Digitized by the Internet Archive in 2018 with funding from Wellcome Library https://archive.org/details/b29288642 Safe- mmmm IROBEMT JOHN TlIpB.'NTOS', M,B. ■XoTichm,. TfaMiskecb by 3. Sc 71 . Irosby Sc C7’ T'loyb'zSiy . A FAMILY HERBAL: THE MEDICAL PROPERTIES OP British anti ^foreign -plants, ALSO THEIR USES IN DYING, AND THE VARIOUS ARTS, ARRANGED ACCORDING TO THE LINNJEAN SYSTEM, AND ILLUSTRATED S Y TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY-EIGHT ENGRAVINGS FROM PLANTS DRAWN FROM NATURE BY HENDERSON, AND ENG-RAVED BY BEWICK OF NEWCASTLE, SECOND EDITION, CONSIDERABLY ENLARGED AND IMPROVER, BY ROBERT JOHN THORNTON, M. IL MEMBER OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE, AND OF THE ROYAL LONDON COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS; LECTURER ON BOTAMf AT guy’s HOSPITAL; AUTHOR OF A GRAMMAR OF BOTANY, THE PHILOSOPHY OF MEDICINE, &Cfi LONDON : PRINTED FOR R. AND R. CROSBY AND CO. STATIONERS COURT, LUDGATE STREET. IS I 4. Printed by T. Bens'! ey, Bolt Court, Fieet Street, London, DEDICATION TO HER MAJESTY, CHAR L O T T E, QUEEN OF ENGLAND. Madam, London,, Feb, 1, 1814. Having had the Honor and Felicity of dedi- eating, with Permission, to your Majesty those superb works, t£ the New Illustration of the Sexual System of Linnaeus,” and “ Temple of Flora," permit me now the honour to lay at your Ma¬ jesty’s feet a more humble production, but one not less useful ; namely, the medical and other valuable properties of plants, with the subjects engraved in wood, from accurate designs by Hen¬ derson, which art has been revived, and breusd: vi DEDICATION. to the highest perfection in the present times, by Mr. Bewick of Newcastle. A desire to become acquainted with the proper- ties of Plants, must have been coeval with the dawn of knowledge, and various Herbals have been published in all languages: but the accounts have been so vague, and in every sense so credu¬ lous and vulgar, often being founded on the ab¬ surd notions of Astrology, and the figures, if given, so bad, that these works were a degrada¬ tion to the human intellect, and highly dangerous to the community • and this beautiful field was long left a waste barren of improvement. It must, however, be confessed that the “ Medi¬ cal Botany ” of Doctor Woodville, cleared much rubbish from this Augcean stable ; but the expen¬ sive mode of its publication was a great drawback to that universal circulation which such a work required, and it was found to be very defective as to doses, and prescriptions. The “ Edinburgh New Dispensatory ” of the learned Doctor Duncan, although carried on with great ability, having abundant subjects to treat on, was obliged to be more concise in the Botanical Department, than he perhaps wished; and as to DEDICATION. VU ♦ any Figures, these of course were obliged to be omitted. A New Herbal was therefore required, which might contain every thing important as respects the Medical virtues of plants, with their other Uses occasionally introduced, with Figures leading to the plants themselves, at a moderate price. Iiow far this object has been properly accom¬ plished must be left to public opinion, and it affords me the highest satisfaction again, to declare myTself, Madam, With equal esteem, veneration, and gratitude, Your Majesty’s most obliged devoted subject Robert John Thornton, Member of the 'Royal London College of Physicians,, TABLE OF CONTENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT No. English iJame. Latin Name. Page, Class I. Monandria. Order I. Monogvnia. l Narrow-leaved Ginger A mo mum Zingiber i Cardamom * _ . - - Clarrlzi rnorm 1 in 5 2 3 Round Kempferia, or 1 Zedoarys P. L, J Kempferia rotunda, P. L. 8 4 Long-rooted Turmeric, ) Turmeric, L P. J Curcuma longa, L. P« £ I Order If. Digynia, 5 European Olive Olea Europcea 1 3 6 Brooklime, or Water Speedwell Veronica Becabunga 21 7 Hedge Hyssop Gratiola Officinalis S3 •s Common Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis zj Order III. Trigynia. 9 Black Pepper Piper Nigrum 3° Class III, Triandria. Order I. Monogynta, 10 Officinal Valerian, E. P. Valeriana Officinalis 34 1 1 Wild Valerian, L„ P. Valeriana Sylvestns 34 I 2 Saffron Crocus Sativus 38 33 Florentine Iris Iris Florentina 43 Order II. Digynia. 24 Sugar Cane Saccharum Officinarum 47 IS Larley Hordeum Distichon 64 16 Winter Wheat Triticum Hibernum 76 E7 Cultivated Oat Avena Sativa 8 1 X CONTENTS IN No. English Name. Latin Name. Page. Class IV. Tetrandra. Order I. Monogynta. i 8 Dyer’s Madder Rubia Tinctorum 85 19 Common Great Plantain, 1 or Waybread I Contrayerva ^ Plantago Major 86 89 Dorstenia Contrayerva, vel \ 20 Drakea Contrayerva * 31 White Saunders Santalum album 92 33 Cleavers> or 1 Galium Aparine 94 Goose-Grass J Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. 33 Alcanet, or Dyer’s Buglos J Anchusa Tinctoria 96 34 Water Trefoil, or Buckbean Menyanthes Trifoliata 9 8 25 Indian Pink Spigelia Marilandica 102 26 Scammony Bindweed Convolvulus scammonri 105 27 Jalap Bindweed Convolvulus Jalapa no 38 Common Peruvian Bark Tree Cinchona Officinalis 1 14 29 Red Peruvian Bark Tree Cinchona Rubra 127 30 Woody Nightshade Solanum Dulcamara 141 31 Guinea Pepper Capsicum Annuum H4 32 Smaller Centaury f Chironia Centaurium ) I Gentiana Centaurium J ► 147 33 Buckthorn ^ Rhamnus Catharticus \ Spina Cervina, P. L. J [ *49 34 Rod Currant Ribes Rubrum 1 53 3 5 Black Currant Ribes Nigrum 36 Common Vine Vitis Vinifera 1 57 37 Common Lungwort Pulmonaria Officinalis i6r 38 Common Gromwell Lithospermum Officinale 163 39 Officinal Bugloss, or Alkanet Anchusa Officinalis 40 Common Bugloss Borago Officinalis 1 67 41 Vomic Nut, or Poison Nut Strychnos Nus. Vomica 1 69 42 Common Winter Cherry Physalis Alkekengi 171 43 Mandrake Arropa Mandiagora 175 44 Deadly Nightshade Atropa Belladonna 176 45 Henbane Hyoscyamus Niger 1 81 6 Thorn-apple Datura Stramonium 186 THE ARRANGEMENT, xi No. English Name. Latin Name. Fage. *46 Tobacco Nicotiana Tabacum 290 47 Coffee Tree Coffea Arabica 198 48 Tea Thea 49 Great Broad-leaved Mullein Verbascum Thapsus 236 Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. 50 Stinking Goose-foot, or Orach Chenopodium Fcetidum 239 51 Common Elm Ulmus Campestris 241 52, Yellow Gentian Gentiana Lutea 243 53 Purple Gentian Gentiana Purpurea 248 54 Prickly Saltwort Salsola Kali 249 55 Officinal SwTallow-worfc Asclepias Vincetoxicum 277 56 Wild Angelica Angelica Sylvestris 279 S' 7 Sea Eryngo, or Holly Eryngium Maritimum 280 58 Wild Carrot Daucus Carota 28s 59 Garden Carrot Daucus Sativa 283 60 Gigantic Fennel Ferula Assafoeiida 283 61 Lovage-leaved Bubon Bubon Galbanum 290 62 Coriander Coriandrum 294 63 Creeping Water Parsnip Siam Nodiflorum 296 64 Common Mas ter wort Imperatoria Ostruthium 298 65 Rough Parsnip Pastinaca Opoponax 300 66 Caraways Carum Carui 302. 67 Small Burnet Saxifrage Pimpinella 304 68 Anise Pimpinella Anisum 303 69 Common Parsley Apiura Petroselinum 307 70 Sweet Fennel Anethum Graveolens 308 71 Fine-leaved Water-Hemlock Phellandrium Aquaticum 3*o 72 Hemlock Water-Dropwort (Enanthe Crocata 312 73 Water Hemlock Cicuta Virosa 315 74 Common Hemlock Conium Maculatum 3J7 73 Elder Sambucus Nigra 323 76 Dwarf Elder Sambucus Ebulus 327 77 Elm-leaved Sumach Rhus Coriaria 329 78 Flax Linum Usitatissimum 33 1 Class VI. Hexandria . Order I. Monogynia. ^9 Officinal Squill, or Sea Onion Scilla Maritima 334 80 Common Cultivated Garlic Allium Sativum 340 xii CONTENTS IN No. English Name. Latin Name. Page. 8 1 Socotrine Aloe Aloe Perfoliata Socotrina 344 8 z Sweet Flag, or Acorus Acorus Calamus 353 83 Dragon-Blood Tree Calamus Rotang 355 84 White Lily Lilium Candidum 357 Class VI. Hexandria. Order II. Digynia, $3 Barberry Berberis Vulgaris 359 Order III. Trigynia. 86 Common Meadow Saffron Colchicum Autumnale 361 87 Water Dock Rumex Hydrola path urn 364 88 Common Sorrel Rumex Acetosa Class VI. Heptandri a. Order I. Monogynia. §9 Horse Chesnut JF.sculus Hippocastanum 367 Class VIII. Octandria. Order I. Mqnogynia. 90 Mezereon Daphne Mezereum 96? 9 1 Balsam of Gilead Amyris Gileadensis 372 92 Greater Indian Cress, or ) Tropseolum Majus 377 Nasturtium Order III. Trigynia. 93 Greater Bistort, or Snakeweed Polygonum Bistorts 379 Class IX. Enneandria. Order I. Monogynia. 94 Camphor Tree Laurus Camphora 381 9^ Cinnamon Tree Laurus Cinnamomum 395 96 Common Sweet Bay Laurus Nobilis 400 97 Sassafras Tree Laurus Sassafras 375 f THE ARRANGEMENT. a • * XI u No. English Name. Latin Name. Page. Class IX. Enneandria Orderin'. Trtgynia. • 9$ Rhubarb Rheum Palmatum 40 z Class X. Decandria. Order!. Monogynia. 99 Senna Cassia Communis 4-17 100 Purging Cassia Cassia Fistula 423 101 Officinal Guaicum Guaicum Officinale 426 ioz White Fraxinella, or Bas- ? Dictamnus Alb us 43 z tard Dittany J 103 Common Rue Ruta Graveolens 434 104 Balsam of Tolu Tree "Toluifera Balsamum 436 iOj Capaiva Tree Copaifera Officinalis 43 8 106 Benjamin,, or Benzoin Tree Styrax Benzoin 440 107 Bitter Quassia Quassia Amara 447 108 Simaruba Quassia Quassia Simaruba 449 109 Trailing Arbutus, or Bear-Berry Arbutus Uva Ursi 43 * 110 Logwood Hasmatoxylum Campechianum 434 in Mahogany T ree Swietenia Mahagoni 433 1 1 2 Yellow-flowered Rhododendron Rhododendron Chrysanthus 43 6 Order II. Digynia. 1 13 Saxifrage Saxifraga Granulata 438 214 Clove Pink Dianthus Caryophyllus 439 Order V. Pentagynia. 114 Wood-Sorrel Oxalis Acetosella 461 1 16 Wall Stone-crop, or Wail 3 Sedum Acre 463 Pepper 5 Class XI. Dodecandria, Order I. Monogynia, i 17 Laurel-leaved Canella 1 1 8 Common Asarabacca Canella Alba Asarum Europseum 464 466 CONTENTS IN xiv No. English Name. Latin Name. • Page. ClassXI. Dodecandria. Order II. Digynia. • ii 19 Soap wort Saponaria Officinalis 469 120 Common Agrimony Agrimonia Officinalis ■ 470 Class XII. Icosandria. Order I. Monogynia. i2i Almond Tree Amygdalus Communis 471 522 Common Peach Tree Amygdalus Persica 478 123 Pimento, or Jamaica Pepper* \ MyrtusPimenta 479 Allspice -» 124 Pomegranate Tree Punica Granatum 481 125 Sloe Tree Prunus Spinosa 482 126 Common Prune, or Plumb Tree Prunus Domestica 484 t 2 7 Cherry Laurel Prunus Lauro-Cerasus Order IV. Pentagynia, k 2,8 Common Quince Tree Pyrus Cydonia 493 Order V. Polygyni a. 495 129 Red Officinal Rose Rosa Galica 495 130 Damask Rose Rosa Centifolia 498 1 3 1 Dog Rose Rosa Canina 500 132 Raspberry Bush Rubus Ideeus 501 133 Common Tormenti! Tormentilla Erecta 503 1 34 Common Cinquefoil Potentilla Reptans 503 135 Common Avens Geum Urbanum 50 6 Class XIII. PolyaNdria. Order I. Monogynia. e 3 6 White Poppy Papaver Somniferum 308 137 Com Poppy Papaver Rhaeas 534 138 Clove T ree Caryophyllus Aromaticus 537 139 Cretan Cistus Cistus Creticus 539 140 Greater Celandine Chelidonium Majus 543 141 Common Peony Pseonia Officinalis 544 THE ARRANGEMENT, xv No. English Name, Latin Name. Page, Class XIII. Polyandria. Order III. Trigynia, 14a Palraated Larkspur Delphinium Staphisagria <47‘ 143 Wolf’s Bane, or Monk’s Hood Aconitum Napellus <49 Order IV. Tetragynia. S44 Winter’s Bark Tree Wintera Aromatica Order VI. , Poly gy nt a. 5 45 Black Hellebore, or Christ- 1 Helleborus Niger <<4 mas Rose .1 146 Foetid Hellebore Helleborus Fostidu-s <5 7 147 Upright Virgin’s Bower Clematis Recta 559 148 Meadow Anemone, or 7 Anemone Pratensis 560 Pasque Flower 149 Upright Meadow Crowfoot ' k* Ranunculus Acfis 56s V Class XIV. Didynamia. Order I, Gymnospekmi a. 130 Spearmint Mentha Viridis 562 15 1 Peppermint Mentha Piperita 5&9 152 Pennyroyal Mint Mentha Pulegium 47i 153 Ground Ivy Glecoma Hederacea 572 154 Common Horehound Marrubium Vulgare 5 73- 153 Wild Marjoram Origanum Vulgare 575 136 Sweet Marjoram Origanum Marjorana 576 157 Mother of Thyme Thymus Serpyllum 577 15 S Common Garden Thyme Thyndus Vulgaris 57S 139 Calami nt Thymus Calaminta 579 160 Common Balm Melissa Officinalis 5 So 161 Dittany of Crete Origanum Dictamnus 581 162 Lavender Lavendula Spica 582 1 6 3 Wood Betony Betonica Officinalis 584 164 Creeping Bugle Ajuga Reptans 58s 165 Water Germander Teucrium Scordiura 58 6 1 66 Water Germander Teucrium Scordium 5 87 167 Common Basil Clinopodium Vulgare <88 CONTENTS IN No, English Name. Latin Name. Page*. Class XIV. Didynamia. Order II. Angiospermi a. 108 Common Eyebright Euphrasia Officinalis 589 169 Chaste Tree Vitex Agnus Castus $90 170 Foxglove V** Digitalis 59^ Class XV. Tetradynam 1 a e Order I. Siliculosa. 1 71 Common Scurvy-grass Cochlea ria Officinalis 6o§ 172 Horse-Radish Cochlearia Armoracea 612 Order II. SlLIQUOS A. r 73 Common Black Mustard Sinapis Nigra 6 14 174 Water Cresses Sisymbrium Nasturtium 6 17 177 Common Ladies-Smock, or ? Cardamine Pratensis 6 19 Cuckow-Flower ' 176 Hedge Mustard Erysimum Officinale 6zi 177 Sauce Alone, or Stinking\ 622 Hedge Mustard J Class XVI. Monadelphia. Order III. Diandria. 178 Tamarind Tree Tamarindus Indica 623 Order IX. PoLYANDRI A. 179 Marshmallow Althaea Officinalis 62$ Class XVII. Di adelphia. Order II. Hexandria. y iSo Common Fumatory Fumaria Officinalis 627 Order III. Octandria, i 8 i' Rattle-snake Root, or Milkwort Polygala Senega 629 Order IV. Decandria. ^3* 1S2 Bastard Cabbage Tree Geoffroea Inermis THE ARRANGEMENT. xvii So. English Name. Latin Name. Page. 183 Cowhage Delichos Pruri,ens 632 184 Common Liquorice Glycyrrhiza Glabra 647 185 Red Saunders Tree Pterocarpus Santalinus 630 186 Common Broom Spartium Scopanum 651 387 Fenugreek Trigonella Faenum-Graecum 188 Goat’s Thorn, or Milk Vetch Astragalus Tragacantha 6S4 CJaSS XVIII. POLYADEL phia. Order III. Icosandria. 189 Orange 190 Lemon Order IV. Polyandria. Citrus Aurantium Citrus Medica 391 Perforated St. John’s Wort 19 2 Cajeput Tree, or Aromatic Melaleuca Hypericum Perforatum Melaleuca Leucadendron 657 66 1 670 672 Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order I. Polygamia Squalls. 193 Artichoke Cynara Scolymus 674 194 Dandelion Leontodon Taraxacum 676 193 Burdock Arctium Lappa 678 196 Wild Succory Cichorium Intybus 680 197 Wild Lettuce Lactuca Virosa 682 >• Order II. Pol Ycsamia Superflu a. 198 Common Tansy Tanacetum Vulgare 684 199 Southernwood Artemisia Abrotanum 686 200 Wormwood Artemisia Absinthium 688 201 Mugwort Artemisia Vulgaris 690 202 Sea Worm-woOd Artemisia Maritima 707 203 Wormseed Artemisia Santomcum 708 204 Coltsfoot Tusilago Fanfara 7^0 203 Common Inula, or Elecampane Inula Helenium 712 2®6 Mountain Arnica Arnica Montana 7*4 207 Common Camomile Anthemis Nobilis 717 208 Spanish Camomile, or Pelli- 7 Anthemis Pyrethrum 720 tory of Spain j 209 Common Yarrow Achillea Millefolium. b 722 Xvm CONTENTS JN No. English Name. Latin Name. Page Class XIX. Syngenesia, Order III. Polyg an; a Frustranea. 2 l 0 Holy Thistle Centaurqa Benedicta 724 Order VI. Monogami a. 2 I I Blue Cardinal Flower Lobelia Siphilitica 2 12 Sweet Violet Viola Odorata 7 tS 213 Pansie, or Three-coloured 7 Violet ^ 730 214 Ipecacuan Viola Ipecacuanha 732 Class XX. Gynandri a. Order I. Diandria. 213 Male Orchis Crchis Mascula 74© Order IV. Hexancri a. 2 1 6 Snake- Root Aristolochia Serpentaria 743 217 Long-rooted Birth wort Aristolochia Longa 746 21 8 Ciimbing Birthwort Aristolochia Clematitis 74* Order V. PoLYANDRIA. 219 Common Arum, or Wake- 1 Robin J Arum Maculatum 750 Class XXI. Moncecia. Order IV. T e t r a k d r 1 a . 220 Common Nettle Urtica Dioica 753 221 Common Mulberry Morus Nigra 753 Class XXL Order VI. Poi. yanoria. 222 Common Oak Quercus Robur 762 223 Common Walnut Tree Juglans Regia 770 Order IX. Monadel^hia. 224 Common White Larch Pinus' Larix 77s TH E ARRANGEMENT. xix No. Latin Name. English Name. Page. 225 Silver Fir-Tree Pinus Picea 776 226 Norway Spruce Fir-Tree Pinus Abies 778 227 Scotch Fir Pinus Sylvestris 783 228 Common Palma Christi t Ricinus Communis 802 229 Cascarilla, or Willow- 1 leaved Croton 3 Croton Cascarilla 803 230 Indian Rubber Siphonia Elastica 808 Class XXI. Monoecia. Order X. Syngenesia, 231 Wild or Squirting Cucumber Momordica Elaterium 809 232 Bitter Cucumber, or Co-- loquintida ) Cucumis Colocynthis 812 Order V. Pentandria. 233 HoP Humulus Lupulus 816 Class XXI. Dicecia. Order X. Syngenesta. ?34 White Bryony Root Bryonia Alba 827 <1 Older II. Diandria. 235 Crack Willow Salix Fragilis 829 OrderIV. Tetrandria. 23 6 Mislefoe Viscurn Album 832 Order V. Pentandria. 237 Chian, or Cyprus Tur¬ pentine Tree 238 Mastich Tree 239 Cascarilla } Pistachia Terebinthus Pistachia Lentiscus Clutia Eluteria S37 838 84° Order VI. Hexandkia. 240 Sarsaparilla Smilax Sarsaparilla 241 Chinese Smilax Smilax China 84T 844. XX CONTENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT. No. English Name. Latin Name. Page. Class XXII. : DlQLCIA. Order XII. Monadelphia. 242 Juniper Junipearus Communis 843 243 Lycian Juniper Juniperus Lycia 849- 244 Common Savin Juniperus Sabina S3 1 245 Pareira Brava Cissampelos Pareira Order X. SyngeNesia. 246 Butcher’s Broom Muscus Aculeatus 85 5 Order X. Syngenesi A. 247 Nutmeg Tree Myristica Moschat^a 834 Class XXIII. PoLygamia. Order!. Moncecia. 248 White Hellebore, or Veratrum Veratrum Alburn 856 249 Wall Pellitory Parietctria Officinalis 860 2qo /Egyptian Mimosa Mimosa Nilotica 862 251 Catechu Mimosa Mimosa Catechu 866 ClaSS XXIII. POLYGAMIA. 232 Flowering Ash Fraxinus Ornus 871 253 Ginseng Panax Quinquefolium 874 Order III. Tricecia. 23 4 Common Fig Tree Ficus Cariea 876 Class XXXIV. , Cryptogamia, Order I. Filices. 2 53 Male Fern Poly podium Vulgare 879 236 Spleenwort Asplenium Trichomanes 882 237 Hart’s Tongue Asplenium Scolopendrum 883 Order II. Algae. 238 Ash-coloured Liverwort Lichen Caninus 00 239 Eringo-leaved Lichen Lichen Islandicus 883 OrderIV. Fungi. z6o Touchwood, or Agarica Boletus Ignarius 888 Alphabetical table OF CONTENTS. English Name. Agrimony, Common Alkanet Almond Tree Allspice Anise Aromatic Melaleuca Artichoke Arum, Common Asarabacea, Common Ash, Flowering Ash-coloured Liverwort Avens, Common Balm, Common Balsam of Gilead Balsam of Tolu Tree Barberry Barley Basil, common Bastard Cabbage Tree Bastard Dittany Bear Berry Benjamin, or Benzoin Tree Bitter Cucumber Bitter Quassia Black Cufrant Black Hellebore, or 1 Christmas Rose J Black Mustard, Common Black Pepper Blue Cardinal Flower Brooklime Broom, Common Buckbtan Buckthorn Latin Name. Agrimonia Vulgaris Auchusa Tinctoria Amygdalus Communis Myrtus Pimenta Pimpinella Anisum Melaleuca Leucadendron Cynara Scolymus Arum Maculatum Asarum Europceum Fraxinus Lichen Caninus Geum Urbanum Melissa Officinalis Amyris Gileadensis Toluifera Balsamum Barberis Vulgaris Hordeum Distichon Clinopodium Vulgare Geoftioea Inermis Dictamnus Albus Arbutus Uva Ursi Styrax Benzoin Cucumis Colocynthis Quassia Amara Ribes Nigrum Heleborus Niger Sinapis Nigra Piper Nigrum Lobelia Siphilitica Veronica Becabunga Spartium Scoparium Menyanthes Trifoliata Rhamnus Cathaiticus Class. Order. Fag©, xi. I 47© va I 96 xii. I 4?* xii. , I 479 v. 2 3°S xviii. 4 672 xix. i 674 XX. 5 750 xi. 1 466 xxiii. 2 871 xxivo 2 884 xii. 5 506 xiv. j 580 viii. t 372 X. i 436 vi. 2 359 iii. 2 64 xiv* I 587 xvii. 4 X. i 43- X. i 45 s X. z 440 xxi io 812 X. I 447 V. 1 355 xiii. 6 554 XV. 2 614 ii. 3 30 xix. 6 7 26 ii. i 21 xvii. . 3 651 V. i 98 v. i *49 xxii CONTENTS. English Name. Latin Name. Class. Order. Page. Bugioss, Common Borago Officinalis V. I 167 Burdock Arctium Lappa xix. I 678 Butcher’s Broom Ruscus Acnleatus xxii. IO vo OO Cajeput Tree Melaleuca Leucadendron xviii. 4 672 Calamint Thymus Calammta xiv. i 519 Camomile, Common Antiiemis Nobilis xix. 2 717 Camomile, Spanish Anthemis Pyrethrum xix. 3 720 Camphor Tree Laurus Camphora ix. I 38* Caper Bush, Common Capparis Spinosa xiii. I 545 Caraways., Carum Carui V. 2 302 Cardamon Amomum Cardamomum i. I 5 Cascarilla Clutia Eluteria xxii. 5 840 Catechu Mimosa Mimosa Catechu xxiii. i 866 Chaste Tree Vitex Agnus-Castus xiv. 2 5 $9 Chinese Smilax China Smilax xxii. 6 840 Cherry Laurel Prunus Lauro-Cerasus xii. i 00 On Chian, or Cyprus Pistachia Terebinthus xxii. 5 8 57 Cinnamon Tree Laurus Cinr.amomum ix. i 395 Cinquefoil, Common Potentilla Reptans xii. 5 505 Cleavers Galium Aparine iv. i 94 Climbing Birthwort Aristolochia dermatitis XX. 4 748 Clove Pink Dianthus Caryophyllus X. 2 469 Clove Tree Caryophyllus Arotnaticus xiii. 1 537 Coffee Tree Coffea Arabica V. 1 1 98 Coltsfoot Tussilago Farfara xix. 2 710 Common Great Plantain Plantago Major iv. I 86 Contrayerva Dorstenia Contrayerva iv. I 89 Copaiva Tree Copaifera Officinalis X. I 0© r© Coriander Coriandrum V. 2 294 Corn Poppy Papaver Rhasas xiii. 1 534 Cowhage Dolichos Pruriens xvii. 4 634 Crack Willow Salix Fragilis xxii. 2 829 Creeping Bugle Ajuga Reptans xiv. I 585 Creeping Water Parsnip Sium Nodiflorum V. 2 296 Cretan Cistus Cistus Creticus xiii. I 539 Cuekow Flower Cardamine Pratensis XV. 2 619 Cultivated Garlic, Common Allium Sativum vi. I 340 Cultivated Oat Avena Sativa iii. 2 81 Damask Rose Rosa Centifolia xii. 5 49 8 Dandelion Leontodon Taraxacum xix. i 676 Deadly Nightshade A'tropa Belladonna V. .2 1 76 CONTENTS xxiii ■English N&me. Latin Name. • Class. Order. Page. Dittany of Crete Origanum Dietamnus xiv. I 58x Dog Rose Rosa Canina xii. 5 500 Dragon’s Blood Tree Calamus Rotang vi. i 35i Dwarf Elder Sambucus Ebuius V. 3 327 Dyer’s Bugloss Anchusa Tinctoria V. i 96 Dyer’s Madder Rubia Tinctorum iv. I §3 Egyptian Mimosa Mimosa Nilotica xxiii. i 862 -Elder- Sambucus Nigra V. 3 Elecampane Inula Helenium xix. 712 Elm, Common Ulmus Campostris v. 'y 241 Elm-leaved Sumach Rhus Coriaria V. 3 3-9 Efingo-leaved Lichen Lichen Islandicus xxiv. 2 885 European Olive Olea Europsea ii. I 1 3 Eyebright, Common Euphrasia Officinalis xiv. 2 58S Fenugreek Trigonella Foen um-Greec u m xvii. o 5 653 Fig tree, Common Ficus Carica xxiii. 3 876 Fine-leaved Water Hemlock Phellandrium Aquaticum V. 2 310 Florentine Iris Iris Florentina iii. I 43 Flax Linum Usitatissimum V. 5 33i Foetid Hellebore Helleborus Foetidus xiii. 6 557 Fox-glove Digitalis xiv. 2 59° Fumitory, Common Fumaria Officinalis xvii. a 627 Garden Carrot Caucus Sativa V. 2 1 84 Garden Thyme, Common Thymus Vulgaris xiv. I 578 Gigantic Fennel Ferula Assafcetida V. 2 28s Ginseng Panax Quinque-folium xxiii, 2 874 Goat’s Thorn Astragalus Tragacantha xvii. 3 6S4 Goose Grass Galium Aparine iv. i 94 Great Broad-leaved Mullein Verbascum Thapsus V. i -37 Greater Bistort Polygonum Bistorta viii. 3 379 Greater Celandine Chelidonium Majus xiii. i 542 Ground Ivy Glecoma Hederacea xiv. i 57* Grounsel, Common Lithospermum Officinale V. * I 163 Guinea Pepper Capsicum Annuum V, i 144 Harts’-Tongue Asplenium Scolopendrum xxiii. i 88 Fledge Hyssop Gratiola Officinalis ii. i 23 Hedge Mustard Erysimum Officinale XV. 2 6 1 9 Hemlock, Common Conium Maculatum V. 2 • 3i7 Hemlock, Water-Drop Wort CEnanthe Crocata V. 2 3 1 * Henbane Flyoscyamus Niger V. X 1 8 1 Holy Thistle Centaii«rea Benedicts six- 3 7*4 CONTENTS. Latin Name. Eryngium Maritirhum Humulus Lupulus Marrubium Vulgare iEsculus Hippocastanum Cochlearia Armoracea Tropoeolum Majus Spigelia Marilandica Siphonia Elastica Inula Helenium Viola Ipecacuanha Convolvulus Jalopa Juniperus Communis Cardamise Pratensis Canella Alba Citrus Medica Lavendula Spica Glycyrrhiza Glabra Hojmatoxylum Cam pechianum Aristolochia Longa Curcuma longa, P. L. Bubon Galbanum Pulmonaria Officinalis Juniperus Lycia Swietania Mahagoni Poly podium Vulgare Imperatoria Ostruthium Pistacia Lentiscus Orchis Mascu’a Atropa Mandragora Althrea Officinalis SKiXiv English Name. Holly Hop Horehound, Common Horse Chesnut Horse Radish Indian Cress, Greater Indian Pink Indian Rubber Inuia, Common Ipecacuan Jalap Bindweed Juniper Ladies Smock, Common Laurel-leaved Canella Lemon Lavender Liquorice, Common Logwood Long-rooted Birthwort Long-rooted Turmeric Lovage-leaved Bubon Lungwort, Common Lycian Juniper Mahogany Tree Male Fern Masterwort, Common Mastich Tree Male Orchis Mandrake Marshmallow Meadow Anemony, or ? Pasque Flower j Meadow Saffron, Common Mezereon Milk Vetch Milkwort Misletoe Mother of Thyme Mountain Arnica Mug wort Anemone Pratensis Colchicum Autumnale Daphne Mezereum Astragalus Tragacantha Polygala Senega Viscum Album Thymus Serpyllum Arnica Montana Artemisia Vulgaris Class. Order. Pagfi. V. 2 280 xxi. 814 xiv. I 573 vi. I 367 XV. I 612 viii. I 377 V. I 102 xxi. 9 868 xix. 2 712 xix. 6 73 2 V. i 1 10 ixxii. 