 Reference Base  De geneesheer in Nederlandsch-Indie, III. Matera Indica |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| Location: |
Asia - South East Asia - Indonesia |
| Subject: |
Value - Related to Horn |
| Species: |
Asian Rhino Species |
 |
|
In such a rhino horn people pour water, which must remain in it for a minimum of 12 hours, preferably by night. That water is a cure for exhausting diseases, especially consumption of the lungs.
Disks cut from the horn, or small cuttings, have special power against snake bite. Maybe this can be explained from the strong sucking powers of the capillaries of the horn, when these come into contact with a fluid. These disks possibly can be useful in fresh wounds by taking in the blood together with the poison.
The scrapings are found in the apothecaries in the Indies as Rasura cornu rhinocerotis. Bontius thought that it was soothing and strengthening and prescribed it in medicines for tetanus, proctitis etc.
Chinese mix the fresh powder from rhino horn with the livers of geese and ducks in wine, and give it to cure haematemesis.
The deciduous teeth of the lower jaw of the rhinoceros are much valued as long as they are not full grown. Apparently sometimes they are even found in adult animals. They are beautifully white and are sometimes worn in rings instead of a precious stone. These are called Malatti or Malatti Badak and are supposed to have a fever reducing power. The body of the person suffering from fever is rubbed with these stones and the fever disappears.
|
|
|
File available
details
Original text on this topic: