was obliged to support himself on a crutch. That a fakeer passing that way observed his feeble state, and feeling compassion for his helpless situation, asked him what ailed him: he replied, nothing; but that old age had come upon him. The fakeer then gave him a medicine which he had taken ever since, with an injunction to abstain from all acids: this he had done, and that the effect was such as I saw. He likewise told me that he had a son nearly 80 years of age, who had also used the fakeer's prescription, and who was much stouter and more healthy in every respect than he. "Astonished at this relation, I procured the receipt, and thus hand it down to posterity. "Take the white roots of a full grown, healthy Sembill tree, which is soft; cut them in pieces, dry them in the shade, and reduce them to a powder: sift it very fine, with equal parts of sugar, and over the fire, form it into an electuary: of this 5 direms are to be eaten daily, and no acid to be used. "To this the old man swore, and brought his son and introduced him to me to prove the truth of his story. The son corroborated the assertion of his father, and added that he had ate the remedy only two years, when he became as he then was; certain it is, he had not a grey hair in his head." 622 Semb.--also SÈme. A common creeper; its leaves very green and small, broad in the centre and pointed: a smaller leaf rising from the same part of the stem; its flower is small and of a yellowish color. Its seed is like the pistachio nut, but more broad and longer in some degree, like the stone of the tamarind; it is called B·kl· Hindui; it is cool, astringent, flatulent, and from its astringency strengthens the stomach; is aphrodisiac; cures bilious disorders; increases mucus, and the Hindoos have recommended it for the cure of wind; but in this I do not concur, as it is rather apt to produce wind; they are however in the habit of recommending all medicines that procure a discharge of flatus. One kind is called Golesemb, also called Krishnphilla; its seed is larger and longer than the one now described; it is hot, and cures disorders of wind, bile, and mucus. 623 Sehoond.--A prickly plant, growing wild. A. Zakoom. It is so called, but the seed of the Zakoom is said to be like the Hurr, whereas the Sehoond has no seed; it is pungent, heavy, laxative; increases appetite, cures dropsy; is an antidote to poison, useful in affections of the spleen, Juzam, idiotism, marasmus, and itchiness of the bowels, flatulent swellings, badgola, swellings in general, and is lithontriptic. The best kind is red or of a rose color; its milk is also red, but if put on a cloth it becomes white. All kinds of it are used in transmutation of metals. There are several kinds in use for various purposes, the juice is an ingredient in many formulÊ.