12 §41 XV. 2 619 xi. I 464 xviii. 3 66: xiv. i 582 xvii. 4 674 X. i 454 XX. 4 74^ i. i 1 1 V. •j 290 V. I 161 xxii. 12 849 X. I 45 7 xxiv. r 878 V. 2 298 xxii. 5 838 XX. I 740 v. 1 1 73 xvi. 9 6 23 xiii. 560 vi. 3 361 viii.. i 369 xvii. 3 6 54 xvii. 3 629 xxii. 4 832 xiv. i 577 xix. 2 714 xix. 2 690 CONTENTS, XXV English Name, Latin Name. Cla-'S. Order. Page. Mulberry, Common Morus Nigra xxi® 4 735 Narrow- leaved Ginger A mo mum Zingiber i. I i Nettle, Common Urtica Dioica xxL 4 753 Norway Spruce Fir-Tree Pinus Abies xxi. 9 77^ Nutmeg-Tree Myristica Moschata xxi. so §34 Oak, Common, Quercus Robur xxi. 6 762 Officinal Bugloss Anehusa Officinalis V. i 163 Officinal Guaiacum Guaicum Officinale X. i 426 Officinal Squill Scilla Maritima . vi. i 334 Officinal Storax Styrax Officinale i. i 444 Officinal Swallow-wort Asclepias Vincetoxicum V. a 277 Officinal Valerian, E. P® Valeriana Officinalis, E. P. iii. s 34 Orange Citrus Aurantiuna xviii. 3 657 Palma Christi, Common Ricinus Communis xxi. 9 80s Palmated Larkspur Delphinium Staphisagria xiii.' 3 547 Pansie Viola Tricolor xix. 6 730 Pareira Brava Cissampelos Pareira xxii. 12 §53 Parsley, Common Apium Petroselinum V. 2 307 Peach Tree, Common Amygdalus Persica xii. I 478 Pennyroyal Mint Mentha Pulegium xiv. I 57i Peony, Common Pseonia Officinalis xiii. % 544 Peppermint Mentha Piperita xiv® I S69 Perforated St. John's Wort Hypericum Perforatum xviii. 4 670 Peruvian Bark Tree, Cora- n mon. 1 ^ Cinchona Officinalis V® i 114 Pimento, or Jamaica Pepper Myrtus Piraenta xii. i 479 Poison Nut Strychnos Nux Vomica V. i 16 9 Pomegranate Tree Punica Granatum xii® i 481 Prickly Saltwort Salsola Kali V. z 249 Prune. Common, or Plum i Tree J ^ Prunus Domestica xii® 484 Purging Cassia Cassia Fistula X® i 423 Purple Gentian Gentiana Purpurea V. a 248 Quince Tree, Common Pvrus Cydonia xii. 5 493 Raspberry Bush Rubus Idaeus xii. 5 501 Rattle-snake Root Polygala Senega xviii. 3 629 Red Currant Ribes Rubrum V. X 15a Red Peruvian Bark Tree Cinchona Rubra V, i 127 Red Saunders Tree Pterocarpus Santalinus xvih 3 6$q Rhubarb Rheum Palmatuni lx. 3 40a Rosemary, Common Rosmarinus Officinalis c y. X 37 xxv i English Name. Rough Parsnip Round Kaempferia Zedoary, P. L. j Rue, Common Saffron Sarsaparilla Sassafras Tree Sauce Alone, or Stinking"] Hedge Mustard J Savin, Common Saxifrage Scammony Bindweed Scotch Fir Scurvy-Grass, Common Sea Eryngo Sea Onion Sea Wormwood Senna, or Egyptian Cassia Silver Fir Tree Simaruba Quassia Sloe Tree Small Burnt Saxifrage Smaller Centaury Snake Root Snakeweed Soapwort Socotrine Aloe Sorrel, Common Southernwood Spearmint Spleenwort Squirting Cucumber Stinking Goose-foot Sugar-Cane Sweet Bay, Common Sweet Fennel Sweet Flag, or Acorus Red Officinal Rose Sweet Marjoram Tamarind Tree Tansy, Common CONTENTS. Latin Name. Opoponax Kaempferia rotunda, P. L. Ruta Graveolens Crocus Sativus Smilax Sasaparilla Laurus Sassafras Juniperus Sabina Saxifraga Granulata Convolvulus Scammonia Pinus Sylvestris Cochlearia Officinalis Eryngium Maritimum Scilla Maritima Artimisia Maritima Pinus Picea Quassia Simaruba Prunus Spinosa Pirnpinella Chironia Centaurium Aristolochia Serpentaria Polygonum Bistorta Saponaria Officinalis Aloe Perfoliata Socotrina Rumex Acetosa Artemisia Abrotanum Mentha Viridis Asplenium Tricomanes Momordica Elaterium Chenopodium Foetidum Saccharum Officinarum Laurus Nobilis Anethum Graveolens Acorus Calamus Rosa Gallica Origanum Marjoranum Tamarinda Indica Tanacetum Vulgare Class. Order. Page. V. a Ul O O i. i 8 X. i 434 iii. 3 38 xxii. 6 841 ix. i 373 XV. z 622 xxii. IZ QO X. z 436 V. ‘ I 103 xxi. 9 781 XV. i 608 V. z 280 vi. I 334 xix. 2 707 X. i 41 7 xxi. 9 776 X. i 449 xii. i 482 V. z 3°4 V. i 147 XX. 4 743 viii. 3 379 X. 2 469 vi. I 344 vi. 3 366 xix. 2 686 xiv. £ 362 xxiv. I 882 xxi. IO 809 V. 2 239 iii. 2 47 ix. I 400 V. 2 308 vi. I 353 xii. 3 495 xiv. i 376 xvi. 623 xix. * 684 English Name. Tea Thorn-Apple Three-coloured Violet Tobacco Tormentil, Common Touchwood, or Agaric Trailing Arbutus Turpentine Tree Upright Meadow Crowfoot Upright Virgin’s Bower Vine, Common Violet, Sweet Vomic Nut Wake- Robin Walnut Tree, Common Wall Pellitory Wall Stone-Crop, or Wall v Pepper J Water-Cresses Water Dock Water Germander Water Hemlock Water Trefoil Waybread White Bryony Root White Hellebore White Fraxinella White Larch, Common White Lily White Poppy White Saunders Wild Angelica Wild Carrot Wild Lettuce Wild Marjoram Willow Leaved Croton Wild Succory Wild Valerian, L. P. Willow, Common White Willows, various Winter's Bark Tree CONTENTS. Latin Name- Til ea Datura Stramonium Viola Tricolor Nicotiana Tabacum Tormentilla Erecta Boletus Igniarius Arbutus Uva Ursi Pistachia Terebinthus Ranunculus Acris Clematis Recta Vitis Vinifera Viola Odorata Strychnos Nux Vomica Arum Maculatum Juglans Regia Parietaria Officinalis Sedum Acre Sisymbrium Nasturtium Rumex Hydrolapathum Teucrium Scordium Cicuta Virosa Menyanthes Trifoliata Plantago Major Bryonia Alba Veratrum Album Dictamnus Albus Pinus Larix Liiium Candidum Papaver Somniferum Santalum Album Angelica Sylvestris Daucus Carota Lactuca Virosa Origanum Vulgare Croton Cascarilla Cichorium Intybus Valeriana Sylvestris, P. Salix Alba Winters Aromatics n o Class. Order. XXV 11 Page. V. I v. I 186 xix. 6 730 V. ■ i 190 xii. 5 * 503 xxiv. 4 88S X i 43i xxii. 5 837 xiii. 6 361 xiii. 6 559 V. i 157 xix. 6 728 V. i 169 XX. 5 750 xxi. 6 770 xxiii. i 860 X. 5 463 XV. 2 615 vi. ** 3% XIV. I 586 V. 2 3i5 V. I 98 iv. I 86 xxii. io 827 iii. I 856 x. I 432 xxi. 9 772 vi. i 357 xiii. I 508 iv. i 92 v. 2 279 V. 2 183 xix. 1 682 XIV. I 57 S xxi. 9 805 xix. i 680 iii. r 34 xxii. 2 830 xxii. 2 830-83 r xiii. 4 553 XXV111 English Name. Winter Cherry, Common Winter Wheat Wolf’s Bane, or Monk’s- Hood Wood Betony Wood- Sorrel Woody Nightshade Wormseed Wormwood Yarrow, Common Yellow- Flowered Rho¬ dodendron Yellow Gentian CONTENTS, Latin Name. Physalis Alkekeng? Triticum Hibernum Aconitum Napellus Betonica Officinalis Oxalis Acetosella Solanum Dulcamara Artemisia Santonicum Artemisia Absinthium Achillea Millefolium Rododendron Chry- santhus Gentiana Lutea Glass. Order. Page, v. s 171 iii. 3 76 xiii. 3 549 xiv. 1 384 x» 5 461 v. 1 141 xix. 2 710 xix* 2 688 xix. 2 722 x. 1 458 v. 2 343 NARROW-LEAVED GINGER. AMOMUM ZINGIBER. Class I* Monandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essential Generic Characters. Calyx trifid, unequal, cylindric: Corolla three-parted, unequal, spreading : Nectary two-lipped, almost erect. Specific Characters. Scape middle-sized: Spike ovate: Leaves linear- lanceolate. o DESCRIPTION. This plant has two kinds of stalks one of which bears only the leaves, (which resemble those of reeds, common in India, and closely wound round each other at the base,) and rises to a foot or two in height : the other kind bears the flowers, and does not rise beyond ten or twelve inches in height, terminating at the top by a kind of ear of very beautiful colours, formed of mem¬ branous scales, amongst which the flowers proceed, which are B 2 NARROW-LEAVED GINGER. composed of five irregular petals, which have somewhat the ap¬ pearance of being lipped, and are succeeded by a capsule con¬ taining three cells, and a great number of seeds. Ill STORY. Ginger is a perennial plant, indigenous in the East Indies, but now introduced into the West India islands. It is cultivated there very much in the same manner as potatoes are here, and is fit for digging once a-year, unless for preserving in syrup, when it should be dug at the end of three or four months, at which time it is tender and full of sap. It is a hot-house plant, flowers with us in September, and was first cultivated in 1731, by Mr. Miller, in the physic-gardens at Chelsea. Ginger is distinguished into two sorts, the Hack and the white . The former is rendered fit for preserving by means of boiling water, the latter by insolation ; and as it is necessary to select the fairest and roundest sorts for exposure to the sun, white ginger is commonly one third dearer than Hack. Black Ginger consists of thick and knotty roots, internally of an orange or brownish colour, externally of a yellow-gray. White Ginger is less thick and knotty, internally of a reddish-yellow, and externally of a whitish-gray or yellow. It is firm and re¬ sinous, and more pungent than the black. Pieces which are worm-eaten, light, friable, or soft, and very fibrous, are to be rejected. Candied Ginger should be prepared in India, from the young and succulent roots. When genuine, it is almost transparent. That manufactured in Europe is opaque, fibrous, and hard, and not to be compared to the other. Ginger has a fragrant smell, and a hot, biting, aromatic taste. Neumann obtained by distillation with water from 7G80 parts of white ginger, about 60 of a volatile oil, having the smell and distinguishing flavour of the ginger, but none of its pun¬ gency. The watery extract was considerably pungent, and amounted to 2720, after which alcohol extracted 192 of a very pungent resin. Alcohol applied first extracted 660 of pungent resin, and water afterwards 2160 of a mucilaginous extract, with little taste, and difficultly exsiccated. The Hack ginger contained less soluble matter than the white. NARROW-LEAVED GINGER. 3 MEDICAL USES. G inger is a very useful spice in cold flatulent colics, and in laxity and debility of the intestines ; it does not heat so much as the peppers, but its effects are more durable. It may also be applied externally as a rubefacient. The employment of ginger in beer is well known, where the latter would produce much flatulency. Dyspeptic patients from hard drinking, and those subject to flatulency and gout, have been known to receive considerable benefit by the use of ginger tea; taking two or three cupfuls for breakfast, suiting it to their palate. Many gouty patients have for years been in the habit of tak-. ing a tea-spoonful of ginger powder, mixed in any liquid, an hour before dinner, and, they declare, with very considerable ad¬ vantage. When employed with food it is called a condiment, and by stimulating the stomach and bowels it may be considered as one of the most useful. It is often employed as a corrective with rhubarb, and other drastic purges, to prevent gripings of the bowels, and it stimu¬ lates them so as to require a less dose to act upon them. As ginger promotes the circulation through the extreme ves¬ sels, it is to be advised in torpid and phlegmatic habits, where the stomach is subject to be loaded with slime, and the bowels dis¬ tended with flatulency. Hence it enters into the compound tincture of cinnamon and the aromatic powder. PREPARATIONS. Syrup of Ginger. (Syrupus Zingiberis.) Take of ginger, bruised, four ounces; ■ - boiling distilled water, three pints. Macerate for four hours, (twenty-four, Dub.) and strain the liquor; then add double-refined sugar, and make into a syrup, according to the mode prescribed. (Vide article Saccharum , Sugar.) Tincture of Ginger. (Tinctura Zingiberis.) Take of ginger, in coarse powder, two ounces; proof spirit, two pints. Digest in a gentle heat for seven days, and strain. This tincture is cordial and stimulant, and is only employed as a vorrective to purgative draughts. b 2 NARROW-LEAVED GINGER. 4 Preserved Ginger. The root for this purpose is dug up when the shoots do not exceed five or six inches in height. Being picked and washed, these are scalded till they are rendered tender, then put into cold water, and afterwards scraped and peeled. During this process the water is often changed. The roots are then put into jars, and covered with a thin syrup, which, after two or three days, is removed, and a richer syrup substituted in its place. This is sometimes removed, and a fourth put on ; but they seldom em¬ ploy more than three syrups. This is what is imported into England, and is used much as a dainty, but not for any medi¬ cinal purpose. Ginger Wine. Take twenty quarts of water, five pounds of sugar, three ounces of white ginger, and an ounce of stick liquorice, and boil them well together ; when it is cold put a little new yeast upon it, but not too much ; then put it into the barrel for ten days, and after that bottle it : put a lump of powdered white sugar into every bottle. This is an excellent wine for gouty habits, and I have been much in the habit of recommending it in such cases in lieu of any other wine. CARDAMOM. AMOMUM CARDAMOMUM. Class I. Monandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx trifid, unequal, cylindric: Corolla three-parted unequal, spreading: Nectary two-lipped, almost erect. Spec. Char. Scape very simple and short: Bractes alternate, loose. DESCRIPTION. This plant produces a root like the yellow flag, or iris, which in the spring sends forth many seed-like stalks, which decay the following autumn. These bear large lanceolate leaves, acutely pointed, ribbed, alternate, sheathing the stalks. The flowers consist of a single petal, or leaf, funnel-shaped, the border of which is three-parted. The nectary is composed of one leaf, spear-shaped. The stamen consists of an anther without a filament. The stigma of the pistillum is turbinate; the capsule fleshy, ovate, three-cornered and three-valved. 6 CARDAMOM. HISTORY. The Cardamoms are brought from Malabar, and other places of the East Indies, in their pods or pericarps ; and when choosing these, we should observe that they be of a pale colour on the outside, well-closed, and full of sound, reddish brown, odorous and aromatic seeds. These must be kept in their pods, for when taken out they soon lose a great part of their aromatic flavour. MEDICAL VIRTUES. These seeds are an elegant and useful aromatic, of a grateful smell and flavour, very warm, yet not fiery like pepper, or ca¬ pable of producing a disagreeable heat or inflammation. The natives of the country where this plant is produced use them as a condiment, mixing the seeds with betel, and find that they promote digestion. Their great maxim of health and longevity is to keep the feet and stomach warm, and the head cool; and using a quantity of vegetable foods, warm spices become the proper corrective, without inflaming the blood. By us it is employed chiefly as an adjuvant, and to cover the taste of other medicines, especially mineral waters and saline medicines ; and the London College have ordered apothecaries to keep in their shops the following preparations : PREPARATIONS. Tincture of Cardamoms. (Tinctura Cardamomi.) Take of the seeds of the lesser Cardamom freed from their husks and bruised, three ounces, • - - proof spirit, two pints. Digest for eight days, and strain the tincture. Compound Tincture of Cardamoms, formerly called Sto¬ machic Tincture. (Tinctura Cardamomi composita.) Take of the seeds of the lesser Cardamoms husked and powdered, • - caraway seeds, powdered, • - cochineal, powdered, — two drachms of each : — - cinnamon, bruised, half an ounce; • - raisins, stoned, four ounces ; - proof spirit, two pints. Digest for fourteen days, and strain the tincture. Of the cardamoms it is probable there is but one kind, al- CARDAMOM. 7 though two are mentioned; and it is evident that the compound tincture has less power than the simple, and the admixture of raisins, which must blunt the powers of the other ingredients, is rather extraordinary. The dose of the Tincture of Cardamoms (Tinctura Car- damomi) is from two to three drachms, and of the Compound Tincture (Tinctura Cardamomi composita) from three drachms to half an ounce. These are seldom ordered alone, but joined with more powerful ingredients. In dyspeptic habits I have seen much good arise from half a glass taken before dinner to rouse the nerves of the stomach and aid digestion, acting in such cases much after the manner of a condiment. Both water and rectified spirit extract the virtues of the car¬ damoms by infusion, and elevate them in distillation; with this difference, that the tincture and distilled spirit are considerably more grateful than the infusion and distilled water: the watery infusion appears turbid and mucilaginous; the tincture made in spirit, limpid and transparent. Cardamoms enter very properly into several compositions ; as when the Royal College orders the Cardamom seeds in what they have thought fit to call Rhubarb Wine (Vinum Rhabarbari, P. L.), also the Compound Tincture of Cinnamon (Tinctura Cinnamomi composita, P. L.), the Compound Tincture of Gentian (Tinctura Gentianae composita, P. L.), and the Tinc¬ ture of Rhubarb (Tinctura Rhabarbari, P. L.), Tincture of Senna (Tinctura Sennae, P. L.), and the Aromatic Powder (Pol vis Aromaticus, P L.), and, lastly, the Aromatic Con¬ fection (Confectio Aromatica, P. L.). ROUND K.EMPFERIA. ZEDOARY, P. L. KiEMPFERIA ROTUNDA, P. L. Class I. Monandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla six-parted, three of the parts larger, spread¬ ing, one two-parted : Stigma two-plated. Spec. Char. Leaves lanceolate, petioled : Segments of the Corolla linear. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises to five or six feet. The stalks are chiefly formed of convoluted leaves wrapped round one another at their bases. The leaves are six or eight feet long, and three broad, pointed, standing upon broad foot-stalks. The flower-stalks rise but little above the ground, and on these are placed the flowers in spikes. No calyx. The corolla is composed of six petals ; the three lower decline downwards, are long and narrow ; the two upper are divided so deeply as to appear like a flower with four petals, and the side petal is bifid, or deeply cleft. ROUND K^MPFERIA. 9 HISTORY. This plant has a most fragrant odour, and flowers in July and August, but never produces seeds in our stoves. It was culti¬ vated by Miller in 1768. It is a native of the East Indies. On the authority of the Royal London College we have referred the officinal Zedoary to this plant : but Bergius says that it is a spe¬ cies of Ainomum ; and this opinion receives additional weight by the description of the true Zedoary as given us by Camellus. The root of this plant is brought over to us in oblong pieces two or three inches in length, bent, rough and angular, firm and ponderous, about the thickness of one’s finger; or in roundish ones about an inch in diameter, both of them of an ash colour on the outside, and white within, and indiscriminately used. They possess a fragrant agreeable smell, much resembling cam¬ phor; and by distilling the fresh root we find a small portion of a true camphor swimming at the top of the distilled water, in the form of very small and thin laminse. It possesses also a slight bitterness, and considerable warmth and pungency. MEDICAL VIRTUES. Dr. Donald Monro extols this root as a warm cordial sto¬ machic, and an expeller of wind, excellent in phlegmatic habits, and the pituitous asthma. He says, that it is not much used in the present practice of physic : but that it is certainly a good medicine, and may be prescribed, with advantage, where a warm cordial bitter is indicated. Cullen says, it does not merit a place in the Materia Medica, and Woodville reports it should be wholly discarded: but our present knowledge is too limited to expunge any one article from the few that have been selected out of thirty thousand plants. When ordered, it should be directed from fifteen grains to a drachm. An useful tincture might be made of it, as I have found, and in this way it has proved an excellent remedy in Pyrosis , flow of water from the mouth ; and heart-burn, Car- dia/gia. PREPARATIONS. The Royal London College have only received it in their aro¬ matic confection, formerly called Cordial Confection (Con- fectio Aromatica, olim Confectio Cardiaca, P. E.), of which it makes the principal ingredient, which is thus ordered : 10 ROUND K.UMPFEIUA. Cordial Confection. (Confectio Cardiaca.) Take of zedoary, grossly powdered, — 1 - saffron, half a pound of each: - distilled water, three pints. Macerate for twenty-four hours, then press and strain. Eva¬ porate the strained liquor to a pound and a half ; and then add the following ingredients reduced to a fine powder: - compound powder of crabs claws, sixteen ounces ; - - cinnamon ; • - nutmeg, two ounces of each; - cloves, an ounce; • - lesser cardamom seeds, hnsked, half an ounce; • - double refined sugar, two pounds ; Make a confection. The dose of this confection is from one scruple to one drachm, in any convenient vehicle, to raise and recruit the spirits ; and as an adjuvant it is more employed than any other ingredient in the whole Materia Medica, combined with more active ingredients. It enables persons to retain medicines, which otherwise would nauseate the stomach, gives a colour to colourless ingredients, and produces a physicky taste, so necessary when exhibiting cer¬ tain remedies, as camphorated mixture, &c. LONG-ROOTED TURMERIC. TURMERIC, L. P. CURCUMA LONGA, L.P. Class I. Monandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Stamina five; four barren, one fertile : Corolla four- parted: Nectary three-lobed : Filament flat. Spec. Char. Leaves lanceolate : lateral Nerves very numerous. DESCRIPTION. TT he leaves are about a span long, and three or four inches broad, of a fine green colour, and pointed at the end. The flowers grow' on stalks of eight, ten, or more inches high, and of the thickness of one’s little finger ; they are collected in a kind of scaly cone, of an oblong figure, of a pale reddish colour. HISTORY. Turmeric is a perennial plant, a native of the East Indies. The roots are tuberous, knotty, and long, wrinkled, externally of a pale yellow colour, and internally of a shining saffron brown. They have a weak aromatic smell, and a slightly bitter aromatic taste. They contain a very little essential oil; and 12 long-rooted turmeric. Neumann got from 960 parts, 320 watery and afterwards 50 alcoholic extract, and inversely 150 alcoholic and 210 watery. MEDICAL USES. Turmeric, when taken internally, tinges the urine of a deep yellow colour, and acts as a gentle stimulant. It has been ce¬ lebrated in diseases of the liver, jaundice, cachexy, dropsy, in¬ termittent fevers, &c. But its internal use in this country is al¬ most confined to its being a principal ingredient in the compo¬ sition of curry-powder, in which form it is used in immense quan¬ tities in the East Indies. It is also a most valuable dye, and an excellent chemical test of the presence of uncombined alkalies ^ for the yellow colour of turmeric is changed by them to a reddish brown. It possesses rather a fragrant odour, is slightly bitterish, and excites a moderate degree of warmth in the mouth, imparting to the saliva a yellow tinge. It is used in the East as a condiment to food, and employed by us chiefly in cookery for colouring of puddings. It is em¬ ployed also in dyeing a fine yellow. The dose of this root is from a scruple to a drachm in substance. From an ignorant suspicion that the jaundice was to be cured by whatever produced a yellow colour, that is, I suspect, seeing the bile diffused into the habit, from obstruction of the passage of the gall-duct, these yellow remedies were used to supply its place, just as the yolks of eggs are used in the same complaint; nor when bracers or stimulants can we object to these popular remedies. Asa cordial, aromatic, mild bitter, the Turmeric has often roused the torpid actions of the primce vice, , and removed the obstruction when arising from spasm ; and as rhubarb was at the same time commonly used, this carried off the slime, another common cause of obstruction, and also of spasm ; and where the eggs were eaten raw as a nutritious strengthener, these, to¬ gether often with the saffron in tea, cured slight cases of jaun¬ dice, especially in children ; and therefore I cannot consent, with Dr. Cullen and Dr. Woodville, to the discarding this mild sto¬ machic altogether from amongst the class of remedies, although it possess only slender virtue. EUROPEAN OLIVE. OLEA EUROPiEA. Class II. Diandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essevt. Gen. Char. Corolla four-cleft, segments subovate: Drupe one® seeded. Spec. Char. Leaves lanceolate, very entire : Racemes axillary, con- tracted. DESCRIPTION. This is an evergreen, with oblong, narrow, willow-like leaves, and monopetalous whitish flowers, cut into four sections, or segments, followed by a cluster of oval black fruit, containing under a fleshy pulp a hard rough stone. It bears the ordinary winters of our climate. HISTORY. The olive tree is a native of the south of Europe and north of Africa. It is cultivated in France, Spain, and Italy, for the sake of its fruit, and the oil expressed from it. Olives, when fresh, have an acrid, bitter, and extremely disagreeable taste ; 14 EUROPEAN OLIVE. but they are only eaten when pickled. They are first steeped for several days in a ley of wood-ashes, and then pickled in a strong solution of muriate of soda. They are principally valued for the oil they afford by expres¬ sion. For this purpose they are gathered when fully ripe, and im¬ mediately bruised and subjected to the press. The finest oil flows first, and a very bad oil is obtained by boiling the magma, which remains after expression, in water. According to Baume, they are gathered when sufficiently ripe : they are then dried, to deprive the mucilage, of which they contain a large quantity, of its water, and are expressed after being bruised, and moist¬ ened with a little water, to render the oil more fluid. By rest, the mucilage and water which may have passed with it separate. Olive oil is sometimes mixed with oil of poppy seeds; but, by exposing the mixture to the freezing temperature, the olive oil freezes, while that of the poppies remains fluid ; and as oils which freeze with most difficulty are most apt to become rancid, olive oil is deteriorated by the admixture of poppy oil. Good olive oil should have a pale yellow colour, somewhat inclining to green, a bland taste, without smell, and should congeal at 38° Fahrenheit. In this country it is frequently rancid and sometimes adulterated. MEDICINAL USE. Taken internally, it operates as a gentle laxative, and is given in cases of worms. It is also given in large quantities to miti¬ gate the action of acrid substances taken into the stomach. It is used externally in frictions, in gargles, and in clysters ; but its principal employment is for the composition of ointments and plasters. By woeful mistake I once took the whole contents of a two- ounce phial of Eau de Luce : but by presence of mind, or in¬ stinct, I immediately flew to the aid of butter ; and this, every one knows, melting in the heat of the stomach acts as oil. I men¬ tion this, as upon such occasions time is pressing, and danger urgent, and often there may be found immediately this one and not the other kinds of emetics. Taken largely it will act as a vomit, from its sticking to the fauces, and, irritating them, producing sympathetic actions of the stomach and intercostal muscles. EUROPEAN OLIVE. 15 Oil is supposed destructive to worms, from the fact, that if a wasp be touched with an oiled feather it will instantly die, through the effect of oil in stopping the spiraculas of insects. But from experiments it is found, that, though oil be poured upon them, wrorms will continue seemingly uninjured. The above supposition, therefore, seems to be unfounded, and to arise from a mistaken analogy. But the most remarkable property attributed to oil, is the cure it is thought to perform on persons bit by a viper, it being esteemed the sovereign antidote. In the Philosophical Transac¬ tions, vol. xxxiv. p. 310, are related the experiments made by one William Oliver, who suffered his arm to be bit by a vi¬ per and waited till the most violent symptoms ensued, when these were soon removed by the applying warm oil of olives to the affected part^. Mead, in his Treatise on Poisons, speaks of a remedy which was reckoned in his time a real specific against the bite of the viper +. lie says that the viper-catchers in England used it with so much confidence, that they were no more afraid of the bite of a viper than a common prick of a pin. Mead purchased this secret, and found it to be nothing more than the fat of the viper itself, which they rubbed on the bitten part. The Academy of Sciences in Paris, struck with the importance of this seeming discovery, deputed two of their members, Messrs, Geoffroiand llanauld, to inquire into the subject; and they de¬ termined that oil is no specific against the bite of the viper + . Vide Mem. de l’Academ. 1737. Linnaeus (Amcen. Acad. vol. vi. p. 213) mentions that he was disappointed in the use of oil, and says that the woman bitten by * The fact is not to be disputed, but it arose from the poison of one viper not being destructive; for Fontana, who wrote on Poisons, doubts whether a man was ever killed by the bite of one viper. + This illustrious physician tried an experiment first with a dog, which he caused to be bitten in the nose. It recovered by the oil. But, says Fon¬ tana, had notiiing been employed, recovery wrould have taken place: for one viper, as with the human subject, is incapable of producing death. Lunar caustic is found to be the specific for the bite of the viper. Vide our Philosophy of Medicine, vol. iii. + Experiments were made by these gentlemen on rabbits, pigeons, and mice ; and these were quickly destroyed, although the oil was employed, and the viper’s fat. EUROPEAN OLIVE. " the Coluber Chersea, to whom he administered it both externally and internally, died notwithstanding in great agony. The prevention of canine madness is said to have arisen in a similar way by the use of oil, and successful cases are related in Frank. Samml. T. B. 590. But experience, in other hands, has contradicted these positive assertions * **. A more extraordinary effect of oil is reported by Mr. Baldwin, the British consul at Smyrna, who observed that amongst the nu¬ merous tribe of oil-porters, none were infected with the plague. Led by this hint, he proposed unction of the body with oil to keep off the plague ; and the following was the result of the first trial. In the year 1792, twenty-two Venetian sailors lived five days with three infected persons, all of whom died ; but the twenty-two sailors, who had been repeatedly anointed with the oil, remained free from the infection. Three Armenian families, consisting of twenty-seven persons, occupying the same floor, closely attended the sick of the plague, but, being daily rubbed with oil, were preserved from the infection. u The nurses, in our hospitals of Smyrna, who attend the sick night and day,” says Baldwin, u by the same method have been happily preserved from contagion.” After this the oil was employed in the first stages of the plague * The application of oil, in this country, does not appear to have been employed to the part bitten, but afterwards exhibited to the patient upon the accession of the hydrophobia. Dr. Girdlestone tried it in one case, and he gives us this information : “Immediately upon seeing him, I gave him a large cup of olive oil. He had much increase of convulsive action on his endeavours to swallow it; but after getting a little down, he swal¬ lowed the rest very hastily. The cooling and pleasant sensations, which the oil quickly produced, gave him at first great hopes ; and he was able after¬ wards to swallow three cups with much less difficulty. But towards even¬ ing he died.” At Sudbury, Dr. Maclean relates, partial friction in one case was employed for about an hour, until an oil bath could be procured. In this the patient remained ten minutes ; w hen that uneasiness, that horror, which hydrophobics constantly express at the touch of every thing fluid, w hether hot or cold, irresistibly caused him to spring from out the hogs¬ head in w hich the oil was contained, with an agility that astonished all around ; soon after which he died. Dr. Shadwell of Brentw ood had also a case, where the patient’s body w as anointed with oil ; and the attempt being made to administer it internally, a clyster of mutton-broth and oil, as a succedaneum, w as employed ; but the patient in no w ise seemed be¬ nefited. EUROPEAN OLIVE. It at Smyrna, and with the happiest success. The body was rub¬ bed all over with tepid olive oil. A wine-pint was esteemed a cure. It is a curious coincidence, that the use of oil is mentioned in sacred writ. ei Let the sick be anointed with oil, and saved.’'51 TheCaffres, who constantly smear the body writhlard, or oil, re¬ main free from the yellow fever; and the Esquimaux tribes, who also regale on seal oil, remain also free ; and when the plague raged in London, tallow-melters and butchers were found exempt. Instead of clogging up the pores, as might be suspected by some, the pores became open, and the consequence of the oil was to produce a salutary sweat. I know but of one case where this remedy was tried in our common typhus, or putrid fever. Being requested, says Dr. Fothergill, to visit a poor boy named Thomas Countey in a wretched lodging in a narrow alley in Bath, on the sixth day of a fever, I found the surface of the body discoloured with pur¬ ple petechice ; attended with great prostration of strength, low tremulous pulse, inquietude, delirium, &c. Though these sym¬ ptoms, and the advanced state of the disease, seemed to pre¬ clude all hopes of success from either internal or external reme¬ dies ; yet, rather than abandon him to despair, the whole body was directed to be rubbed with olive oil every four hours, if strength would permit, and its operation to be aided by warm whey, accompanied by a suitable diet of gruel, and arrow-root, and he took a moderate dose of castor oil, as coinciding with the general plan. After some time his parched skin became moistened, and at length he broke out into a full perspiration. By continuing this simple plan all the alarming symptoms sub¬ sided, the purple spots vanished, and his recovery was speedy beyond my expectation. No sooner, continues Dr. Fothergill, had the lad recovered, when the poor woman, his mother, who nursed him through the illness, was seized with evident symptoms of having caught the infection. The above-mentioned process being instantly per¬ formed, and having now much less difficulty to encounter, this new plan was very speedily and strikingly crowned with success. Dr. Oliver^ relates (Philosophical Transactions, vol. xlix. p. 49) * An eminent physician of Bath, who wrote on the Bath waters. 18 EUROPEAN OLIVE* that oil rubbed over the body he found of great service in dropsies., especially Ascites ; this from the supposed absorption of water from the atmosphere, which is thought to influence this disease. This practice is worthy of consideration, for the oil softens the skin, and lessens the inflammation produced from distension *. Woodville says, that oil is good in nephritic complaints, spasms, colics, worms, &c. ; but in this he only follows the fan¬ ciful enumeration of virtues so profusely given to several arti¬ cles in the Materia Medica. Oil, and fats of all kind, and butter are supposed bad against the bile + : but by bile is meant a weak state of the stomach, and when an acidity prevails there, the oil becomes rancid, and this is known to disorder most stomachs. PREPARATIONS. Oil is usefully employed in clysters, to soften indurated feces, and make them pass easy, as in the common domestic clyster, a tea-spoonful of salt, a dessert-spoonful of olive oil, and half-a- pint of warm gruel. Oil united with alkali forms soap, and where there is a defect of bile, pills of Castille soap, four or five, with a little rhubarb, have produced great benefit. Oil enters into the composition of several ointments, as the following : The Wax Ointment (Unguentum Cerae, olim Unguentum album, P. L. ) : Take of white wax, four ounces, — - spermaceti, three ounces, . - olive oil, a pint : Mix them together over a gentle fire, and then stir them very briskly, without ceasing, till they are cold. And in what the Royal College call the Ointment of Sperma¬ ceti (Unguentum Spermaceti, olim Linimentum album,), which is thus ordered : Take of spermaceti, six drachms, ■ ■ - white wax, two drachms, - olive oil, three ounces : * The usual remedies for the dropsy are to be employed at the same time. + Bile is a composition of oil and alkali, a kind of soap ; and the use of the omentum seems to be to furnish fat or oil for the composition of bile, so little is the bile injured bjr oil. EUROPEAN OLIVE. 19 Melt all together over a gentle fire, stirring briskly, Without in* termission, till the ointment becomes cold. Also in their Cerate of Spermaceti (Ccratum Spermatis Ceti) : thus, Take of spermaceti, half an ounce, - white wax, two ounces, • — - olive oil, four ounces : Melt them together, and keep stirring them till the cerate cools. Also in the Ointment of Acetated Ceruse (Unguentum Cerussae acetate, olim Unguentum Saturninum, P. L.) : Take of acetated ceruse, two drachms, - - white wax, two ounces, - olive oil, half a pint : Rub the acetated ceruse into a powder with some part of the oil ; then add this to the wax after it has been melted along with the rest of the oil, and stir the mixture till it is cold. And in the Cerate * of Acetated Litharge (Ceratum Li- thargyri acetati, P. L.) : Take of the water of acetated litharge, two ounces and a half, - yellow wax, four ounces, - - olive oil, nine ounces, - camphor, half a drachm : Rub the camphor with a little of the oil ; dissolve the wax with the rest of the oil; and as soon as they begin to thicken? add the water of acetated litharge, and keep stirring till they cool ; then mix the camphor which had been rubbed with the oil. These softening ointments and cerates are supposed only to supple the parts, and hinder the rag or lint from sticking to the granulating flesh ; for which purpose oil is spread over bread and milk poultices, or the poultice of linseed-meal, being soft unirritating applications to the part; and they are thought also to keep the air from wounds, which is known to irritate them, from the oxygen in the air, but to have otherwise no peculiar healing virtue. * Ointments , Liniments , and Cerates differ principally from plasters in their consistency. A plaster reduced by the addition of oil to the consist¬ ence of honey will form an ointment, and by softening; it with more oil it becomes then a liniment. Cerates have a stiffer consistency than either. All these kinds of compositions should be melted down with a gentle heat , and are commonly spread on soft linen rag, or lint* 20 EUROPEAN OLIVE. The following is supposed to be drawing, the Ointment of Yellow Rosin (Unguentum Resin® flay®, olim Unguentum Basilicon flavum, P. L.) : Take of yellow rosin, - — yellow wax, a pound of each ; — - olive oil, a pint : Melt the rosin and wax with a gentle heat ; then add the oil, and strain the mixture while yet warm. This plaster is employed for the dressing of broken chilblains, and other sores that require stimulating : it is also used to drive milk away, being placed over the tumid breasts when the child is weaned. The following is known by the vulgar name of Turner’s Ce¬ rate, as curing the wounds of Turners, artd is good in broken chilblains, the Cerate of Calamy (Ceratum Lapidis Calami- naris, olim Ceratum Epuloticum, P. L.) : Take of prepared calamy, — - — yellow wax, half-a-pound of each ; — - olive oil, a pint : Melt the wax with the oil, and as soon as they begin to thicken, sprinkle in the prepared calamy, and keep it stirring till the ce¬ rate is cool. It enters into the composition of the mild and strong liniments of ammonia: thus, Liniment of Ammonia (Linimentum Ammoni®, olim Lini- mentum volatile, L. P.) : Take of water of ammonia, half-an-ounce ; - olive oil, an ounce and a half: Mix by shaking them in a phial. Strong Liniment of Ammonia (Linimentum Ammoni® for¬ tius, L. P.) : Take of pure water of ammonia, an ounce ; - olive oil, two ounces: Mix by shaking them in a phial. These are used as gently stimulating affected pads, to invite the blood to those parts, and have been found of service in rheu¬ matism of the chronic kind, in paralytic affections, white swell¬ ings, gouty attacks in the joints likely to recede, &c. The oil moderates the too highly stimulating effects of the ammonia, and hence it usefully enters into compositions with turpentine ; which see under that article. VERONICA BECABUNGA. B ROOK LIME, OR WATER -SPEEDW ELL. Class II. Diandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Geiv. Char. Corolla four-cleft, wheel-shaped, with the under Segment narrower: Capsule superior, two-celled. Spec. Char. Racemes lateral : Leaves elliptic fiat: Stew creeping. DESCRIPTION. It is a very beautiful plant when in flower ; its stalks are round, thick, and succulent, and grow to ten inches or a foot in length ; but they do not stand entirely erect, but are procumbent in part, and often take fresh root at the joints, where they touch the ground. They are sometimes single, often branched, and when cut through appear of a spongy nature. The leaves are oblong, rounded at the ends, and serrated about the edges ; they stand in pairs, two at every joint of the stalk opposite to each other ; they are near an inch long, smooth on the surface, and somewhat glossy, of a thick substance, and of a dark or blackish green colour. From the alae of these leaves there arise pedicles one on each side ; these are three inches long, or thereabouts, and are each ornamented with a long series of flow- 22 VERONICA BECABUNGA. ers of a beautiful sky-blue colour, divided into four segments at the edge, and are succeeded by small seed-vessels, flat and of a kind of cordated form, in which are lodged a number of small seeds in two cells. The root is small and creeping, and of a white colour. It grows in great abundance with us, the com¬ panion of water cresses, and propagates itself very quickly by the spreading of its root, HISTORY. This plant is thus described in the New Edinburgh Dispen¬ satory : This is a low perennial plant, common in little rivulets and ditches of standing water, and flowering in July. The leaves remain all the winter, but are in greatest perfection in the spring. Their taste is herbaceous, with a very light bitter¬ ness *. MEDICAL USE. If any good effects be expected from brooklime, it should be used as food. As having a bland mild juice, its leaves form a proper cor¬ rective of fiery vegetables, whose pungency these tend to les¬ sen, and the juice of the whole herb not improperly enters into the composition of the Compound JuipE of Scurvy-grass (Succus Cochlea rite compositus, olim Succi Scorbutici, P. L.), which see under the article Scurvy-grass, as a bland corrective, yet not as having much medicinal virtue. Rutty says that its juice is saponaceous, and taken in a large quantity opens the body in the easiest manner. Dioscorides mentions a use that deserves the attention of mo¬ dern practitioners. “Folia in vino pota, stranguria et vesicas scabie laborantibus opitulantur its leaves drunk in wine re- iieve the strangury, and diseases of the bladder. The juice is said neither to turn sour or putrid by keeping, and can be only esteemed as a mild refrigerant. -* Authors report, “ calculum renum et vesicae expellit, menses ciet2 foe turn mortuum ejicit !” So filled with lies are the Materiae Medicae ! GRATIOLA OFFICINALIS. HEDGE. HYSSOP. Class II. Diandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx seven-leaved, the two outer patulous: Corolla irregular, reversed: Stamina two barren: Capsule two-celled. Spec. Char. Leaves lanceolate, serrate : Flowers peduncled. DESCRIPTION. The stalks of this plant are erect, and have frequent knots or joints; they rise to ten or twelve inches high : the leaves stand in pairs at the joints, are of an oblong figure, an inch in length, and more than half an inch in breadth : they are smooth, and extremely bitter to the taste : from the alas of these leaves arise flowers standing singly ; they are tubular, consisting of a single petal, and perforated behind. In their hind part they are bent like a horn, and of a yellow colour, striped with brown streaks: they are two thirds of an inch in length, and about a quarter of an inch in diameter, and at the front are divided into two lips of a pale purplish colour, standing far asunder : the upper lip is of the shape of a heart, and bent upwards: the lower one is divided into three segments ; the cup is divided into five segments, and the flower is succeeded by a single fruit of a round¬ ish figure, but pointed, of a pale purple colour, divided into two cells and filled w ith minute seeds. 24 HEDGE-HYSSOP. HISTORY. This plant is thus described in the New Edinburgh Dispensa¬ tory : This is a perennial plaut, a native of marshy situations in the south of Europe. It is gathered for use when in flower. It has no smell, but a very bitter, somewhat nauseous taste. It is a drastic purgative and emetic, and a very powerful anthelmintic, but its use requires caution. In substance it may be given to the extent of half a drachm, and in infusion to three drachms. ADDITIONAL REMARKS. The Gratiola flowers in June or July, continuing till August or September. It was introduced into our gardens by Gerard in 1568. It has no smell. The leaves, which are the parts used in medicine, are intensely bitter, slightly astringent, and have some degree of pungency in them ; they impart their medicinal virtue to both water and spirit. An extract may be also formed. VVood- ville, like Dr. Duncan jun., has been extremely short and de¬ fective in his account of the virtues of this plant. After Cullen, he says, 44 that like the other verticillate plants, this acts as a sti¬ mulant, from the essential oil it contains, and hence is recom¬ mended as a remedy against hysteria , and to promote the courses. It is good in fomentations for contusions, and for removing black¬ ness from extravasated fluids ; and is used as a pectoral, being made into tea, and sweetened with sugar or honey.” Such is his account of a poisonous remedy very much resem¬ bling in virtues the Digitalis. Miller speaking of this plant says, 44 that it is of rugged curlish nature.” Hoffman, with others speaking of this plant, says, 44 Non tantum per inferiora, sed et superiora purgat, et tarn violenter, ut quidam helleboro, quidern pityusae.” — 46 That it vomits upwards and downwards, and so violently, that it is compared to hellebore, or some other drastic purge,” Alston, speaking of this plant, says, that 44 it acts as an acrid and violent purgative and emetic, and evacuates phlegmatic, bilious, and watery humours; hence it is extolled in jaundice, asthmas, dropsies, and agues.” Haller mentions its use in epi¬ leptic fits, in w hich we have found the digitalis useful. Geof- froy says, that it is so rough a purge, that it is only fit to be given to strong people, and that it frequently occasions violent pains of the bowels, and an overpurging in young persons. HEDGE-HYSSOP. 25 Having ascertained the nature of this plant, we shall find reason for its application in medicine. Boerhaave has given this plant its true character : u Efficax remedium est in humoribus aqnosis, lentis, biliosisque specified evacuandis, quos vel ex remotissimis partibus trahit, atque turn per secessum, turn per vomitum expurgat. Plinc magnus ejus usus esse poterit in hydrope, ictcro fiavo, &c. Et quia amari- tudine insuper dotata est insigni fugat lumbricos, eorum sabur- ram expurgat. Corrigitur cinnam. sem. aoisi, glycyrrhiza, &c. Dosis foliorum pulv, dr. 1. infusorum ad dr. 2. extr. scr. 1.” That is, 6i this plant is excellent for the evacuation of bile and water, and for expelling worms.” For dropsies the dose is from ten grains to half a drachm of the dried leaves in powder, and I have seen it relieve water in the chest. Nausea was induced, often vomiting, and always purging. The best mode of ordering it is to put two drachms of the fresh leaves, or a drachm of the dried, to five or six ounces of boiling water, and let it infuse during the night ; then strain it off in the morning, and form it into an emulsion, by triturating six blanched almonds with it, afterwards adding to it an ounce of syrup of violets, or althea, and to repeat a table-spoonful every hour until it vomits or purges. Bergius mentions that ten grains of the powder mixed with five of gentian root, in some cinnamon water, given every two hours, until it vomited or purged, or both, was of great service in bilious autumnal or putrid fevers ; and there is no doubt, by thus evacuating the primes vice , this success was not an idle boast. Vide our Philosophy of Medicine, vol. iii. Bolduc says that he found the root of this plant in powder, given in half a drachm for a dose, as good a specific in dysentery as the ipecacuanha, when the disease had not proceeded too far, it being astringent as well as bitter. Kostrewiski, a Polish physician, has mentioned some extra¬ ordinary facts relative to the virtues of this plant. He relates, that given in the dose of half a drachm (in the morning) it had a remarkably good effect in several maniacal cases ; and that an extract made from this herb had cured symptoms of the venereal disorder, the ozena, ulcers of the throat, nodes, &c., even where mercury seemed to do no good, but harm. The medicine was thus prepared : 26 HEDGE-? HYSSOP. Take of the extract of gratiola, a drachm, — — — - white sugar, two drachms and a half, - - crabs' eyes prepared, an equal quantity, - — fennel seeds, in powder, a drachm : Ten grains of this was given three times a day ; the dose was increased to double the quantity by degrees, and continued for ten or more weeks f It usually excited some nausea, a copious flow of urine, se¬ veral motions, and in some instances salivation. After such accounts, surely, this plant merits much considera* tion, and a further trial. COMMON ROSEMARY. ROSMARINUS OFFICINALIS. Class II. Diandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla unequal; upper lip two-parted: Filaments long, curved, simple with a tooth. Spec. Char. Leaves sessile. DESCRIPTION. Rosemary flowers are small, but they are not without their beauty. They are of the labiated kind, and consist of one petal divided into two parts, gaping widely from one another at the mouth, or opening. The one of these, which is placed upwards, is turned somewhat back, and is divided again into two, and makes as it were two horns ; the lower part is again divided into three segments, and the middle one of these is hollowed in form of a spoon, and has at its extremity a fissure or little nick, di¬ viding it into two in that part. The whole flower is of a pale blueish, or grayish white, and of an extremely fragrant smell and aromatic taste. It is not a native of England, but is culti¬ vated every where with us. 28 COMMON ROSEMARY. HISTORY. Rosemary is a perennial shrub, which grows wild in the south of Europe, and is cultivated in our gardens. It has a fragrant smell, and a warm pungent bitterish taste, approaching to la¬ vender ; the leaves and tender tops are strongest ; next to these the cup of the flower; the flowers themselves are considerably the weakest, but most pleasant. f MEDICAL USE. Its virtues depend entirely on its essential oil, which seems to be combined with camphor, not only from its peculiar taste, but from its possessing chemical properties which depend on the presence of camphor; and from its depositing crystals of cam¬ phor when long kept. This plant, like many others, has obtained a celebrity which it little merits. Like lavender, it may gently stimulate the sy¬ stem, and is a mild cordial : but it has no claim to any of those high encomiums bestowed upon this simple herb. Boerhaave says, u in affectibus capitis et nervorum, apoplexia, epilepsia, paralysi, vertigine, caro, &c. visum acuunt ; fcetorem anhe- litus emendant ; hepatis, lienis, et uteri obstructiones resolvunt. Ictero et fluori albo mulierum medentur, corque confortant.” After this encomium from so distinguished a physician, we cannot wonder at seeing in poets, “ There’s rosemary ; that’s for remembrance.” Shakspeare. So speaks Ophelia. Perdita thus alludes to it : “ - Reverend sirs, For you there ’s rosemary and rue ; these keep Seeming and savour all the winter long : Remembrance and grace be to you both.” Shakspeare. This quality rendered it a fit present of the lover. Thus in a sonnet in 1584 : “ Rosemary is for remembrance Betweene us daie and night ; Wishing that I might ahvaies have You present in my sight.” Its smell is certainly reviving, and this is found particularly in what is denominated the queen of Hungary's water , which smelt to on the handkerchief greatly relieves a headache, or if sprinkled on the forehead. It is made thus ; COMMON ROSEMARY. 29 PREPARATIONS. Take of the flowers of rosemary, two pounds ; - - rectified wine, four pounds : Distil in a water-bath. This is common Hungary water. The London College order a spirit, which answers a similar purpose, it is called Spirit of Rosemary. (Spiritus Rorismarini.) Take of the fresh tops of rosemary, a pound and a half; - proof spirit, a gallon : Distil off in a water-bath, five pints. This is useful as an outward application in strains and bruises., and, given internally, is said to have cured a queen of Hungary of a paralytic affection. The College mention also in their Pharmacopoeia an Essential Oil of Rosemary (Oleum Essen* tiale Rorismarini). As a cephalic, four or five drops of the oil are given in a dessert-spoonful of the spirit ; also in hysterics. The spirit properly enters into the composition of the Com¬ pound Tincture of Lavender (Tinctura Lavendulae compo- sita, P. L.); also of the Soap Liniment (Linimentum Saponis). The tops arc used as a kind of tea, but are not so good as the sage tea for domestic use. Class II. Diandria. Order III. Trigynia. EsSent. Gen. Char. Calyx none: Corolla none: Berry one-seeded. Spec. Char. Leaves ovate, seven-nerved, smooth: Petioles very simple. DESCRIPTION. The stem is jointed, and forked, of a green colour but woody texture, climbing like the hop, or trailing upon the ground* When running along the ground, at every joint they send out roots. The leaves stand singly, and are roundish, and of a firm texture, each having seven nerves, of a dusky green on the upper side, and of a paler green underneath, standing on short peti¬ oles. The flowers are small and monopetalous, divided into three segments at the end, having no peduncles, but are placed in a BLACK PEPPER. PIPER NIGRUM. BLACK PEPPER* 31 duster on the stalk. The fruit which succeeds is a berry : twenty or thirty are seen crowding orte stalk, at first green, then red, and afterwards black, but white internally* HISTORY. Sp. 1. The black pepper is the fruit of a shrubby creeping plant, which grows wild in the East Indies, and is cultivated, with much advantage to the fruit, in Java and Malabar. The berries are gathered before they are ripe, and are dried in the sun. They become black and corrugated on the surface ; their taste is hot and fiery, and their smell slightly aromatic. Neumann got from 7680 parts 4800 watery, and afterwards 180 alcoholic extract ; and inversely, 1080 alcoholic arid 3640 watery. The principle on which its pungency depends, was soluble both in water and in alcohol, and w^as not volatile, for 7680 grains furnished about 150 of a very bland volatile oil. From this analysis Dr. Thomsori’s differs remarkably. By ma¬ cerating it in alcohol, arid distilling the tincture, he got a green volatile oil, having the whole flavour and pungency of the pep¬ per. Besides this esseritial principle, he found it to contain an extractive arid starch. Sp. 2. White pepper is the fruit of the same plarit gathered after it is fully ripe, and freed of its external coat by maceration in water. It is smooth on the surface, and less pungent than the black pepper. Sp. 3. Piper Cubeba. Cubebs are brought from Java. This fruit has a great re¬ semblance to black pepper. The most obvious difference is, that each cubeb is furnished with a long slender stalk, whence they are called by some piper caudaturri. In aromatic warmth and pungency, cubebs are far inferior to pepper. Neumann got from 960 grains, 310 alcoholic and 272 watery extract; and inversely, 380 watery and 61 alcoholic. It also furnishes some volatile oil. The warmth and pungency of these spices are said to reside entirely in a resin; their aromatic odour in an essential oil. In medicine, they are sometimes employed as acrid stimulants ; but their chief use is in cookery, as condiments. MEDICAL USES. All these different kinds of pepper contain an essential oil, and fixed resinous and gummy principles, but the fiery acrid BLACK PEPPER. particles seem principally to reside in the resinous parts : for Cartheuser observes, u that from a pound of black pepper a drachm or two of essential oil may be obtained.” Authors differ about the exact quantity, some mentioning a drachm, others three drachms ; and this essential oil, though it smells strongly of the pepper, yet has but little acrimony ; and a watery in¬ fusion, though it extracts a great quantity of gummy or mucilaginous parts, three or four drachms from an ounce, yet has little or no acrimony unless it carries some of the resinous particles along with it : but a tincture drawn with the spirits, though it extracts only about a drachm and a few grains from an ounce, yet is so fiery and hot, that a few drops of it set the mouth as it were in a flame; and after this tincture is drawn, whatever is obtained afterwards is always quite mild and inert. To show how much the virtues of pepper lie in the resinous par¬ ticles, if some black pepper be boiled in fresh parcels of wa¬ ter, it will not have lost its flavour, but impart it to the water even to the forty-third boiling. We may here remark, that pepper, infused in wrater, impreg¬ nates the menstruum pretty strongly w ith its flavour, but weakly with its taste : by boiling for some time, a little more of its pun¬ gent matter is extracted, and its flavour dissipated. On collect¬ ing the fluid that exhales in the boiling, the water is found agree¬ ably impregnated with the odour of the spice, but scarcely dis¬ covers any taste : the essential oil, which rises to the surface of the water, is thin, light, and limpid, wdth a strong agreeable smell, and of a mild taste ; a drop or two on the tongue im¬ prints only a moderate grateful warmth. On inspissating the decoction, a part of the pungency of the pepper is found in the mucilaginous extract, for a larger part is retained by the pepper itself. The tincture, on the contrary, is extremely hot and fiery, a few' drops producing a most violent effect. Inspissated it leaves an extract still more fiery. The quantity of the extract from both the black and white pepper is the same, but that from the white is weaker than from the other. In fact, the common white pepper usually met w ith is spurious, and only prepared from the black in the Indies. They steep the black pepper-corns in sea water, exposed to the heat of the sun for several days, till they find the arillus, or outer coat, loose on it; this they remove, and it appears afterwards white. As BLACK PEPPER. 33 much of the acrid qualities of the pepper resides in this coat, it is no wonder that the white pepper is found to be the mildest of the two. Sir John Hill mentions, in his Materia Medica, that there are actually plants which produce a true white pepper, and that the genuine fruit is sometimes imported to us ; but it is most pro¬ bable, that this is only when the berries of the black pepper, having become too ripe, drop upon the ground, and by a na¬ tural process are deprived of their covering. It is to be considered as an inferior kind ; but is sold at treble the price of the other. Respecting pepper as a medicine, it cannot be doubted that it has a warm cordial effect upon the stomach : but as it does not dispose the blood to attract more oxygen ; therefore it does not inflame, it, and hence accelerates not the circulation. But it in¬ vigorates the powers of digestion, stimulates the fauces to pour, out an abundant supply of saliva, and the stomach the gastric solvent, and finally the bowels to a better peristaltic motion. It is mostly used as a corrective of the coldness and flatulence of a vegetable diet, and seems admirably suited for warm cli¬ mates, where the food is naturally aqueous, and of a cold nature. Hence we use it with most vegetables, especially cucumbers and peas. It serves as a condiment to fish. In gout, dropsy, rheuma¬ tism, cold phlegmatic habits, the use of pepper is advisable, and taken in a large dose is said to cure intermittents. In incipient quinsies, before the tumour has broken, a bason of gruel well seasoned with pepper, taken at bed-time, will resolve, it. The free use of pepper comes naturally recommended in palsy. n I OFFICINAL VALERIAN, E. P. VALERIANA OFFICINALIS, P. E. WILD VALERIAN, L. P. VALERIANA SYLVESTRIS, P. L. Class III. Triandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx none : Corolla monopetalous, gibbous on one side at the base, above. Spec. Char. Flowers bearing three stamina : Leaves all pinnate. DESCRIPTION. This plant grows to three feet or more in height; its leaves stand in pairs, and are large, hairy, and of a dusky green, di¬ vided down to the middle rib, so as to appear to be made up of many small leaves affixed on the two sides of a stalk, or may be said to be pinnate : the flowers stand in large tufts at the tops of the branches, and are of a pale whitish red colour : some of the species vary in the number of stamina, and are succeeded each by a single seed winged with down. HISTORY. This plant is perennial, and varies in its appearance and sensi¬ ble qualities, according to the situation in which it grows. In OFFICINAL VALERIAN. 35 marshes and shady places its leaves are broader, on dry heaths and high pastures they are narrower. The roots produced in low watery grounds have a remarkably faint smell in comparison of the others, and sometimes scarcely any. The roots taken up in autumn or winter have also much stronger sensible qualities than those collected in spring and summer. The root consists of a number of strings or fibres matted to¬ gether, issuing from one common head, of a whitish or pale brownish colour. Its smell is strong, like a mixture of aromatics with fetids ; the taste unpleasantly warm, bitterish, and subacrid. Neumann got from 480 grains of the dry root 186 alcoholic and 74 watery extract; and inversely, 261 watery and 5 alco¬ holic. The distilled alcohol w7as slightly, the water strongly, impregnated with the smell of the Valerian, but no separable oil was obtained. MEDICINAL USE. Wild Valerian is a medicine of great use in nervous disorders, and is particularly serviceable in epilepsies proceeding from a debility of the nervous system. Some recommend it as pro¬ curing sleep, particularly in fever, even when opium fails ; buf; it is principally useful in affections of the hysterical kind. The common dose is from a scruple to a drachm in powder ; and in infusion, from one to two drachms. Its unpleasant fla¬ vour is most effectually concealed by a suitable addition of mace. As its virtues reside entirely in an essential oil, it should nof; be exhibited in decoction or watery extract. So far the Edinburgh Dispensatory. Valerian is supposed to be the (pa, Phu, of Dioscorides and the ancients, from the Greek word according to the degree of its purity. Raw sugar varies very much in quality. It should be dry, crystallized in large sparkling grains, of a whitish or clear yellow colour, without smell, and of a sweet taste without any peculiar flavour. Refined sugar should have a brilliant white colour, and a close compact texture. It should be very hard, but brittle, and break with sharp, semi-transparent, splintery fragments. MEDICAL USE. Sugar, from being a luxury, has now become one of the ne¬ cessaries of life. In Europe sugar is almost solely used as a condiment. Rut it is also a very wholesome and powerful ar¬ ticle of nourishment; for during crop time, the negroes in the SUGAR-CANE. West Indies, notwithstanding their increased labours, always grow fat. It is in this way also that its internal employment is useful in some diseases, as in sea scurvy ; for sugar produces no particular effect as a medicine, except that the coarser and im¬ pure kinds are slightly purgative. Applied externally it acts as an escharotic in spongy and unhealthy granulations ; and to abraded or inflamed surfaces it proves gently stimulant. In pharmacy it is principally employed to cover bad tastes, to give form to, and to preserve, more active substances. In using it for the last purpose, we must always remember that, if the pro¬ portion of sugar employed be too small, it will promote instead of retard the fermentation of the articles it was intended to pre¬ serve. Molasses or treacle is a very impure syrup. It is thick, vis¬ cid, of a dark brown, almost black colour, and has a peculiar smell, and a sweet, somewhat empyreumatic taste. HISTORY. The Sugar-cane is a native of Africa and Lower Asia, as the East Indies and Arabia Felix ; it is also said to grow sponta¬ neously in the West Indies ; but others assert that it was there unknown until introduced by the Europeans. Labat, vol. i. p. 226, is decidedly of opinion that the Sugar¬ cane is a native plant of the West Indies. But he says, it is to the Portuguese and Spaniards that Europeans arc indebted for the art of making sugar, who learned the secret from the inha¬ bitants of the East Indies, and returning thence put it in prac¬ tice, first at the island of Madeira arid the Canaries, and after¬ wards in the Brazils and New Spain, about the end of the year 1580. Sugar, when first introduced into every country, was used only medicinally. Pliny leaves no room for doubt on this point. Even in Arabia, in Avicenna’s time, though sugar was an article of commerce from the East, there is no record of its being used in dietetic or culinary purposes for several centuries after. MEDICAL USES. Sugar was employed originally to render unpleasant and nau¬ seating medicines grateful to the sick, especially to children; and for syrups, electuaries, and conserves. As might be expected with every thing new, when sugar be» E 50 SUGAR-CANE. came used in diet as well as medicine it met with the most vio¬ lent opposition. Doctor Theophilus Garencieres, who wrote in 1647, speaking of sugar, declares,— 46 Sugar and all kinds of sweetmeats are very hurtful in con¬ sumption of the lungs ; and, as I conceive, the so frequent use of these things tends much to create that disease ; and it is not to be wondered at that consumptive complaints are so common in England. 66 In respect to the predominant quality of sugar, I contend that it is heating, although hidden ; and, as a proof it, it excites thirst. a This heating quality of sugar renders it not a little injurious to the lungs, which are in themselves very hot; moderately cool¬ ing things are therefore most agreeable to their nature, but heat¬ ing things easily inflame them. u But the most important consideration is, that sugar is not only injurious to the lungs in its temperament and composition, but also in its entire property ; which, I believe, no sensible person will deny : when, from its excessive sweetness, it is dia¬ metrically opposite to the bitter principle, it must follow, if bitter things, according to universal suffrage, absorb and deterge superfluous humours, expel putrefaction, and preserve bodies sound for a great while, that sweet things, from their opposite qualities, must be the fruitful parent of putrescence ; and which must necessarily be more active in their effects when a part is attacked not endowed with the power of concoction, and from which afterwards it is not possible to remove the disease. u It is certain there is no fermentation, or very little, pro¬ duced between things which agree in their qualities, as sugar and flesh, on account of the sweetness and balsamic quality of sugar and the sweet essence of flesh, which assimilate with each other ; for, if a piece of raw meat be put in sugar, it soon be¬ comes putrid, unless the sugar should have been first boiled until all its sweetness is consumed, and it has acquired a bitterness ; but when the meat is put into salt, it will be kept from putrefy¬ ing for a great length of time, from that property in the salt which is acrid, and the balsam of the meat which is sweet, causing a kind of fermentation from the opposition of their qualities ; after which fermentation a certain new temperament arises. 