Ginger, of each half an ounce ; Arrack, twenty ounces. Macerate for seven days and strain. Dose, a drachm twice or thrice daily. A powerful stimulant, with probably no special claim to notice. The root is in great repute amongst the natives of India ; it is the Peepla-mool of the " Táleef Shereef "
(p. 55, No. 275), where it is described as bitter, stomachic and useful in promoting digestion. In Travancore, an infusion of the root is prescribed after parturition, with the view of causing the expulsion of the placenta. It appears to partake, in a minor degree, of the stimulant properties of the fruit (Ph. Ind.).
As an alternative tonic, long pepper is recommended for use in a peculiar manner. An infusion of three long peppers is to be taken with honey on the first day, then for ten successive days the dose is to be increased by three peppers every day, so that on the tenth day the patient will take thirty at one dose. Then the dose is to be gradually reduced by three daily, and finally the medicine is to be omitted. Thus administered, it is said to act as a valuable alterative tonic in paraplegia, chronic cough, enlargements of the spleen and other abdominal viscera. Long pepper enters into the composition of several irritating snuffs; boiled with ginger, mustard oil, buttermilk and curds it forms a liniment used in sciatica and paralysis. In the Concan, the roasted aments are beaten up with honey and given in rheumatism ; they are also given powdered with black pepper and rock salt (two parts of long pepper, three of black, and one of salt) in half tola doses in colic. Mahometan writers, under the name of Darfilfil, describe long pepper as a resolvent of cold humours ; they say it removes obstructions of the liver and spleen, and promotes digestion by its tonic properties; moreover, it is aphrodisiacal, diuretic, and emmenagogue. Both it and the root (Filfil-muiyeh) are much prescribed in palsy, gout, lumbago, and other diseases of a similar nature. A collyrium of long pepper is recommended for night blindness ; made into a liniment, it is applied to the bites of venomous reptiles. (Dymock).
1079. P. Chaba, Hunter, h.f.b.i., v. 83; Roxb., 52.
Sans. :--Chavika.
