Balance being used by Indian Betel dealer to weigh his goods. The leaves of Piper betel are dried and used as an antiseptic and an astringent, and for many other medicinal purposes For chewing, particularly in India, parings of the nut of the Areca catechu, which stimulate salivation, are combined with lime (calcium oxide) and rolled up in Betel leaves. Hand-coloured engraving published Rudolph Ackermann, London 1822.