66 The same also appears in sugar, which, though it so soon SUGAR-CANE. 51 corrupts flesh, yet will preserve acid fruits from putrefaction for a long time; because its sweetness ferments with the acidity or sharpness of the fruits, from which a new uniform tempera¬ ment is produced. u In confirmation of the preceding observations, it is not to be omitted, that in the island of Saint Thomas, under the equa¬ tor, the inhabitants feed their hogs with canes, and the refuse of the cane-juice; from which they are said to fatten, and ac¬ quire such wonderful tenderness, that their flesh equals in good¬ ness the Spanish kids, and is commonly given to people with weak stomachs, on account of its easiness of digestion. a From hence we may infer, that if sugar possesses the power and property of converting hog’s flesh, the toughest almost of any animal’s, to so great a degree of tenderness, for the same reason it must accelerate the decay and sphacelation of the lungs, when they are of such a soft and spongy substance as to require styptics and astringents to preserve them. u It is therefore clearer than the light that sugar is not a nou. rishment, but an evil ; not a preservative, but a destroyer ; and should be sent back to the Indies, before the discovery of which, probably, consumption of the lungs was not known, but brought to us with these fruits of our enterprise.” Willis, who wrote in 1674, says, — (( I so much condemn all things that are preserved with sugar, or have much sugar mixed with them, that I consider the inven¬ tion and immoderate use of it, in this present age, to have very much contributed to the immense increase of the scurvy. u For it plainly appears, by the chemical analysis of sugar, that this concrete consists of an acrid and corrosive salt, but tempered with a portion of sulphur. * u Sugar, distilled by itself, yields a liquor scarcely inferior to aquafortis ; but, if it be diluted plentifully with water, and then distilled, although no fixed salt will ascend, yet there will come a liquor like the sharpest brandy, hot, and highly pungent, u Therefore it is very probable, that mixing sugar with almost all our food, and taken to so great a degree, from its daily use, renders the blood and humours salt and acrid, and consequently scorbutic. u A certain eminent author* attributes the cause of the fre- * Garencieres. E 2 52 SUGAIi«CANE. quency of consumptions of the lungs, in England, to the immo¬ derate use of sugar. I am not certain whether also the fomes of the increasing scurvy may not rather be derived from thence.” Ray, who wrote in 1689, says, — 66 The physicians who lived in the last century, with unani¬ mous consent recommend sugar for complaints in the lungs, hoarseness, cough, rawness of the throat, and internal ulcera¬ tions : yet, among us in England, not long since, it began to be accused, and to labour under great discredit, by our own as well as foreign physicians, who impute the ravages which the scurvy and consumption have lately made in England to the im¬ moderate use of sugar in our food and drinks. u No person should therefore attribute these evils to the moisture of the atmosphere ; for, they say, that in Portugal, where the air is warm, consumption of the lungs is there epi¬ demic, from the same cause ; as the Portuguese use more sugar than any people, except the English. u In regard to the scurvy, the same more ancient physicians, as well as those of later times, agree, that it is produced by the too great use of sugar ; and that it is very hurtful to the teeth, and not only renders them black, but causes them to decay, and to loosen in their sockets, and to fall out; which are certain signs and symptoms of scurvy. iC Sugar also contains an acid and very corrosive salt, which appears from distillation. u The scurvy is caused by a redundant fixed salt in the blood, and is therefore cured by such things as abound with a volatile salt.” Opposed to these, we have not wanted those who have amply vindicated the effect of sugar. Slare says, — 66 I have a strong and home argument to recom¬ mend the use of sugar to infants ; of which to defraud them is a very cruel thing, if not a crying sin. The argument I bring from Nature’s first kind tribute, or intended food for children so soon as they are born ; which is, that fine juice or liquor prepared in the mother’s breasts, called breast-milk, of a fine delicate sweet taste. This sweet is somewhat analogous, or a taste agreeable, to sugar ; and, in want of this milk, it is well known, sugar is brought to supply it. You may soon be con¬ vinced of the satisfaction which a child has from the taste of sugar, by making two sorts of water-paps, one with, and the SUGAR-CANE. 53 other without, sugar ; they will greedily suck down the one, and make faces at the other. Nor will they be pleased with cow’s milk, unless that be blessed with a little sugar, to bring it to the sweetness of breast-milk. u I will set down an experiment I had from a friend. He was a little lean man, w ho used to drink much wine in company of strong drinkers. I asked him how he was able to bear it. He told me that he received much damage in his health, and was apt to be fuddled, before he used to dissolve sugar in his wine ; from that time he was never sick nor inflamed, nor fuddled w ith wine. He usually drank red wine. u I made use of sugar myself in red wine, and I found the like good effect ; that it prevents heating my blood, or giving my head any disturbance, if I drink a larger portion than or- u I allow about two ounces of sugar to a pint of wine, and dare assert that this proportion will take off the heating quality of wine in a good measure; and, after one has some time used himself to add sugar to his wine, he will be pleased with the taste, and feel the comfortable and cordial virtue of this com¬ position. u Let those that are thin, and apt to have hot hands and heated brains upon drinking wine, and cannot abstain or be ex¬ cused from drinking, take notice of this counsel, and try it for some time ; and they will be pleased with the delicious taste, and salubrious effects, of this saccharine addition.” — Vindication of Sugars, anno 1715. The learned Dr. Moseley has lately very ably vindicated this article, used as diet, and for medicine, in a most elaborate u Treatise on Sugar*.” We will sum up his arguments in this place. u When we consider that the saccharine principle is the soul of vegetable creation, and see how sparingly it is diffused through the general productions of the earth, and how little is collected from the wide range of flowers, by the consummate skill of the laborious bee ; or from roots, trees, fruit, and grain, by the chemic art; we cannot but admire the partiality of Nature to the luscious cane, her favourite offspring, the sublimest effort of heat and light. * This Treatise is one of the very best monographs we possess. 54 SUGAR-CANE* u The proportion of sugar to the cane-juice depends on the qualify of the cane. We consider a pound of sugar from a gallon of cane-juice, as good yielding ; and three hogsheads of sugar, of 14 cwt. each, from an acre of land, as ample produce. But for this quantity the soil must be good, and the canes of the first year’s cutting, and in perfection. u In the process of refining muscovado sugar, a ton weight, of good quality, gives the following products : cwt. q. lb. Double and single refined sugar - 9 1 5-^ Piece ditto - - .....400 Scale, or bastard ditto - ... 2 0 0 Melasses, or treacle - "... 4 1 22 Scum and dirt ------010] i 20 0 0 (e That sugar is nutritiousin the most eminent degree has been long known. It is the basis of all vegetable nutrition. u Every root and earthly production is nutritious in propor¬ tion to the saccharine principle it contains. Nothing nourishes that is entirely free from this saccharine principle; otherwise turnips would be as little nutritive as cucumbers, being, like them, the sugar excepted, scarcely any thing but water. u Milk is nutritious on the same account, and that milk is most nutritious w hich most abounds with saccharine sweetness ; and when milk is defective in this quality, from bad pasturage and other causes, our vegetable sugar should be added to it, to re¬ medy such defect. (i In all cases sugar helps the assimilation of milk in the sto¬ mach, and not only prevents its curdling, and disordering that organ, but corrects the tendency which milk has to injure the breath, by adhering to the teeth and gums, and rendering them foul and offensive. u There are many people to w'hom a milk diet w ould be a great convenience and gratification ; and there are some habits of body and disorders wherein it w ould often be of the utmost utility ; but the stomach frequently is unable to bear it. Here sugar is the only means to reconcile the disagreement. 66 A learned and w orthy relation of mine, having been much afflicted with the gout, and having seen the good effects of a SUGAR-CANE. 55 milk diet in similar Cases to his own, wished to have recourse to it in the same manner, and make it a principal part of his sus¬ tenance ; but he could not. It curdled, and became sour, heavy, and disgusting in his stomach. He was always very fond of milk, but never could use it without inconvenience, even when he was a boy. u However, on reading the former edition of this work, he was determined to have another trial of milk, with the addition of some sugar. This succeeded, and he now makes two meals every day entirely on milk and bread, with great pleasure and comfort, and with infinite advantage to his health. (c As milk has the property of injuring the teeth, and is much used in schools, and constitutes great part of the sustenance of most young people, a tooth-brush and water should always be employed ; or at least the mouth should be well rinsed with water, after a meal made of milk. u No modern physicians have noticed this; but the ancients were well acquainted with the injurious effects of milk on the teeth and gums *. u In regard to sugar being prejudicial to the teeth, this has long been known as a prudent old woman’s bugbear to frighten children, that they might not follow" their natural inclination, by seizing opportunities, when they are not watched, of devour¬ ing all the sugar they can find. u This story has had a good effect among the common people in Scotland. They are impressed with a notion that sweeties hurt the teeth ; therefore they live contented without an article not always within the compass of their finances. u Slare, and many others, used sugar as a principal ingredient in tooth powders. It is a component part of many pastes, and other dentifrices ; and w hat the French call opiates , for the pre¬ servation of the teeth and gums. u When milk is not the sole diet of children at their mother’s * P. ASginetae, lib. i. c. 86. — Lac gingivas et dentes laedit. Quare post ipsum acceptura, primum aqua inulsa, deinde vino adstringente, os colluere oportet. Oribasii a Galeno Medicin. Collect, lib. li. c. 59. — Mirum in modum usus lactis frequens dentes et gingivas laedit, nam gingivas flaceidas, dentes putrefactioni et erosioni obnoxios facit : ergo sumpto lacte, os vino diluto colluendum est ; erit etiam accommodatius si mel eidem adjicias. 5G SUGAR-CANE, breast, sugar, in various mixtures and vehicles, makes the chief portion, essentially, of their support. u Sugar affords great nourishment, without oppressing their tender powers of digestion. The nutritive principle of their na¬ tural food is thus happily imitated. c< Sugar does not create worms in children, as has been often said; on the contrary, it destroys worms. Some writers have mentioned this* ; but my authority is my own observation. u In the West Indies, the negro children from crude vegeta¬ ble diet, are much afflicted with worms. In crop-time, when the canes are ripe, these children are always sucking them. Give a negro infant a piece of Sugar-cane to suck, and the im¬ poverished milk of his mother is tasteless to him. This salubrious luxury soon changes his appearance. Worms are discharged ; his enlarged belly and joints diminish ; his emaciated limbs in¬ crease ; and, if canes were always ripe, he would never be dis¬ eased. I have often seen old, scabby, wasted negroes crawl from the hot-houses, apparently half dead, in crop-time; and by sucking canes all day long, they have soon become strong, fat, and sleaky. a The restorative power of sugar in wasted and decayed ha¬ bits, is recorded by several physicians in different parts of the world. I have known many people far advanced in pulmonary consumption, recovered by the juice of the Sugar-cane. u A friend of mine, a clergyman in Shropshire, has favoured me with a very interesting account of a cure performed by the use of sugar, in such a diseased state of the lungs as is generally denominated a complete consumption. u The case is curious ; and I shall recite as much of it as is necessary to the fact. The patient is a gentleman, and a neigh¬ bour of my friend. He had been attended by two eminent phy¬ sicians, who had given up the case as incurable. He then applied to the late doctor James, who ordered one paper of his powder to be divided into eight parts, and one part to be taken every other night, diluting with strong green tea. After being a week under this treatment, he was taken out of his bed every morning between nine and ten o'clock, and, supported by two persons, * Act. Med. Leip. anno 1700. SUGAR-CAKE 57 was hurried along the garden-walk, when the weather was fine-* which brought on expectoration and retching ; when the op¬ pression from his lungs was removed by these operations, he was put into his bed again, and had a tea-cupful of milk-warm mutton broth given him ; this excited a gentle perspiration, and pleasant sleep. He was allowed calves’ feet, chicken, fish, and a glass or two of Port wine. This was James’s practice. The patient thought himself benefited by it. lie was at this time so reduced that he kept his bed upwards of two months, not being able to stand, nor even to sit upright in a chair, without sup¬ port ; his cough was violent, with bloody purulent spitting, fever, and profuse and sudden night sweats. He wras then twenty-six years of age. u His disorder originated from sleeping with his bed-room window open, in the month of June 1770 ; and increased to an alarming degree by the month of August; and in March 1771 the above physicians gave over all hopes of his recovery. These things premised, I shall give the gentleman’s own words, in an¬ swer to some particulars stated to him, by my desire. 66 i I did not take to the use of sugar until I was reduced to so weak a condition as to be unable to take any thing else. Sugar was never prescribed for me by any physician ; but being very thirsty, from the fever, I had a great inclination for spring water, which 1 was not permitted to have, by the affectionate relative w'ho nursed me, without some muscovado sugar, a little ginger, and a piece of toasted bread in it. I soon became ex¬ tremely fond of the saccharine taste, and used to sweeten the water to excess. I did not take it as a medicine, nor confine myself to any specific quantity, but always used it when my ap¬ petite or inclination seemed to require it. However, 1 at length used it in a considerable quantity ; some days, to the amount, I believe, of eight ounces ; and that, with the small portion of toasted bread put into my drink, was the principal part of my sustenance during the greater part of twelve years ; nor did it cease to be so until my stomach became strong, and capable of bearing animal food.’ u He continued in good health from the preceding period until the month of April 1793, when, in consequence of a neglected cold, he had a return of all his former dangerous symptoms ; but, by recurring to his old regimen, he was again restored to health, 5S SUGAR-CANE. in about six months time, excepting in strength, which he re¬ covered by degrees. He is now in better health than he ever was before in his life. a Fontanus, Valeriola, and Forrestus, assert that they had patients cured of consumption of the lungs by a continued use of the conserve of roses; and Riverius knew an apothecary who cured himself of a confirmed consumption by almost living on the conserve of roses. Avicenna records an instance of a sur¬ prising cure performed on a patient, so nearly dying in a con¬ sumption, that preparations were making for her funeral; and who was not only perfectly restored to health, but became very fat, by eating a great quantity of conserve of roses *. F oreign journals are full of histories of consumptions cured by this me¬ dicine. u There are instances where people have scarcely taken any other nutriment than conserve of roses. Some have eaten a pound, and a pound and an half, of this conserve every day : three-fourths of this conserve are sugar. u The virtues of sugar are not confined to its nutritive and balsamic qualities. It resists putrefaction, and preserves all sub¬ stances, — liesh, fruits, and vegetables, — from corruption. u It has a great solvent power, and helps the solution of fat, oily, and incongruous foods and mixtures. It promotes their maceration and digestion in the stomach, and qualifies the effects of digestion to the powers of the lacteals +. u For this reason sugar is much used in foreign cookery, and so much introduced at the tables of the luxurious in France, and also in Italy, Portugal, Spain ; and indeed in every country, ex- * This curious case deserves to be remembered. “ Si non timerem dici mendax, narrarem in hac intentione mirabilia, et referrem summam, qua lisa est mulier phthisica. Pervenit res cujus ad hoc, ut aegritudo cum ea prolongaretur adeo, donee pervenerit ad mortem, et vocaretur ad ipsam, qui praepararet ea quae mortui sunt necessaria. Tunc quidam frater ejus surrexit ad earn, curavit earn, hac cura tempore longo, et revixit et sanata est, et impinguata est ; et non est mihi possibile, ut dicam summurn ejus, quod comedit de zuccaro rosaceo.” Lib. iii. fen. 10. tr. 5. c. 6. p. 668. + “ Acria lenit, acida obtundit, salsa mitiora austera suaviora reddit, fatuis et insipidis gratum saporem tribuit ; atque ut uno verbi concludam, omnium saporum domitor videri potest ; nihilque absque saccharo fere ventri gratum, panificio operi additur, vinis miscetur, aqua enim saccharo suavior salubriorque redditur. — Nonnii de Re Cibaria, lib. i. c. 47. p. 152. SUGAR-CANE. 59 cepting England, in confections, preserves, sweetmeats, and li¬ queurs *. u Sugar, in the form of syrup, is an admirable vehicle to com¬ minute and convey to the internal absorbing vessels any altera¬ tive, mineral, or vegetable medicine. u By its miscible property it diffuses minutely any preparation it may hold in solution, or union, on the surface of the stomach and intestines, and subjects it to the capacity of the orifices of the smallest vessels. a Sugar alone has many medicinal virtues ; and, made into a common syrup with water, and disguised, and perhaps some¬ what improved by vegetable additions, has performed many cures in diseases, from impoverished blood, rickets, and scrophula, that have baffled the most skilful physicians ; and empirics have accordingly availed themselves of what they term ptisans and medicated syrups.” The balsamic and fattening properties of sugar are promi¬ nently visible in all parts of the world where it is made, and not confined to the human race. The celebrated historian Mr. Bryan Edwards was too ac¬ curate in his researches to suffer a fact, so interesting as this, to escape his observation. In his History of the West Indies he has drawn a faithful re¬ presentation of a plantation in the season of making sugar f. He says, — u So palatable, salutary, and nourishing is the juice of the cane, that every individual of the animal creation, drinking freely of it, derives health and vigour from its use. The meagre and sickly among the negroes exhibit a surprising al¬ teration in a few weeks, after the mill is set in action. The la¬ bouring horses, oxen, and mules, though almost constantly at work during this season, yet being indulged with plenty of the green tops of this noble plant, and some of the scummings from the boiling-house, improve more than at any other period of the year. c< It must be observed, that muscovado, or what is called moist sugar, is laxative; and that, in using the juice of the cane, either as a luxury or a medicine, this also is of a laxative * “ Si perquam, parce ultima mensa devoretur, concoctionem juvat, sa- tietatem fere tollit.” — Alex. Petronius, De Victu Romanorum, p. 328. t January, February, March, and April, 60 SUGAR-CANE. nature, particularly with people unaccustomed to it; and some., times it operates as an active purgative, and disorders the bowels. This happens frequently to Europeans, who arrive in the sugar countries just at crop-time, and, allured by its grateful novelty, take it to excess. ” In support of this opinion we have also the concurrence of the famous Dr. Cullen. u The second kind of vegetable matter which we have said may be supposed to be alimentary, is sugar. Whether this in its pure saline state, and taken by itself, without any mixture of oleaginous matter, can prove alimentary, seems to me very doubtful; but that even when approaching very nearly to a sa¬ line state, as it is in the Sugar-cane, it may prove alimentary, is presumed from what happens to the negroes upon our sugar plantations, who are observed to grow plump and fat when during the expression of the canes they take a great deal of the cane-juice. 66 The same conclusion may be drawn likewise from this cir¬ cumstance, that the people of warmer climates live very much upon fruits, whose substance, in a great part, consists of sugar; and I think it evidently appears that these fruits are more nou¬ rishing in proportion as they contain more of sugar. That sugar enters for a large share into the nourishment of men, we may know particularly from hence, that figs, a very saccharine fruit, were anciently the chief food of the athletm, or public wrestlers. u That the roots of these vegetables, that are especially ali¬ mentary, contain a great deal of sugar, we learn from Margraaf ’s experiments, which show that a great deal of pure sugar may be extracted from them; and it can hardly be doubted that a great part of thefr nutritious power depends upon this ingredient in their composition. u The best proof, however, of the nutritious quality of sugar, or of its being a chief part of alimentary substances, is, that a great proportion of sugar is contained in all farinaceous matter. This appears from its being evolved in the most part of the fari¬ naceous seeds by their germination or malting. And lastly, that all alimentary vegetables do for a great part consist of sugar, we may presume, from their being universally liable to a vinous or acetous fermentation, the subject of which is probably in all cases a sugar. 6C The affinity between saccharine and farinaceous matter ap- SUGAR-CANE* 61 pears particularly from this, that several fruits which at a cer¬ tain period of their maturation are chiefly saccharine, are in their further progress often changed to a farinaceous state. The germination of seeds, therefore, and the maturation of certain fruits, fully prove the mutual convertibility of sugar and farina into each other. 66 While we thus endeavour to show that farinaceous sub¬ stances contain a large proportion of saccharine matter, it is to be observed that the farinaceous seeds are of all other vegetable matters the most powerful and nourishing to men, as well as to domestic animals; and hence the Farina alibilis of Haller. The nutritious quality he indeed imputes to a mucilaginous or gela¬ tinous matter which appears in them upon their being diffused in water, and it is possible that their nutritious quality may de¬ pend upon this ; but at the same time, from what we have just now said of the composition of farinaceous matter, it will appear that this vegetable mucilage or gelatina consists for a great part of sugar, which therefore may still be the basis of its alimentary part.” Sugar is sometimes used surgically. The refined sugar, pounded fine, is blown through a quill to remove specks on the cornea of the eye. It is mentioned also as singularly efficacious in the cure of sordid ulcers of the leg*. As far as my opinion goes, it is very favourable to the free use of sugar, especially for children, though in some constitu¬ tions it is apt to ferment and turn acid on the stomach. But in general it agrees well. It however blunts the desire for other food, as a little of this goes a great way, and therefore is said * Ex arundinibus saccharum extrahimus, non solum id incorruptibile, sed aliis praestat ne corrumpantur ; vulneribus injectum a putrefactione li- berat; ex eo solo ingentia vulnera sanari vidimus. Phytognomica, lib. v. cap. i. p. &01, anno 1560, by Baptista Porta. “ Sugar, extracted from canes, is not only incorruptible in itself, but preserves all other things from corruption ; sprinkled upon wounds it keeps them from mortifying. I have seen very large wounds cured only with sugar.” The method of treating fresh wounds among the Turks, is, first to wash them with wine, and then sprinkle powdered sugar on them. The celebrated monsieur Belloste cured obstinate ulcers with sugar dissolved in a strong decoction of walnut leaves. This I have found to be an excellent application. 