In the practice of Native doctors, I have noticed that they administer saffron to alleviate violent sickness with the best possible effect.  A case came under my immediate observation, of a young female who had suffered from a severe illness similar in every way to the cholera; it was not, however, suspected to be that complaint, because it was not then prevailing at Lucknow:  after some days the symptoms subsided, excepting the irritation of her stomach, which, by her father’s account, obstinately rejected everything offered for eleven days.  When I saw her, she was apparently sinking under exhaustion; I immediately tendered the remedy recommended by my husband, viz. twelve grains of saffron, moistened with a little rose-water; and found with real joy that it proved efficacious; half the quantity in doses were twice repeated that night, and in the morning the patient was enabled to take a little gruel, and in a reasonable time entirely recovered her usual health and strength.

I have heard of people being frightened into an attack of cholera by apprehending the evil:  this, however, can only occur with very weak minds, and such as have neglected in prosperity to prepare their hearts for adversity.  When I first reached India, the fear of snakes, which I expected to find in every path, embittered my existence.  This weakness was effectually corrected by the wise admonitions of Meer Hadjee Shaah, ’If you trust in God, he will preserve you from every evil; be assured the snake has no power to wound without permission.’

[1] The Cantharis resicatoria is imported into India for use in blisters. 
    But there is a local substitute, mylabris, of which there are
    several varieties (Watt, Economic Dictionary, ii. 128, v. 309).

[2] The reference is perhaps to what is known as the Dehli Boil, a form
    of oriental sore, like the Biskra Button, Aleppo Evil, Lahore and
    Multan Sore (Yule, Hobson-Jobson, 302); possibly only to
    hot-weather boils.

[3] Chadar.

[4] For a good account of the ways of Indian ants, see M. Thornton,
    Haunts and Hobbies of an Indian Official, 2 ff.

[5] Khidmatgar.

[6] The habit of laying sugar near ants’ nests is a piece of fertility
    magic, and common to Jains and Vishnu-worshippers; see J. Fryor, A
    New Account of East India and Persia, Hakluyt Society ed., I, 278.

[7] Pipal, Ficus religiosa.

[8] An esteemed friend has since referred me to the second chapter of the
    prophet Joel, part of the seventh and eighth verses, as a better
    comparison. [Author.]

[9] The variety of locust seen in India is acridium peregrinum, which is
    said to range throughout the arid region from Algeria to N.W.  India. 
    They have extended as far south as the Kistna District of Madras (Watt,
    Economic Dictionary, VI, part i, 154).