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of its yellow colour. The editor of the Pharmacopœia of India speaks favourably of the use of a decoction of turmeric in purulent conjunctivitis ; he says it is very effectual in relieving the pain. In coryza he states that the fumes of burning turmeric directed into the nostrils cause a copious mucous discharge, and relieve the congestion. Murray remarks that it is given by the native doctors in the diarrhœas which are so troublesome and difficult to subdue in atonic subjects. Baden-Powell remarks that it is employed in " intermittent fevers and dropsy. It contains much essential oil and starch and acts as a stimulant and aromatic tonic.

The root, parched, and powdered, is given in bronchitis in closes of grs. xxx to xl. (Civil Surgeon J. Anderson, M. B., Bijnor.) The smoke produced by sprinkling powdered haldi over burnt charcoal will relieve scorpion sting when the part affected is exposed to the smoke for a few minutes. A paste made of fresh rhizome is applied on the head in cases of vertigo. Fresh juice is cooling. Fumes of burning root is employed during hysteric fits. (T. N. Ghose.) Turmeric and alum in the proportion of 1 to 20, is blown into the ear in chronic otorrhœa. (Dr. Darasha H. Baria.)

Turmeric contains about 1 per cent, of an essential oil. Curcumin, the yellow-colouring matter of turmeric, has been examined by several chemists, whose experiments have led to the conclusion that its formula is either C₁₀H₁₀O₃ or C₁₆H₁₆O₄ , that it melts at 172°, forms red-brown salts with alkalies, is converted by boric or sulphuric acid into rosocyanine, by reduction with zinc-dust into an oily body, by oxidation into oxalic or terephthalic acid, and by fusion with potash into protocatechuic acid. (Pharmacogr. Ind. III. 412.)

Sans. : — Chandra malika.

Vern. : — Chandra múla (H. and M.) ; Chandú múlá, humalá (B.) ; Katsjulam (Mal.) ; Katsjolan (Tam.) ; Kachoram (Tel.).

Habitat : —In the plains throughout India ; much cultivated for its highly fragrant root of great commercial value sold in the bazaars as Kachari in Bombay. (K. R. K.)

An artomaic annual herb. Rootstock tuberous. Root-fibres