62 SUGAR-CANE. to pall the appetite. Respecting injuring the teeth, I am afraid the imputation is but too true ; and most have felt it when eating of figs, which are replete with saccharine matter. The refined sugar also is so hard, that it is apt to break the enamel, and thus injure the teeth. But the prevailing prejudices against sugar are rather to be discommended than enforced. For the several syrups, see the different heads, where these naturally fall. We shall conclude our long account with Simple or Common Syrup. (Syrupus Simplex sive Communis. E.) Take of double refined sugar, in powder, fifteen parts ; - - water, eight parts : Let the sugar be dissolved by a gentle heat, and boiled a little, so as to form a syrup. Simple syrup should have neither flavour nor colour, and is more convenient in extemporaneous prescription than sugar un¬ dissolved. This is not included in the Pharmacopoeia of the Royal London College of Physicians. The mode of preparing syrups is as follows : Syrups. (Syrupi. L. D.) In making syrups, where we have not directed either the weight of the sugar, or the manner in which it should be dis¬ solved, this is to be the rule : Take of double refined sugar, twenty-nine ounces; Any kind of liquor, one pint: Gradually add the sugar, and digest, with frequent agitation, in a close vessel, and in a moderate heat, until it be dissolved ; then set it aside for twenty-four hours ; take off the scum, and pour off the syrup from the faeces, if there be any. Syrups are solutions of sugar in any watery fluid, whether simple or medicated. Simple syrup is nutritious and demulcent. When made of fine sugar, it is transparent and colourless. If necessary, it is easily clarified, by beating to a froth the white of an egg, with three or four ounces of water, mixing it with the syrup, and boiling the mixture for a few seconds, until the albumen coagulates, and, enveloping all heterogeneous matters, forms a scum, which may be easily taken off, or separated by filtration. When, instead of simple water, any other fluid is SUGAR-CANE. 63 used for dissolving the sugar, the syrup is then medicated. Me¬ dicated syrups are prepared either with expressed juices, infu¬ sions, decoctions, or saline fluids. The object of forming these into syrups, is either to render them agreeable to the palate, or to preserve them from fermentation. In the latter case, the quantity of sugar added becomes a matter of great importance ; for, if too much be employed, the sugar will separate by cry¬ stallization ; and, if too little, instead of preventing fermenta¬ tion it will accelerate it. About two parts of sugar to one of fluid are the proportions directed by the British colleges with this view. But as, in some instances, a larger quantity of fluid is added, and afterwards reduced to the proper quantity by de¬ coction, it will not be superfluous to point out some circum¬ stances, which show the evaporation to be carried far enough. These are, the tendency to form a pellicle on its surface, when a drop of it is allowed to cool ; the receding of the last portion of each drop, when poured out drop by drop, after it is cold ; and, what is most to be relied on, its specific gravity when boiling hot being about 1*3, or T385 when cold. The syrup which remains, after all the crystallizable sugar has been separated from it, has been much, and probably justly, recommended by some for the preparation of medicated syrups and electuaries, although its pharmaceutical superiority is actually owing to its impurity. Sugar Beer. Very excellent beer is made of sugar, and also of treacle. You first boil a peck of bran in ten gallons of water ; strain the bran off, and mix with the branny water three pounds of sugar, first stirring it well : w7hen cool enough you add a tea-cupful of the best yeast, and a table-spoonful of flour, to a bowl nearly full of the saccharine water, which, when it has fermented for about an hour, is to be mixed with the remainder, and hopped with about half a pound of hops, and the following day it may be put into the cask, to ferment further, which usually takes up three days, when it is to be bunged, and it will be fit for drink¬ ing in a week. Treacle beer is made in the same w ay, three pounds of it being used instead of three pounds of sugar. N. B. This beer will not keep any length of time. BARLEY. HORDEUM DISTICHON. Class III. Triandria. Order II. Digjmia. Essent, Gen. Char. Calyx lateral, with two valves, one-flowered, three together. Spec. Char. Lateral flowers unbarbed : Seeds angular, imbricated. DESCRIPTION. It is too well known to need any account. HISTORY. Barley is an annual plant, cultivated in almost every coun¬ try of Europe. Linnseus says that it is a native of Tartary, but without adducing sufficient proof. MEDICAL VIRTUE. Pearl barley is prepared by grinding off the husk of rough barley, and forming the grain into little round granules of a pearly whiteness. In this state barley consists almost solely of amylaceous matter : when boiled it forms an excellent article of nourishment ; and a decoction of it, properly acidulated, is one of the best beverages in acute diseases. These are thus prepared: BARLEY* 65 Decoction of Barley. Barley Water. (Decoctum Hordei. L. D. Decoctum Hordei Distichi. E.) Take of pearl barley, two ounces ; • - water, four pints : First wash off the mealy matter which adheres to the barley with some cold water ; then extract the colouring matter, by boiling it a little with about half a pint of water. Throw this decoction away; and put the barley thus purified into four pints of boiling water, which is to be boiled down to one half, and strain the decoction. « Compound Decoction of Barley. (Decoctum Hordei compositum. L. D.) Take of the decoction of barley, two pints (four pints, D.)| ■ raisins, stoned, two ounces ; - - figs, sliced, two ounces ; - liquorice root, sliced and bruised, half an ounce ; - — (distilled water, one pint. L.) Boil to two pints, and strain. L. During the boiling, add the raisins first, and then the figs, and, lastly, the liquorice, a short time before it is finished, when the strained decoction ought to measure two pints. D. These liquors are to be used freely, as diluting drinks, in fevers and other acute disorders ; hence it is of consequence that they should be prepared so as to be as elegant and agreeable as possible : for this reason they are inserted in the Pharmacopoeia, and the several circumstances which contribute to their elegance set down ; for, if any one of them be omitted, the beverage will be less grateful. These are, however, much oftener prepared by nurses and servants than by the apothecary ; but it is often¬ times requisite for the physician to direct them in the right pre¬ paration thereof. The French make great application of these diluting and softening drinks, and there can be no doubt in slight diseases they are found extremely serviceable; and are useful as an adjuvant to allay thirst, keep up perspiration, and gently nourish, even in the most acute disorders. Malt. — Barley, when brought to a state of germination, and then dried by heat, is called malt. By this process the saccharine qualities of the barley are increased, which are easily extracted by water, when it is called wort, or more properly malt tea. The F 7 BARLEY. method of preparing this is to take one pint of fresh ground malt to three of boiling water, the mixture to be well stirred and left to stand, covered, for three or four hours, when it is fit for drinking. It is to be used for drink instead of beer, and is supposed to remove any hot scorbutic humour of the blood, and sordid ulcers of the leg. In cases of cold, this taken thorough warm in lieu of bran tea, is found to be very effectual. But it has been especially recommended as a cure of sea scurvy by Dr. Macbride, and it appears that the worst cases of that disease have yielded to its use. It is highly nutritious ; and when found to relax the bowels, this is corrected by a few drops of lauda¬ num (tincture of opium). The essence of malt should be taken by passengers going out to sea, and by all sea captains. Brewing. General Observations. — From the increased and increasing dear¬ ness of all descriptions of malt liquor, and from its frequent adul¬ teration, by which the health and lives of the public are impaired and endangered, it has become almost the duty of every family to brew for itself. In this process, which will here be found much simplified, there is far less difficulty than is generally ima¬ gined. First, with respect to the best season for brewing : mo¬ derate weather should be chosen. Hot weather should be avoided. But all beers will keep best when brewed just before Christmas. The cellar should not be subject to either extremity of heat or cold. Brewing Vessels. — For a copper holding twenty gallons, the mash-tub ought at least to contain four bushels of malt. The copper, with room for mashing or stirring, the coolers, and working-tubs, may be rather fitted to the convenience of the room, than to any particular size, as if one vessel be not suf¬ ficient you may take another. Management of the Vessels. — As it is necessary that the vessels should be perfectly clean, and free from mustiness, you must strictly examine them on the day before you intend to brew. They should never be converted to any other purpose, except for the use of making wines ; and even in that case, after being done with, they should be properly cleansed, and kept in a place free from dirt. Let each cask be well cleaned with boiling water $ and, if the bunghole be large enough, scrub the inside with a small birch-broom, or brush. If you find them bad, and a very BARLEY. 67 musty scent comes from them, take out the heads, and let them be scrubbed clean with a hand-brush, sand, and fullers-earth. When you have done this, put on the heads again, and scald them well ; then throw in pieces of unslaked lime, and stop the bungs dose. When they have stood some time, rinse them well with cold water, and they will be fit for use. Women ought never to be suffered to wash in a brewhouse 5 for nothing can be more hurtful than the remnants of dirty soap.* suds left in vessels calculated only for the purpose of brewing. In preparing the coolers, be careful not to let the w ater stand too long in them, as it will soak in, and soon turn putrid, when the stench will enter the wood, and render them almost incura¬ ble. To prevent such consequences, it has been recommended that coolers should be leaded. They are thus more cleanly; and they expedite the cooling of the worts, which is necessary to forward them for working, as well as afterwards for cooling the whole. The coolers should be well scoured with cold water two or three times, cold water being more proper than hot to effect a perfect cleansing. The mash-tub in particular must be kept perfectly clean ; nor must the grains be left in the tub any longer than the day after brewing, lest it should sour the tub ; for, if there be a sour scent in the brewhouse before your beer is tunned, it will be apt to infect your liquor and w'orts. Malt. — Malt should be chosen by its sweet smell, mellow taste, round body, and thin skin. Pale malt is mostly used in private families, and brown in public brewhouses, as it appears to go further, and gives the liquor a higher colour. The sweetest malt is that which is dried with coke or cinders ; in grinding which, see that the mill be clean from dust, cobwebs, &c., and set so as to crush the grain, without grinding it to powder; for you had better have some small grains slip through untouched, than have the whole ground too small, which would cause it to cake together, and prevent the goodness from being extracted. Hops. — Hops must be chosen by their bright green colour, sweet smell, and clamminess when rubbed between the hands. Mashing. — With two bushels of malt, and a pound and a half of hops, you may make eighteen gallons of good ale, eighteen gallons of good table beer, and nine gallons of small beer ; for which a copper containing twenty-four gallons would be most convenient. f 2 68 BARLEY. If the whole be intended for present drinking, and in cold feather, there need not be more than about six ounces of hops io a bushel of malt ; but in warm weather it will be necessary to apply about half a pound to a bushel. The first proportions mentioned, are proper when the best beer is intended to be kept ten or twelve months ; but if the beer is to be kept sixteen or eighteen months, there should be a pound of hops to every bushel of malt. Circumstances, how¬ ever, will occasionally render it necessary to vary the propor¬ tions ; as, if the hops are old, a greater quantity of them must be allowed. One of the first things to be observed in the process of brewing, is to obtain a heat proper for extracting the virtue of the maltr The heat of the water, or liquor, as it is technically termed, should be regulated in the mash-vat so as to prevent any injury to the delicate and more soluble parts of the malt, and yet to obtain every necessary property. The frequent errors committed in this first stage, are a principal cause why the beer, in private families, so frequently proves contrary to their expectation : either too high or too low a heat is prejudicial ; the former is of the utmost consequence ; but the latter, as far as regards ex¬ tracting the contents of the malt, may be remedied in the suc¬ ceeding mashings. Should the infusion be made at too high a heat, the consequence will be that of setting the goods, or mash ; that is, from its violence the sweet of the malt will be in a great measure locked up, and retain with it a considerable portion of the wort; therefore, besides falling short of the intended quan¬ tity, the extract will be deprived of that strength and quality which it ought to possess, in consideration of the quantity of malt allowed for the purpose ; and it will be matter of great dif¬ ficulty to obtain by the succeeding mashings the whole virtue of the malt. Should the operation be performed when the water is below its proper heat, the extract will be imperfect, and con¬ sequently deficient in strength, &c., but by the second and third mashing, the whole of the rich and most esteemed properties of the malt may be completely drawn off. In this instance it will be judicious to mix the three worts together, as the first wort alone cannojt prove good. The water having been emptied from the copper, it has been usual to let it remain in the mash-vat till the steam is so far eva¬ porated that you can see your face in it. This mode holds good, BARLEY. 60 and will be a pretty near guide in cold clear weather ; but it is even then subject to the following objection : the steam will sometimes fly off before the water is sufficiently cold ; in which case, particularly if the wind be brisk, and the brewery open, it will be prudent to let it remain some time after the reflection can be discovered in the water. In close, thick, and rather warm weather, this rule is extremely liable to error ; for then, especially if the brewhouse be confined, the steam will not go off sufficiently to judge with any degree of certainty of the heat; and before the water would become clear, &c., agreeably to the above maxim, it would be too cold to operate properly on the malt. The most certain method to obtain a proper heat for mashing, is to mix a quantity of cold with a given quantity of boiling water. In mild weather, rather more than one gallon of cold to twelve gallons of boiling water, will be found to be a good proportion. Should the air be inclined to cold, one gallon of cold to about fourteen gallons of boiling water ; and, if very cold, one to sixteen gallons, will perhaps answer the pur¬ pose. A brewing thermometer, however, which may be had for about twenty shillings, and frequently much less, is still more correct ; and as correctness is of the greatest advantage, in point of oeconomy, as it insures a complete extract of all the essential properties of the malt, it will be worth while, in most families, to purchase one, taking care to obtain a table with it, for its mode of application. If possessed of a thermometer, observe the following rules : Immediately that the water is turned from the copper into the mash-vat, immerge the instrument for about the space of one minute : the state of the quicksilver in the tube will then be easily discerned ; if found to be too hot, apply cold water in small quantities till reduced to a proper heat. In some instances it may be proper to vary the extracting heat ; such as when very new malt is brought into the mash-vat, the water in that instance should be applied from four to six degrees colder; and very old, or slack malt, will require it as many degrees warmer. When hard water is used, it should be applied four degrees warmer, and soft water four degrees colder. At all events, as soon as the boiling water is emptied into the mash-vat, the cold water must be immediately mixed with it, and the mashing performed as expeditiously as possible ; taking care to saturate, or wet, every part of the malt. Should the copper not be large enough to RARLEf* to make a full mash the first time it is heated, every means of dispatch must be exerted to get it hot again ; and then directly turn into the mash-vat the quantity that is judged necessary for the size, or quantity of wort to be drawn off, stirring the mash again, thoroughly to incorporate the whole. This addi¬ tion of water may be applied about four degrees warmer than the first. The mash-vat should now be covered close with sacks, or something similar, and remain two hours before it is suffered to run. The heat of the water for the second mash requires less at¬ tention than was necessary in the former ; as, admitting that to have been well conducted, there cannot now arise much danger of injuring the malt. The best method for the second mash is, to let the water boil up well, and then throw into the copper a small quantity of cold water, in the proportion of one to about twenty-five gallons ; and by the time it is on the goods, or mash, it will in general be a good heat. This second mash will be the better for being covered close, and as to the time of its stand¬ ing, that must be regulated by the boiling of the first wort ; as, after it has boiled long enough, and is fit to strain into the coolers, the second wort must be ready to return into the copper. The third mash may generally be made with cold water, unless any part of the virtue of the malt, owing to the ill treatment of the preceding mashings, is thought to remain, in which case hot water must be used. This mashing, as well as the two preceding, should be stirred ; and after it has run off, and the brewing is to be pursued the next day, it will be proper to put on the goods about as much cold water as the copper might contain, well stirring it again ; and immediately as the small beer is boiled off, return it into the copper for the next morning’s mashing. By this mode of proceeding, it is scarcely possible that any of the rich saccharine properties of the malt should remain unex* tracted. Boiling . — In the preparation for boiling, the greatest care must be taken to put the hops in with the first wort. As soon as the copper is full enough, make a good fire under it, but be careful to leave room enough for boiling. Quick boiling is part of the business that requires very particular attention. Should the copper have no curve, or any thing to hinder its boiling over, there ought to be something of the kind constructed, high enough to prevent any material danger arising from losing any part of BARLEY, 71 its contents. A piece of sheet lead, about a foot deep, or more, soldered to the copper all round, and supported with bricks, or a curve of wood, will answer the desired purpose in preference to any thing. Observe, that the person who attends the copper should never leave it while boiling ; for, if an uniformity be not kept up, it is impossible to ascertain how long it may take to complete the business. Observe, also, that should the wort be boiled too long, it will be so much condensed as greatly to retard the fermentation. If the first wort be meant to be put away for strong beer, without mixing any part of the second with it, the loss of the fine rich flavour of the hop must not be regarded ; but the boiling must be pursued a sufficient length of time to obtain a proper quantity of its preservative principle. If boiled as fast as convenience will permit, for about three quarters of an hour, it will be found to be a proper time for this wort. A longer time will be required for the separation of the second wort, as it partakes of the oleaginous nature of the malt in a greater degree than the first ; an hour arid a quarter, or an hour and a half, will not be too long. For the third, or small wort, one hour’s boiling will suffice. If the first wort be intended to mix in with the second, for ale, half an hour’s quick boiling will be enough. Cooling. — The worts should be cooled as quickly as possible at all seasons of the year, consequently they should not lie in the coolers more than three or four inches thick in the winter, and two inches thick in the summer, care being taken to pro¬ portion the coolers to the quantity of malt generally used. Plenty of room is requisite for this purpose. Fermenting . — With respect to the heat of the worts, at the time of putting them together, to those who have not a ther¬ mometer, the best direction that can be given is, that in very cold weather they should feel quite warm when set to work. In milder weather they should feel rather warmer than the hand or finger; but if very hot weather, they cannot be brought too cold into the tun. Should it be necessary to brew in the heat of summer, the mashing should be deferred till noon ; the worts will then cons© off in the evening, and lie during the cool of night. They should be examined in the morning, about sunrise, and if found to be sufficiently cold, should be set to work immediately. If not# 72 BARLEY. they may remain an hour or two ; but it would be imprudent to let them remain longer, as the air would be getting warmer, and the worts in such weather are liable to a putrefactive fermenta¬ tion. The quantity of yeast that is necessary to excite the fermenta¬ tion, is in the proportion of one quart of that which is fresh and steady, to about forty gallons of strong beer or ale ; and one pint and a half to the same number of gallons of small beer. Should the weather prove extremely cold, rather more than the quantity here mentioned may be applied ; and in very hot wea¬ ther, it will be expedient to diminish the quantity. Immediately that the yeast is applied to the wort, it should be stirred for the space of two or three minutes, thoroughly to incorporate the whole, and thereby to cause, in some degree, an immediate fer¬ mentation. The yeast which is intended to be used should be put at one time into the tun, unless the tun should be so situated as to be affected by a sudden change of the weather, such as from rather mild to extreme cold : it may then perhaps be necessary to add more yeast, which must be stirred into the tun in the same man¬ ner as when first set to work. Indeed, after this it may be found proper repeatedly to beat in the head, and stir it for twro or three minutes together, which is a measure of necessity, to revive the fermentation, after having been checked by the cold¬ ness of the weather, as to be in danger of never working pro¬ perly in the casks after being tunned. Observe that, wherever the tun may be placed, it will be proper to keep it always co¬ vered close, and thereby to prevent, as much as possible, the escape of the fixed air w hich is generated by the fermentation. The number of hours which the strong beer fermentation will continue, depends on the weather, and other circumstances : sometimes it will be complete in forty or fifty hours, and at other times exceed sixty hours. The greatest reliance that can be placed with regard to the period of cleansing, is to pay at¬ tention to the head of the guile ; and it will be observed, after being some time in its most vigorous state, to begin to turn ra¬ ther of a brown yeasty nature; and by repeated attendance it will be clearly perceived to get more dense and discoloured till the work is completed, which will be perfectly understood by its appearing of a thick yeasty consistence, and just ready, as it were, to fall back into the beer : it then ought to be tunned BARLEY. 73 immediately, as it is better to tun a few hoars too soon, than one too late. Tunning. — Strong beer that is brewed in small quantities, and ale, whatever the quantity may be, should be tunned the second day after brewing ; and small beer should be tunned as soon as it has fairly taken the yeast, which will be seen by the creamy appearance on its surface. The bung-hole in the casks for cleansing should be bored in the centre of a stave at the bilge part of the cask ; as it is from thence that it is to work and purge itself clean from the yeast, which cannot be effected in a proper manner if the bung-hole be made in any other part. The best method of working beer, after cleansing, is by a stilling, an utensil which is in the form of a long trough. For a private family, this may be made about ten or twelve inches deep, and twelve or fourteen inches wide in the clear ; and the length according to the number of casks which there may be oc¬ casion to work on it at one time. If the stilling be of any con¬ siderable length, it will be adviseable to fix two or three iron braces across, to render it steady and to prevent its spreading : these should be rather concave, in order that the casks may roll pleasantly along. Great attention must be paid to the closing the joints of the stilling, which would be the better for being lined with lead. It should have a cork -hole bored through the bottom near one end, and be placed just high enough to draw from under it with a bowl-dish or something of that nature. The casks having been placed upon the stilling, they must be set sufficiently inclining for the yeast to work down one side of them. If the beer work briskly, it should be filled up once an hour at least, for the first six or eight hours after being tunned ; and care must be taken to keep the casks filled till the fermenta¬ tion shall entirely cease, which, if well conducted, will be in a few days. If the beer in the stilling should be getting very thick, it will be proper, in the evening, to draw it all out, and turn it into a tub, or one of the coolers, to pitch ; in ten or twelve hours, if not laid too thick, it will become tolerably fine ; and by keeping a succession of it, settled, or pitched in this manner, the beer on the stilling may be filled up with it till completely worked off'. Where it may not be thought worth while to provide a stil¬ ling, the best way to proceed will be to place a tub on a stand. 