्रु-विशालाकुडनिशायुगदारुचन्दनैः । कटुतैलात्पचेत्प्रस्थं ह्यत्रैर्विपच्यमान्तैः । सगोमूत्रं तदभ्यङ्गाच्छ्वित्रविनाशनम् । सब्बेष्वापि कुष्ठेषु तैलमेतत्प्रश-स्यते । चक्रदत्तः ।

Animal Flesh

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In describing the properties of the flesh of various animals, Sanskrit writers divide them into two classes, namely जाङ्गल Jángala or land, and अनूप Anupa or water animals : Animals living on land are sub-divided into eight orders as follows :—जाङ्गल Jángala or animals living in the wilderness as deers, antelopes, etc.

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बिलशयाः, Vilasthá, or animals living in holes under ground, as serpents, lizards, porcupines, etc.

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गुहाशयाः, Guhásayá or animals living in caverns, as tigers, lions, bears, etc.

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पर्णमृगाः, Parnamrigá or animals living on trees, as monkeys, squirrels, etc.

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विष्किराः, Vishkirá or birds which take their food after tearing or scattering it, as peacocks, quails, partridges, etc.

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प्रतुदाः, Pratudá or birds which strike with their beaks, as pigeons, wag-tails, cuckoos, etc.

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प्रसहाः, Prasahá or birds of prey, as the hawk, falcon, etc.

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ग्राम्याः, Grámyá or domestic animals, as ox, goat, horse, sheep, etc.

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Animals living in water or marshy lands are sub-divided into five classes as follows :—

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कुलेचराः, Kulechará, or animals grazing in marshes, as buffalos, yak, rhinoceros, etc.

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प्लवाः, Plavá, or birds which swim in water, as geese, ducks, cranes, etc.

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कोशस्थाः, Kosasthá, or animals enclosed in shells, as conch-shells, bivalve-shells, etc.

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पादिनाः, Pádina, or footed aquatic animals as tortoise, crocodile, porpoise, etc.

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मतस्य Matsya or fishes.

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Of these classes, Jángalá or animals living in the wilderness, and Vishkira or birds which scatter their food are considered superior to the others in an alimentary point of view. The different properties of the meat of various animals are desribed by Sanskrit writers in great detail. The flesh of the goat, domestic fowl, peacock and partridge is said to be easily digested and suited to the sick and convalescent. The meat of the deer, sambar, hare, quail, and partridge is recommended for habitual use. Fish, beef and pork are considered hard to digest and unsuited for daily use.

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The flesh of various animals is used in medicine chiefly in the form of ghrita or taila páka. The following is a list of the more important and commonly used ghritas and oils made with the flesh of different animals.

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Hansádi ghrita, prepared with the flesh of geese, and used in cephalalgia and nervous diseases.

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Kukkutádi ghrita, prepared with the flesh of fowls, and used in chronic cough.

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Sivá ghrita, prepared with jackal's flesh and used in insanity.

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Chhágaládi ghrita, prepared with goat's meat, and used in nervous diseases.

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Sámbukáditaila, is an oil prepared with the flesh of snails and used externally in ear diseases.

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Nakuládya ghrita is prepared with the flesh of the mungoose and used in nervous diseases.

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The following are two illustrations of preparations with animal flesh.

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Chhágaládya ghrita.¹ Take of goat's meat six seers and a quarter, the ten drugs called dasamula six seers and a quarter in all, water sixty-four seers; boil till the latter is reduced to one-fourth and strain. Take of clarified butter, milk and the juice of *Asparagus racemosus* (*satamuli*), four seers each ; and the following substances in the form of a paste, namely, *Tinospora cordifolia* (*guruchi*), bamboo-manna, *Withania somnifera* (*asvagandhá*), *Hemidesmus Indicus* (*sárivá*), berries called *kákoli*, bulbs called *kshira-kákali*, pulse of *Phaseolus trilobus* (*mugáni*), and of *Glycine debilis* (*masháni*), *Cœlogyne ovalis*, (*jivanti*), and liquorice root (one seer in all) ; boil them together and prepare a *ghrita*. This preparation is given in facial paralysis, deafness, loss of voice or indistinct speech, convulsions, hysteria, sciatica, paralysis and other diseases of the nervous system.

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¹ छागलाद्यं घृतम् । आजं चर्मविनिर्मुक्तं त्यक्तष्टङ्खनखादिकम् । पञ्च मूलोदयञ्चैव जलद्रोणे विपाचयेत् । तेन पादावशेषेण घृत प्रस्थं विपाचयेत् । जीवनीयेः सयष्ट्याहैः क्षीरञ्चैव शतावरी । छागलाद्यमिदं नाम्ना सर्ववात विकारनुत् । अर्दिते कर्णमूले च बाधिर्ये मूकमिन्निने । जड़गद्गद पङ्गुनां खञ्जे गृध्रसिकुजयोः । अपतानेऽपतन्त्रे च सर्पिरेतत् प्रशस्यते । कलयाष्ट मधु भागद्वयमिति शिवदासः । भैषज्यरत्नावली ।

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*Máshataila.*¹ Take of goat's meat eight seers, water sixty-four seers ; boil together till the latter is reduced to sixteen seers. Take of the pulse of *Phaseolus Roxburghii* (*másha*), linseed, barley, root of *Barleria Prionites* (*kuranṭaka*), of *Solanum Jacquinii*, (*kanṭakári*), *Tribulus terrestris* (*gokshura*), bark of *Calosanthes Indica* (*syonáka*), *jaṭámánsi* root, seeds of *Mucuna pruriens* (*kapikvachchhu*), each one seer, water sixty-four seers; boil down to sixteen seers. Take of cotton seeds, seeds of *Crotolaria juncea* (*sana*), pulse of *Dolichos uniflorus* (*kulattha*), dried pulp of *Ziziphus Jujuba* (*kola*), each two seers, water sixty-four seers ; boil down to sixteen seers. Take of ginger, long pepper, dill seeds, root of *Ricinus communis* (*eranḍa*), of *Bœrhaavia diffusa* (*punarnavá*), *Pœderia fœtida* (*prasárani*), *Vanda Roxburghii* (*rásná*), *Sida cordifolia* (*berelá*), *Tinospora cordifolia* (*gulancha*) and *Picrorrhiza Kurroa* (*katuki*) equal parts ; in all one seer, and reduce them to a paste. Boil the above mentioned decoctions and the paste with four seers of sesamum oil in the usual way. This oil is rubbed externally in convulsions, paralysis, wasting of limbs and other diseases of the nervous system.

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¹ माषतैलम् । माषसर्षप यवककण्टक कण्टकारी गोकण्ट दुरालु क जटा कपिकच्छुतोयैः । कार्पासस्थि शणबीज कुलत्थकोलकाथेन वस्तपशितस्य रसेन चापि । गुडूचा समाधिकया शतपुष्पा च सैरण्डमूल सपुनर्नवया सरव्या । रास्ना बलाश्वत लता कटुकैर्विपक्कं माषाख्यमेतदवबाहुहृदङ्गतैैलम् । अङ्गङ्गशोष मपतानक माढ्यवातमाक्षेपकं सभुजकम्पशिरः प्रकम्पम् । नखेन वस्तविधिना परिषेचनेन हन्यात् कटीजघन जानुरुजः समीरात् । भेषज्यरत्नावली ।

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