Dάruharidra.

Dάrvi.

Vern. Daruhaldi. Hind.

The wood, root-bark and extract of Indian Barberry have been used in Hindu Medicine from a very remote period. Its properties are said to be analogous to those of turmeric. The extract, called Rasάnjana* in Sanskrit and Rasot in the vernacular, is directed to be prepared by boiling together equal parts of a decoction of Indian barberry and milk, till reduced to the consistence of an extract.+ The extract thus prepared, is said to be particularly useful in affections of the eyes. Indian barberry and its extract rasot are regarded as alterative and deobstruent, and are used in skin diseases, menorrhagia, diarrhoea, jaundice and above all, in affections of the eyes.

Rasάnjanάdi churna,1 or compound powder of rasot. Take of rasot, atis, the bark and seeds of Holarrhena antidysenterica, flowers of Woodfordia floribunda ( dhάtaki) and ginger, in equal parts. Powder and mix. Dose, about a drachm, with rice water (tandulάmbu) and honey. This powder is said to be useful in bilious diarrhoea.

* Galena or the sulphide of lead ore is sometimes called rasanjana in Sanskrit, and some physicians in Bengal use the lead ore for rasanjana, whenever this term occurs in a prescription. In the Upper Provinces however, rasanjana is invariably translated rasot in the vernacular. This, no doubt, is the correct practice. The mistake on the part of the Bengali physicians, probably occurred from their not being acquainted with rasot, which is the produce of plants indigenous to the Himalayan range.

Dάrvyάdi kvάtha,1 or compound decoction of Indian barberry. Take of the root bark of Indian barberry, rasot, chiretta, Adhatoda Vasica (vάsaka), Cyperus rotundus {mustaka), bela fruit and marking nuts, equal parts, and prepare a decoction in the usual way. This is administered with honey in menorrhagia and copious discharges from the womb. Another combination said to be very useful in menorrhagia is as follows. Take of rasot and the root of Amaranthus spinosus (tanduliya ) equal parts, beat into a paste with water, and administer with honey and water in which rice has been steeped.

Sάrangadhara recommends a simple decoction of Indian bap-berry to be given with the addition of honey in jaundice. In painful micturition from bilious or acrid urine, a decoction of Indian barberry2 and emblic myrobalan is given with honey. A decoction3 of the root bark is used as a wash for unhealthy ulcers, and is said to improve their appearance and promote cicatrization. In the intertrigo of infants, rasot is recommended to be applied externally and administered internally.4 Rasot mixed with honey, is said to be an useful application to aphthous sores.

The principal use of rasot however is in eye-diseases, in which it is employed in a great variety of forms. The following are a few illustrations. Take of rasot, chebulic myrobalan, rock salt and red ochre, equal parts, rub them together into a paste with water, and apply round the orbit in inflammatory affections of the eyes. 1 Rasot mixed with honey may also be used in the same way. An emulsion of rasot made with milk is recommended to be poured into the eyes, or used as a collyrium for relieving pain, burning and lachrymation.2