74 BARLEY. with a cork-hole bored through the bottom, and across the tub make a temporary wood frame, on which the cask to be filled must be placed, working it in the same manner as on the stilling. When the beer has been completely worked off, it will be proper to remove it to the place where it is to remain till drunk. As soon as it is fixed, the bung must be drawn, and the casks filled up quite full with fine beer, skimming off the head from time to time, that will arise in consequence of its being worked over. After it has been attended in this manner for two or three days, about three quarts should be drawn from each cask ; (if hogs¬ heads, and others, in proportion,) and then about two quarts of fresh-boiled hops, run as dry as possible, should be put into the beer. The casks must then be bunged tight, and a hole bored for the vent-peg, which should be left rather slack a day or two ; and if the beer be observed to fret, or, owing to the swelling of the hops, the cask should be so full as to run out at the vent, it will be necessary to draw off two or three pints more. When quite free from fretting, the peg may be beaten in tight, and there will be no further attention required than to examine it every now and then during the first two or three weeks, being careful, if it be again inclined to ferment, to draw off an addi¬ tional quantity. Fining. — To fine your beer, should it be requisite, take an ounce of isinglass, cut small, and boil it in three quarts of beer, till completely dissolved : let it stand till quite cold, then put it into the cask, and stir it well with a stick or whisk : the beer so fined should be tapped soon, because the isinglass is apt to make it flat as well as fine. Or, boil a pint of wheat in two quarts of water, and squeeze out the liquid through a fine linen cloth. A pint of this will be sufficient for a kilderkin of ale, and will both fine and pre¬ serve it. Or, take a handful of salt, and the same quantity of chalk scraped fine, and well dried ; then take some isinglass, and dis¬ solve it in some stale beer till it is about the consistence of sy¬ rup : strain it, and add about a quart to the salt and chalk, with two quarts of molasses. Mix them all well together, with a gallon of the beer, which you must draw off ; then put it into the cask, and take a stick, or whisk, and stir it well till it ferments. When it has subsided, stop it up close, and in two days you may tap it. This is sufficient for a butt. BARLET* 75 Or, take a pint of water, and half an ounce of unslaked lime : mix them well together, letting the mixture stand for three hours, that the lime may settle at the bottom. Then pour off the dear liquor, and mix with it half an ounce of isinglass, cut small and boiled, in a little water ; pour it into the barrel, and in five or six hours the beer will become fine. There can be no doubt but that beer properly prepared is a very wholesome beverage, and preferable to toast and water, or water itself. By brewing it yourself you avoid drinking those adulterated beers usually vended, replete with Cocculus Indicus (Indian berry), opium, or even worse ingredients, as sugar of lead, sometimes used to recover beer, as well as wine when pricked. WINTER WHEAT. TRITICUM HIBERNUM. Class III. Triandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla of two valves, solitary, appearing three- flowered. Spec. Char. Calyx four-flowered, bellied, smooth, imbricated, nearly w ilhout a barb. HISTORY. This differs from the asstivum, or Summer Wheat, chiefly by being a biennial, whereas the other is an annual ; and the calyx of the aestivum is rough, whereas that of the hiberaum is smooth. Sp. 1. Triticum /Estivum. D. Sp. 2. Triticum Hibernum. E. L. By some these are considered only as varieties, not as distinct species. The latter is the most productive, and is most com¬ monly cultivated on that account ; for there is no material dif. ference between the grains they produce, which are indiscrimi¬ nately employed for every purpose. Wheat flour consists principally of gluten, starch, albumen, and a sweet mucilage. These may be separated by forming the flour into a paste with a little water, and washing this paste with fresh quantities of water, until it runs from it colourless. Wrhat WINTER WHEAT. 77 remains is the gluten, which, if not the same, is very analogous to the fibrine of animal substances. From the water with which the paste was washed, a white powder, amylum (starch), sepa¬ rates on standing. The albumen and sweet mucilage remain dis¬ solved in the water. By evaporating it, the albumen first sepa¬ rates in white flakes, and the sweet mucilage may be got by total evaporation. It is the presence of gluten which characterizes wheat flour ; and on the due admixture of it with the other constituents de¬ pends the superiority of wheat flour for baking bread. Bread.- — Bread is made by working the flour into a past® with water, a quantity of some ferment, such as yeast, and a little salt, to render it sapid, allowing the paste to stand until a certain degree of fermentation take place, and then baking it in an oven heated to about 488°. During the fermentation a quantity of gas is formed, and as it is prevented from escaping by the toughness of the paste, and dilated by the heat of the oven, the bread is rendered light and spongy. In this process the nature of the constituents of the flour is altered, for we are not able to obtain either gluten or starch from bread. Use — Bread is not only one of the most important articles of nourishment, but is also employed in pharmacy for making ca¬ taplasms, and giving form to more active articles. An infusion of toasted bread, known better by the appellation of toast and water , has a deep colour and pleasant taste, and is an excellent drink in febrile diseases, and debility of the stomach. Great disputes have been raised about bread ; but it is evident, from the form of our teeth, that we are both carnivorous and graminivorous. We possess canine teeth ; and teeth for grind¬ ing, as the sheep, ox, &c. ; and it is found that the mixture of the two foods suits most constitutions. Bread also carries down a quantity of saliva, so necessary for digestion, and corrects the natural tendency to putrescency in animal food : but in some weak stomachs biead does not easily digest, for animal food is with greater facility converted into chyle than vegetable; and such must refrain altogether, or be sparing of bread. New bread is prejudicial, as imbibing less saliva, and if taken in great quantity will distend the stomach, so as afterwards to produce a relaxation of that organ. As respects children, bread and milk constitutes their first food, aud oftentimes biscuits made without butter, and tops and 78 WINTER WHEAT. bottoms, are formed into powder and mixed with the milk, a* being supposed to be less acescent. Sometimes children are im¬ prudently attempted to be reared by bread alone, boiled in water, which is called pap, when they become emaciated and rickety ; for the bones of children are composed chiefly of the phosphate of lime, which is in abundance in the woman’s milk ; and when weaned, if cow's milk is thought not so well to agree, I have ordered asses’ milk, which comes the nearest to the human milk. As respects milk, parents ought to know, that before it can nourish, it must be first curdled in the stomach ; and rennet is what Nature hath destined in the calf’s stomach for this very purpose, w hich is so frequently an unnecessary object of terror to the tender parent. Where the stools of infants are curdly, or gripy, the defect is in the chylopoietic viscera (stomach and bowels), not in the food; and rhubarb ought to be given (Vide our article Rhubarb), or a little calcined magnesia. But by all means avoid Dalbv’s carminative, Godfrey’s cordial, syrup of poppies, and other heating drugs for your infant ; for these are the snares that catch the ignorant, delude, entrap, and, alas ! root out myriads scarce before they have seen the light of day. Mothers ought carefully to watch that the food is not sour, and often make it fresh ; for until there be a law to punish careless nurses, sour food will perpetually be crammed down the throats of innocent babes. Starch. -—Starch is a fine white powder, generally concreted in friable hexagonal columns, smooth to the feel, and emitting a par¬ ticular sound w hen compressed. It has neither taste nor smell. It is decomposed by heat. It is not soluble in cold water or in alcohol. Warm water converts it into a kind of mucilage, which on cooling assumes a gelatinous consistence. This jelly, when dried by heat, becomes transparent and brittle like gum, but is not soluble in cold water. Starch, after being thus dissolved in hot water, cannot be reduced to its original state. It is precis pitated by infusion of galls, and the precipitate is redissolved on heating the mixture to 120°, but is not soluble in alcohol. It is found in many vegetables, combined with different substances. Fourcroy, accordingly, makes various species of it; as, com¬ bined, 1. With gluten or fibrine ; as in wheat, rye, and other similar seeds. 2. With extractive; as in beans, pease, lupins, &c. WINTER WHEAT. 7D 3. With mucilaginous matter ; as in the potatoe, and many other roots, and in unripe corn. 4. With saccharine matter ; in most roots, and in corn after it has begun to germinate. 5. With oil ; in the emulsive seeds, almonds, &c, 6. With an acrid principle ; as in the root of the burdock, jatropha manilot, arum, asarum, and other tuberous roots. MEDICAL USE. Starch, in a medical point of view, is to be considered as a de¬ mulcent ; and accordingly it forms the principal ingredient of an officinal lozenge, and a mucilage prepared from it often produces excellent effects, both taken by the mouth, and in the form of a clyster, in dysentery and diarrhoea, from irritation of the intes¬ tines. Mucilage of Starch. (Mucilago Amyli. E. L. D.) Take of starch, three drachms ; — - - - water, one pint : Triturate the starch, gradually adding the water ; then boil them a little. The Edinburgh college use half an ounce of starch to one pound of water. The mucilage thus formed is very useful in those cases where a glutinous substance is required : it is often successfully employed as a clyster in diarrhoeas depending on acrimony in the intestines. There can be no doubt but starch clysters have proved ex¬ tremely useful in checking diarrhoeas, and in disorders of chil¬ dren, or infants ; but the practitioner ought to remember, that the purging is often an effort of nature to get rid of irritating offensive matter in the bowels, as acrimonious green bile, &c. ; and here it would be criminal to palliate, as is too often the case, opiates being also added, by which means thousands of innocent victims have fallen by this delusive practice. The enemy, instead of being pent up in the bowels, must be driven out by cathartic medicines, especially rhubarb, to which co- lumba may be added, or vitriolated kali, and the starch used only as an adjuvant , to blunt the violence of the acrimony: in long protracted diarrhoeas much advantage may be derived, but not so much from correcting acrimony as from some astringent property in the starch itself. In this latter disease, a dessert¬ spoonful of the starch mucilage in some agreeable simple water, 80 WINTER WHEAT. sweetened with a little sugar, may be taken every hour or two ; and this is mere particularly serviceable when by the flux, or acrimony, the mucus of the bowels is taken away, and they are left undefended. Bran. —Bran is the husk of wheat, possessing a small pro¬ portion of farinaceous matter ; and a decoction of this, sweetened with a little honey, or sugar, is a sovereign remedy, amongst the vulgar, for a bad cold ; but its chief virtue is in the sugar, or water if you choose, like most of the French petites ptisanes , with veronica, and other herbs ; and these, indeed, keep up per¬ spiration, being taken warm, supply the place of more nutritious food, moisten the fauces, and cure such complaints often better than medicines of primary importance. Agriculture. It cannot be the object of these pages to treat on the sub¬ ject of agriculture ; but its principles may be here casually ex¬ plained. Vegetable mould, the decomposition of animal and vegetable substances, constitutes the best soil, as this retains the proper quantity of moisture, imbibing it like a sponge, is attractive of oxygen, which uniting with its contained carbon, is the true pabulum, or food of plants, and is of a proper consist¬ ency to suffer the roots to pervade it, and support the plants. Clay, on the contrary, is too hard, resists the admission of water, and contains no carbon. Gravel like sand is too yielding, suffers water to pass through its substance, gives little stability, and contains no vegetable food. The manure for clay is gravel, or sand ; and vice versa. The operation of manures is to impart to clayey or gravelly soils carbon ; of lime, to hasten on incipient fermentation, soon converting decaying animal and vegetable substances info carbon ; of ploughing, to expose a larger surface for the imbibing of oxygen, and a more rapid decomposition of vegetable matter, and for the destruction of weeds. / J CULTIVATED OAT. A VENA SATIVA. Class III. Triandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gev. Char. Calyx of two valves, many-flowered ; the dorsal husk turned in. Spec. Char. Paniculate: Calyx only two-flowered: Seeds smooth, one- barbed. DESCRIPTION. It is too generally known to need any. II I S T O R Y. The oat is also a plant, like wheat, whose native country is not discovered, which is very generally cultivated in northern countries, and in many places furnishes the principal subsist¬ ence. It is sometimes mixed with wheaten flour, and made into (r CULTIVATED OAT. 82 bread. When simply freed from the husks, this grain gets the name of groats , but it is more frequently ground into oatmeal. Groats are made use of in broths. Oatmeal is baked with salt and water into cakes, or, with the same additions, is boiled to form porridge. An infusion of the husks in water, allowed to remain till it becomes acidulous, is boiled down to a jelly, which is called sowins . In all these forms it is nutritious, and easy of digestion. MEDICAL USE. Gruels or decoctions, either of groats or oatmeal, either plain or acidified, or sweetened, form an excellent drink in febrile diseases, diarrhoea, dysentery, &c. ; and from their demulcent properties prove useful in inflammatory disorders, coughs, hoarseness, roughness and ulcerations of the fauces. Porridge Is also frequently applied to phlegmonous swellings to promote their suppuration. This also may be deemed rather an adjuvant , than an active medicine, and in sickness gruel forms an excellent supper. Mixed •with bread and milk it is called porridge, and makes a good breakfast or supper for children, sweetened with a little sugar; others put butter to it. In incipient sore throats pepper is em¬ ployed, and taken at bed-time, which occasions the swellings to disappear. DYER’S MADDER. RUBIA TINCTORUM. Class IV* Tetrandria. Order I, Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla one-petalled, campanulate: Berries two one-seeded. Spec. Char. Leaves in whorls : Stem aculeate. DESCRIPTION. This plant grows to two feet jn height; its stalks are square and rough ; its leaves oblong and narrow, and stand four at each joint, in the manner of a star. Its flowers are produced in clusters at the upper part of the stalks, and are very small, and of a pale yellowish-green colour; these are succeeded by a fruit containing two seeds. HISTORY. Madder is perennial, and is cultivated in large quantities in England, from whence the dyers are principally supplied with it. It has been said to grow wild in the south of England, but the rubia peregrina was mistaken for it. The roots consist of articulated fibres, about the thickness of a quill, which are red throughout, have a weak smell, and a bit- g2 84 dyer’s madder. tcrish astringent taste. For the use of the dyers, they are first peeled and dried, then bruised and packed in barrels. Madder possesses the remarkable property of tingeing of a red colour the urine, milk, and bones, of animals which are fed with it. MEDICAL USE. It is said to be useful in the atrophy of children, and some believe in its reputed powers as an emmenagogue. It is given in substance in doses of half a drachm, several times a-day, or in decoction. Like every other remedy possessing a powerful colour, it is supposed to be a cure of the yellow jaundice, but with no better foundation, although it colours the urine of a bright red, which has made some who have taken it conceive they have made bloody w ater. It is said by Haller, that merely holding the root in the hand produces this effect. Cows, who are remarkably fond of the plant, give also a red milk, but it makes a yellow butter. Hence some have advised the use of this plant in dropsy, but the success is doubtful. The great Boerhaave, speaking of it, says : “ Radix vino, cerevisise, vel aqua? incocta dat potum, qui aperiendo et roborando agit in utero, melancholia, sabulo re- num, ictero, morboque hypochondriaco, sanguine coagulato, hydrope, et contusidne, urina obstructa, — prajsertim si hsec dc- cocta melle edulcorentur, et per aliquot dies successivos usur- pentur. Alii plantam summopere adstringentem esse dicunt, sed tameu inter resolventes accipitur; panni inde rubro colore tincti et gesti supra corpus nudum podagricis et arthriticis prosunt.” “The root given in wine, ale, or water, both acts as a corro¬ borant and aperient in uterine disease, melancholy, gravel or stone in the kidneys, jaundice, hypochondriasis, coagulated blood, dropsy, contusion, obstruction in passing water,* — espe¬ cially if sweetened with honey, and continued for several days. Many assert that it is astringent, but it is rather to be conceived as a resolvent, and hence cloth dyed w ith the same, and placed upon a gouty or arthritic limb, has done service.” That it even coloured the bones was first noticed by Mizaldus, but not known in England until Mr. Belchier published an ac¬ count in the Philosophical Transactions, vol. xxxix. p. 287. of a pig and a cock, whose bones became red by eating madder mixed with their food. Since that period various experiments have been made, from which it appears that the colouring matter dyer’s madder. 85 of madder affects the bones in a very short time, and that the most solid or hardest part of the bones first receives the red co¬ lour, which gradually extends, ah externo, through the whole os¬ seous substance, while the animal continues to take the madder along with its food ; and if this root be alternately intermixed and employed for a sufficient length of time, and at proper in¬ tervals, the bones are found to be coloured in a correspondent number of concentric circles. This in time becomes completely taken up, showing that every part of us is removing and rege¬ nerating every instant of our being; and this not only with the soft parts, but even the very bones ! Probably this led to the application of this plant in diseases of the bones ; and Haller asserts that it has been found good in mollities ossium, softness of the bones, and even dissipated nodes very perceptible to the finger. Mr. Levret, Haller says, speaks of a cure of the rickets by means of this plant ; and that he himself cured a young lady, fourteen years of age, using with it only a ptisan of polypody and a few grains of rhubarb each day. As to its being a cure for the atrophy of children, mentioned in the New Edinburgh Dispensatory, which is usually so ex¬ tremely correct, it seems hardly adapted for that purpose; for the animals who were fed upon this substance became emaciated, and died of atrophy, unless the diet was changed ; and given in pellets to pigeons, they vomited them up. As an emmenagogue, Dr. Home published in 1780 his Clinical Experiments, in which he asserts it to be one of the strongest and safest emmenagogues with which we are acquainted ; and relates nineteen cases of obstructed menstrua in which it was tried, and tells us that fourteen of them were cured. He gave the madder in powder, half a drachm four times a day; and he observes, that it produced no sensible effects in the stomach or bowels, or in promoting any of the secretions. Portal recommends the infusion as a great resolver in cases of contusion. Old Gerard mentions also that it is good in staying the bloody flux. Dr. Cullen thinks it a plant deserving slight estimation, and more worthy the attention of the dyer than the physician ; but >ve should be sorry to see our short catalogue of drugs abridged, unless from a wider experience than has been hitherto made of it. COMMON GREAT PLANTAIN, OR WAYBREAD. PLANTAGO MAJOR. Class IV. Tetrandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx four-cleft : Limb reflexed : Stamina very long : Capsule two-celled, cut around. Spec. Char, Leaves ovate : Scape round : Spike composed of imbricated fioscules. DESCRIPTION. It is a plant with a fibrous root, sending out long oval leaves irregularly subdentate, of a pale green, and ribbed ; these are seven, often five, and sometimes nine : the footstalks are leafy. The flower-stems also proceed from the root, and are a span in height, crowned with a spike of clustered flowers which are ex¬ ceedingly minute. It is common in pastures. COMMON GREAT PLANTAIN® 87 MEDICAL USES. Of this plant I shall begin by giving the old opinion of its virtues : 1. Plantain is good for vlcers that are of hard curation, for fluxes, issues, rheums, and rottennesses, and for the bloudy flux : it stayeth bleeding, it heales vp hollow sores and vlcers, as well old as new. 2. The juice or decoction drunken stoppeth the bloudy flux, and all other fluxes of the belly, stoppeth bloody water ; also spitting of blood, and all issues of bloud in man or woman, and desire to vomitt. 3. Plantain leaves stampt and used with yelks of egges, stayeth the inordinate flux of the terms, although it haue continued many yeares. 4. The root of plantain, with the seed, boiled in white wine and drunke, openeth the conduits or passages of the liver and kidneys, cures the jaundice, and ulceration of the kidneys and bladder. 5. The juice dropped in the eies cooles the heate and inflam¬ mation thereof. I find in antient writers many good-morrowes (sayings), which I think not meet to bring into your memorie againe; as, that three roots will cure one griefe, foure another disease, six hanged about the necke are good for a third; all which are but ridiculous toyes. 6. The leaves are singular good to make a water to wash a sore throat or mouth. 