The Materia Medica of the Hindus, compiled from Sanskrit Medical Works c6.s7.2

c6.s7.2

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.