317. The natives employ the crude seeds in doses of about a dessert-spoonful with the addition of a little salt; this is chewed and washed down with draughts of water. They also employ them in decoction, but this is objectionable, as heat dissipates the essential oil, in which the virtues of the seeds reside. A far better form is the Distilled Water, OMUM WATER—Aarqe-ajván (_Hind. et Duk._), Ajwain-ka-arak (_Punj._), Jawind-húnd-arak (_Kash._), Óman-tí-nír (_Tam._), Ómam-dráv-akam (_Tel._). It is also sold under the name of "Sison Cordial." Every Indian domestic medicine chest should contain a good supply of this useful preparation, which is procurable in all the large towns in India, being a very popular remedy with the native and East Indian portion of the community. Where, however, it is not purchasable it can be readily prepared by any native who has a common country still; in this case care should be taken that the right proportions be used—3lb. of the bruised seeds to six quart bottles of water, and distil over four. In order to prevent the seeds touching the bottom or sides of the boiler, and thus by becoming charred communicating a burnt flavour to the water, they should be tied up in a bag or cloth of loose texture, and suspended in the centre of the water. The dose is from 1 to 2 ounces, repeated as circumstances may require; that for a child ranges from a teaspoonful to a table-spoonful, according to age. The Distilled Oil is also an excellent form of administration in doses of 1 to 3 drops on sugar, or made into an emulsion with Gum Arabic. 318. In some forms of _Dyspepsia_, _in the vomiting, Griping or Diarrhœa arising from errors of diet_; _in simple Flatulence and even Tympanites_; _in Faintness and Exhaustion_; _in Spasmodic Affection of the Bowels in Choleraic Diarrhœa, in certain cases of Colic_; _and in Hysteria_, it has been found, even when given alone, pre-eminently useful (Wood). _It is especially adapted for the Diarrhœa and Flatulent Colic of Children._ 319. _In Cholera_ much reliance is placed by the natives and Anglo-Indians on Omum water, and although it appears to have no claim to the character of a specific in this disease which popular opinion assigns to it, there can be little doubt that it exercises considerable power, especially in the early stage, of checking the diarrhœa and vomiting, and at the same time of stimulating the system. It is not to be trusted to alone, but forms an admirable adjunct to other remedies.