Senna.—As an example of the present state of medical science among the Malays, the following translation of instructions for the use of a well-known drug may be of interest. It will be seen that it cures as many diseases as some of the patent pills of modern advertisements. The mention of grapes, dates, and pomegranates as ingredients may show that the Malay prescription is itself a translation from Indian or Arabic sources:—

“This is designed to explain the virtues of the senna of Mecca (daun sana-makki), which is famous among all doctors of experience.

“First. Take some senna leaves with their stalks and bark, pound the whole up fine, and then weigh out a quantity as heavy as three Java duits. Let this be mixed with honey. If this is swallowed, its properties are to cause all diseases of the chest to disappear.

“Second. Mix the senna leaves with moist sugar. If this is taken internally, the effect is to expel cold from the body and to give strength to the organs.

“Third. Mix the senna leaves with sugar candy. This gives strength to the bones.

“Fourth. Mix the senna leaves with clarified butter and moist sugar. If this is taken for three days it will get rid of all bad humours in the body, and will give health.

“Fifth. Mix the senna leaves with fresh butter to which no salt has yet been added. The properties of this mixture are to cure headaches and to cleanse the brain and to remove any bad taste in the mouth.

“Sixth. Mix the senna leaves with curds. This mixture operates as an antidote to poison and prevents evil consequences from it.

“Seventh. If senna be taken with goat’s milk, it will cause an accession of strength, though complete weakness existed just before.

“Eighth. If senna be taken with dates, everything offensive is removed from the mouth, and the body is made healthy, and a good appetite is established.

“Ninth. If senna be taken with pomegranates, the body becomes strong, and though the patient may be old, nevertheless there is an addition of strength, and the organs of the chest are cleansed, and the appetites are stimulated.

“Tenth. If senna be taken with grapes, it gives light to the eyes which were dim. This is proved by experience.

“Eleventh. If senna be drunk with vinegar, it cures fever accompanied by shivering and trembling of the bones, and expels all mischief from the stomach, and cleanses the organs of the chest.

“Twelfth. If senna leaves be taken with orange juice, all internal heat is removed, and a man who was before quite thin will speedily grow fat.

“Thirteenth. If senna is drunk with dew, the eyes become bright and clear.

“Fourteenth. If senna is taken in water in which pomegranate peel has been boiled, it cures dysentery.

“Fifteenth. If senna is boiled with cocoa-nut water and taken internally, it will cure diabetes and gravel, by the will of God ever to be praised and Most High.”

Thus the properties of the senna of Mecca are concluded under fifteen headings.52

Specimen Words of the Spirit Language used by Pawangs