7. The leaves of plantaine stamped and put into oile olive, and set in the hot sun for a moneth together, and after boiled in a kettle of seething water, which we call balneum Mariae, and then strained, prevaile against the pains in the eares, and the matrix, being cast with a syringe into the other parts before rehearsed, or the paines of the fundament, as prooued by a learned gentleman, Mr. Godowrus, sergeant surgeon to the queen’s majistie. — Old Gerard. It was once received in the Edinburgh, but not in the London Pharmacopoeia, and how far it may deserve a place in either de¬ serves here to be inquired. It appears to be the great vulnerary of the ancients, and the leaves are now outwardly used by the com¬ mon people to all fresh wounds. It is curious that it is the chief remedy for the cure of the bite of the rattlesnake, for which dis- 88 COMMON GREAT PLANTAIN. covery an Indian received a great reward from the assembly of South Carolina. Trajus mentions it as an ingredient in Julian Paul- mer’s u Pulv. ad rabiem,” powder against the bite of a mad dog. It was inwardly used when any bruise had happened producing spitting of blood : u Adversus vomitum et expuitionem sanguinis, nullum certius et praesentius remedium.” Boyle de Util. Phil. Nat. p. 150. It was supposed that persons subject to miscarry might be prevented from such accidents : u Mulierculae gallinae, toto gestationis tempore, ad abortum praecavendum, singulis fere die- bus sumunt sem. plantaginis dr. ss. in jusculo, aut ovo, et non sine fructu.” River. Prax. p. 479. In ague it was found to be efficacious; and Bergius says, aPlurimae sunt narrationes de uti- litate radicis plantaginis in tertianis. Periculum ipse feci, dosi largiori, scil. a drachmis 3 aut 6, quovis dje, sub apyrexia, in ¥ernalibus autem febribus subinde opem tulit.” Trajus says that it is very serviceable in consumptions ; and indeed the seeds are highly mucilaginous. He adds, u that the country-people give line. 2 to unc. 4 of the expressed juice in the beginning of an ague fit. Two drachms of the extract, and one drachm of the seed, stops all fluxes, and all kinds of haemorrhages. It is good in dysentery, haemoptoe, haemorrhoidal flux, or too much of the courses, and in fluor albus.” In short, there is too much reported of the medicinal virtues of this herb to have it as yet discarded from our Pharmacopoeias ; but I have not had myself any experience of them* CONTRAYERVA. DORSTENIA CONTRAYERVA, VEL DRAKEA CONTRAYERVA, Class IV. Tetrandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen\ Char. Receptacle common, one-leaf, fleshy, in which the seeds are nested . Spec. Char. Scapes radical: Leaves pinnatifid-palmate serrate : Receptacle quadrangular. DESCRIPTION. This plant is low and small, rising singly from the root, and amongst them single naked stalks, bearing each a square re¬ ceptacle of the seeds. The flowers are exceedingly minute, and upon close inspection are found to be a compound flower with male and female florets. HISTORY. This plant is perennial, and grows in South America and some of the Caribbean islands. CONTRAYERVA. $0 The root is knotty, an inch or two long, and about half an inch thick, of a reddish brown colour externally, and pale within : long, rough, slender fibres shoot out from all sides of it, and are generally loaded with small round knots. It has a peculiar kind of aromatic smell, and a somewhat astringent, warm, bitterish taste, with a light and sweetish kind of acri¬ mony, when long chewed : the fibres have little taste or smell ; the tuberous part, therefore, should be alone chosen. This root contains so much mucilage, that a decoction of it will not pass through the filter. Neumann got from 480 parts, 1 90 watery extract, and afterwards with alcohol 7 ; and inversely 102 alcoholic, and 60 watery. I find that the tincture reddens infusion of litmus, is precipitated by water, and has no effect on the salts of iron. Nicholas Monardus, almost two centuries ago, first makes mention of the plant called Contrayerva; and as this name is of Spanish origin, signifying c antidote to poison,’ it might apply to any plant supposed to possess such virtue. We are told by Clusius, that he received from sir Francis Drake some roots which were brought from Peru, where they were highly valued, and reported to counteract the effects of serpents and all other kinds of poisons. This plant was named, in honour of the cir¬ cumnavigator, Drakea, and is supposed to be the same as the present. Plumier (Nov. Gen. Plant.) called it Dorstenia; and Linnseus has followed the same title. MEDICAL USE. Contrayerva is a gentle stimulant and diaphoretic, and is sometimes given in exanthematous diseases, typhus, and dysen¬ tery. Its dose is about half a drachm. As to its being an antidote against animal and vegetable poi¬ sons, little is known to European physicians ; but it possesses certainly a stimulant property. Hence it is given as a diapho¬ retic and antiseptic in low and malignant fevers, small-pox, and bad state of measles ; and though used freely creates no consi¬ derable degree of heat. The dose is from ten grains to a drachm in substance in decoction or infusion to half a drachm, or more. It is usually joined with the common effervescing draught, given in the state of efiervescence. CONTRAYERVA. 91 PREPARATIONS. The Royal London College only order the following : Compound Powder of Contrayerva. (Pulvis Contrayervae compositus. L.) Take of contrayerva, powdered, five ounces ; — - - compound powder of crabs claws, one pound and a half: Mix them. This medicine, says the author of the Edinburgh Pharmaco. pceia, has a very good claim to the title of an alexipharmic and sudorific. The contrayerva, by itself, proves very serviceable in low fevers, where the vis vitae is weak, and a diaphoresis to be promoted. It is possible that the crabs claws are of no further service than as they divide this active ingredient, and make it sit more easily on the stomach. I have likewise used this remedy with much success in th« diseases incident to children, where the bowels appeared to re¬ quire an absorbent, and the vital actions wanted to be roused, and the pores to be opened ; and have found good from the powder of contrayerva, without the composition, in phagedenic ulcers and incipient mortifications. There are some who would also discard this medicine from our Pharmacopoeias ; but, as I observed before, we have no ar¬ ticles to spare. Lewis mentions an extract made by rectified spirits which tastes strongly of the contrayerva, and leaves in the mouth a durable, glowing, vibrating kind of pungency, like that of pep. permint, but far milder. This deserves to be tried. SANTA LUM ALBUM. Class IY. Tetrandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gev. Char. Calyx four-toothed: Corolla four-petalled ; with the petals growing on the calyx, besides four glands : Berry inferior, one-seeded. HISTORY. This valuable tree is a native of many parts of India. Its wood is the Whjte and Yellow Sanders or Sandal wood, Santa- lum album et flavum of the Materia Medica; both being the produce of the same tree, and not, as Garcias says, of different trees. Most trees in India, when large and old, become coloured towards the centre : that part is always much more hard and durable than the exterior uncoloured part. Thus with the sandal tree ; the centre, when the tree becomes large, acquires a yellow colour, great fragrance, and hardness ; whilst the exterior part WHITE SAUNDERS. WHITE SAUNDERS. 93 of the same tree is white, less firm, and scarcely with any fra- grancy. It is only the yellow part that is in use; and the larger and older the tree the more valuable its wood, which possesses the highest fragrance, for which it is valued. MEDICAL VIRTUES. Lewis, speaking of this wood, says, that it has a bitterish aromatic taste, accompanied with an agreeable kind of pungency. Distilled with water it yields a fragrant essential oil, which thickens in the cold into the consistence of a balsam, approach¬ ing in smell to ambergris, or a mixture of ambergris and roses : the remaining decoction, inspissated to the consistence of an ex¬ tract, is bitterish and slightly pungent. Rectified spirits ex¬ tract, by digestion, considerably more than water : the colour of the tincture is a rich yellow. The spirit, distilled off, is lightly impregnated with the fine flavour of the wood : the remaining brown extract has a weak smell, and a moderate balsamic pun¬ gency. This wood, therefore, though at present among us dis¬ regarded, promises to have a good claim to corroborant virtues, ascribed to it by Hoffmann and others. It has no affinity with the Santalum rubrum, Red Saunders, which falls under another class and order; nor has the White Saunders a place in either the London or Edinburgh Pharmaco¬ poeias. CLEAVERS. GOOSE-GRASS. GALIUM APARINE. Class IV. Tetrandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla monopetalous, flat : Seeds two, roundish. Spec. Char. Leaves eight, keeled, rough, with small prickles bent back : Stem also beset with similar prickles, jointed, villous : Fruit hispid. DESCRIPTION. 1 his plant rises from four to six feet, climbing up other plants. The leaves are six or eight in a whorl, lanceolate, upper side rough with sharp prickles. The stem is square, the angles being guarded with sharp prickles, bent down. The flowers are small, inconspicuous, and white, on rough footstalks. The co¬ rolla is wheel-shaped, and divided into four segments. These change into a fruit rather large, composed of two berries, slightly adhering together, covered with hooked prickles, containing two seeds. HISTORY. It is very common about cultivated grounds and hedges, pro¬ ducing its flowers from J une till September. It is chopped up, and CLEAVERS. 95 given to goslings or young geese, who eagerly devour it. The goose and gander refuse it. Its taste is somewhat bitter and acrid. MEDICAL VIRTUES. Dioscorides mentions an ointment of great efficacy made from the expressed juice of this plant mixed with hog’s lard, for dis¬ cussing tumours in the breast; and Gaspian, an Italian, adopted the same with great success. After some eminent surgeons have failed, I have ordered the expressed juice mixed with linseed meal, to be applied to the breast, with a tea-spoonful of the same to be taken fasting in the morning ; and this plan, after a short time, has removed very frightful indolent tumours in the breast. It is supposed to be useful in scurvy, and for haemorrhages of the nose, and spitting of blood. Boerhaave says, its leaves made into tea are an excellent remedy in epilepsy and gout. ALKANET. DYER’S BUGLOSS. ANCHUSA TINCTORIA. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla funnel-shaped, the mouth closed with pro¬ minences : Seeds marked at the base. Spec. Char. The plant tomentose : Leaves lanceolate, obtuse: Stamens shorter than the corolla. - — mmm—— — DESCRIPTION. It grows to about a foot in height; the leaves are rough and large, and stand alternate on the stalks ; the flowers are rather small, and purplish or blueish, and are succeeded each by four seeds. HISTORY. This plant is a native of Europe: it is sometimes cultivated in our gardens ; but the greatest quantities are raised in Ger¬ many or France, particularly about Montpelier, from whence the dried roots are usually imported to us. The aikanet root produced in England is much inferior in colour to that brought from abroad ; the English being only slightly reddish, the others of a deep purplish red; and it has been suspected, but without sufficient foundation, that the foreign roots owe part of their ALKANET. 97 colour to art. The cortical part of the root is of a dusky red, and imparts an elegant deep red to alcohol, oils, wax, and all unctuous substances, but not to watery liquors. Alkanet root has little or no smell ; when recent, it has a bitterish astringent taste, but when dried scarcely any. Its chief use is for colouring oils, ointments, and plasters. As the colour is confined to the cortical part, the small roots are best, having proportionally more bark than the large. This species of anchusa is native of Montpellier, and its root is imported to us from the southern parts of Europe. It is ac¬ cepted into the Edinburgh, but not into the London Pharma¬ copoeia, for its sole use with the former is allowed to be the co¬ louring certain ingredients, one-fortieth part giving a fine deep red ; and hence it is usually employed in what are called lip¬ salves. But let us view it, if possible, in a truly medical point of view. The great Boerhaave says, 44 the root of the alkanet is very open¬ ing, and afterwards acts as an astringent ; hence it is usefully administered in decoction against diarrhoea. Externally it is employed for drying up old inveterate ulcers.” Sir John Hill says 44 it promotes the discharge by urine, and is good in nephritic cases.” The author of this work can say nothing respecting the use of alkanet, except, that he has occasionally ordered bark draughts to be coloured with it, to conceal a remedy which the patient was absurdly prejudiced against; and it has been also used for this purpose when medicines would otherwise possess only the appearance of clear water. Faith, it is justly said, has no small concern in the cure of diseases. n I WATER TREFOIL, OR BUCKBEAN. MENYANTHES TRIFOEIATA. i Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla hirsute: Stigma two-cleft: Capsule one- celled. Spec. Char. Leaves ternate. DESCRIPTION. T. his beautiful plant is common in bogs. The flower-stalks shoot out often twelve inches in height, bearing many elegant flowers in a spike. These are white, but commonly rose-co¬ loured on the outside, and in the inside so finely fringed as to produce an extraordinary appearance. Its leaves are three toge¬ ther, resembling our garden bean, or the trefoil, whence its name. HISTORY. This perennial plant is very common in marshy situations, and is one of the most beautiful of our native flowers. It flow ers in June and J uly. The leaves grow by threes on footstalks. They are exces- WATER-TREFOIL, OR BTJCKBEAN. 99 sively bitter, and their bitterness is extracted by infusion. They are said to be sometimes used in brewing ale, and that one ounce will go as far as half a pound of hops. MEDICAL VIRTUES. A drachm of them, in powder, purges and vomits. In infu¬ sion or extract they have been recommended in intermittents, in several cachectic and cutaneous diseases. The dose of the extract is from ten to twenty grains. This valuable native merits more attention than is commonly given to it. It seems as if Providence had kindly placed the re¬ medy in those situations most productive of agues *, and that we have no reason to cross the ocean for the cure of intermit¬ tents. A cheap remedy is at hand. The blackness manifested by adding a solution of green vitriol to the juice, or to a strong infusion of the leaves of buckbean, is a sufficient test of its astringency. The great Boerhaave says, u Contra tertianam et quartanam febrim valet — u It overcomes the tertian and quar¬ tan ague.” Haller mentions the same fact, cc that intermittents yield to it:” and in the last war the Germans made use of this remedy, with almost unvaried success, instead of bark. Ray mentions a similar event : cc Herba haec Germanorum amara, nuperis annis, in magna existimatione esse ccepit. Nonnulli ad morbum articularem ; alii ad scorbuticos affectus, ad febres inter- mittentes, et catarrhos earn commendant, et in hydropicis af- fectibus valde profuisse existimant.” Dorn. Taucred Robinson, R. p. 285. As to cachectic disease, that is disease and emaciation, debi¬ lity of the primse viae, in these cases bitters are known to be of service. But the cure of the rot in sheep from this herb may have induced this opinion : 6( Dom. Tanc. Robinson se saepius observasse ait oves tabidas, in paludes hac herba abundantes, compulsas, ejus esu sanitati restitutas.” — R. Hist. Boerhaave says: u Folia ejus dccocta conveniunt in cachexia.” In scorbutic affections bitters have wonderful efficacy; and Sim. Paulli gives several instances of its extraordinary efficacy, * It was a curious fact, noticed by Linnaeus, that marsh miasmata are the cause of agues, and that lime being employed as manure in such situa tions overcame these miasmata, and the ague disappeared. I have myself traced this curious fact in several parts of England. 100 WATER-TREFOIL, OR BUCKBEAN. Vide Quad. Bot. edit. 1667, p. 156 : 66 Its good effects in scor¬ butic and scrophulous diseases have been warranted by expe¬ rience. Inveterate cutaneous diseases have been removed by an infusion of the leaves, drank to a quart a day, for some weeks.” New Disp. p. 221. Boerhaave says : u Rusticis scorbuticis est planta commendatissima, si in cerevisia infusa cum hac fer- mentetur.” Lewis, speaking of this plant in his Materia Medica, says, 6C The leaves of the buc.kbean have a bitter penetrating taste, which they impart both to watery and spirituous menstrua : they have of late years come into common use as an alterative and ape¬ rient, in impurities of the humours, and some hydropic and rheu¬ matic cases. They are usually taken in the form of infusion, with the addition of some acrid antiscorbutic herbs, which in most cases improve their virtue, and orange-peel, or some other grateful aromatic, to alleviate their ill taste: they are sometimes, among the common people, fermented with malt liquors, for an antiscorbutic dietdrink. This plant has also obtained a name for the cure of rheuma¬ tism and gout. Boerhaave says : u Boreales hanc plantam sum. mopere amant, et in scorbuto, qui a lenfo muco obsidente ner¬ vorum et musculorum membranas et juncturas oritur, hoc modo utuntur : ]^, foliorum menyanthes manip. duas, contere in pul- pam cum sero lactis, decoque, hoc decoctum mane jejuno sto- macho assumatur. In doloribus rheumaticis est optima planta, praesertim in hoc rheumatismo, qui hasret circa juncturas et ner¬ vorum membranas, ham herba instar potus thee adhibita optime convenit.” Boerhaave was himself cured of gout by taking it mixed with whey. Alston says that he has seen very remarkable good effects from this plant in gout, in keeping off the pa¬ roxysms, though not ultimately to the patient's advantage; and, indeed, all these bitters have been from time to time vaunted as curing the gout, but, as the great Cullen says, u after a time these cured people have fallen into worse diseases, generally hy¬ drops pectoris ” (water in the chest). But in chronic rheuma¬ tism much advantage is derived from a stimulating bitter like the present ; more especially as it also opens the bowels, and re¬ moves acrid bile. Viridet cured by this remedy a paralytic hypochondriac, and has placed this herb among the number of lithonthriptics. Boer¬ haave also says, u Dolores nephriticos curat.” As far as my WATER-TREFOIL, OR BUCKBEAN. 101 experience has gone, all bitters are favourable to gravel, and cal¬ culous complaints in the kidneys or bladder. It is recommended by Boerhaave also as an outward applica¬ tion for dissolving glandular swellings : u Folia cum sale et vino contusa, et forma cataplasmatis adhibita, conducunt ad tumores frigidos scorbuticos lentosque dissipandos.” It is also recommended in dropsy in all stages, by both Boer¬ haave and Haller : C( Folia ejus decocta conveniunt in hydrope^ Its seeds are good in coughs of long standing, and diseases of the chest : u Semina prosunt in tussi inveterata et pulmonum. morbis.” — Boerhaave. Linnaeus mentions that the common people, in times of scarcity, make bread of the dried roots, with a little meal. The Laplanders also feed their cattle with the dried roots. Respecting the dose, Haller says that a drachm of the powder of the leaves or stem, taken as a dose, opens the body, and often produces vomiting; but Boerhaave speaks of two handfuls at a time. As this plant loses its qualities by drying, like many other herbs potent when fresh, it will not readily obtain much rank as a medicine, where in winter, as in summer, remedies are wanted : but still I think it merits more attention than it has as yet received from English physicians. INDIAN PINK. SP1GELIA MARILANDICA. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla funnel-shaped: Capsule twin, two-celled, many-seeded. Spec. Char. Stem square : Leaves opposite. DESCRIPTION. This plant has a perennial fibrous root, whence rise single stems, beset with opposite oval-lanceolate entire leaves, and crowned with a spike of tubular monopetalous red flowers, hav¬ ing five stamina and one pistil. Each flower is succeeded by two round united bivalvular capsules, containing several small seeds. HISTORY. This plant is perennial, and grows wild in the southern parts of North America. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The root is celebrated as anthelmintic, particularly for the expulsion of lumbrici from the alimentary canal, and it often affords relief where no worms are discharged. Some order it in INDIAN PINK. 103 doses of ten or fifteen grains, while others give it in drachm doses, alleging that the nervous affections it sometimes produces more readily happen from small doses, as the large ones often purge or puke: some prefer the form of infusion. An emetic is ge¬ nerally premised ; and its purgative effect is assisted by some suitable additions. Infused in wine, it has been found useful in intermittents. Dr. Barton recommends it in the insidious re¬ mitting fever of children, which often lays the foundation for hydrocephalus. In the year 1754, a letter from Dr. Lining, physician at Charles-town, North Carolina, was published in the first volume of the Edinburgh Physical and Literary Essays, in which he men¬ tions that this root is a most excellent remedy against worms ; and says that it is given either in powder or in infusion in boiling water, but that the powder is the most efficacious ; that the dose to a child of three years of age was twelve grains in powder, or a scruple in infusion. As it has no taste, it may be mixed with, milk, or given to children in the form of tea. Doctor Lining ad¬ vises to add some rhubarb to it to keep the body open, and also a few drops of some of the essential oil of rue, or sabin, or wormwood, to prevent vertiginous effect, or other alarming sym¬ ptoms, although unattended with actual danger, and which some¬ times come on after taking this medicine. He usually repeated the medicine morning and evening for several days, with the expulsion of worms ; and such cases as were mistaken for worms thereby were remarkably relieved ; and he conceives this remedy as very desirable, from its want of taste, and certain efficacy and, upon the whole, one of the most harmless worm medicines. Where any alarming symptom came on, which arose from a too large dose, as vertigo, pain of the forehead and eyes, or slight convulsions, these became relieved by a little weak brandy and water, or a drop or two of some essential oil in some pep¬ permint water, or a glass of wine. Dr. Garden, in the year 1771, published a further account of this medicine, in the third volume of the same Essays, in which he says, that, previous to its use, it is necessary to give a vomit, or a purge of rhubarb and calomel, which renders its application safe, and removes all danger of convulsions of the eyes, &c. ; and that when these symptoms come on, it is proper always to give a common purge to remove the disagreeing medicine lodged in the bowels. He recommends giving to children from eight 104 INDIAN PINK. grains of the powder to a scruple, or more, and to adults from sixty to seventy grains ; and in infusion to the dose of two, three, or four drachms a day; observing, that he has known half a drachm of this root purge as briskly as the same quantity of rhubarb ; that he never found it do good unless where it did purge ; and that he had tried it with advantage in several hundreds of cases. He makes this remark, that by keeping, this medicine lost considerably of its virtues ; for forty grains of the root, which had not been gathered above two months, operated as strongly as sixty which had been kept for fifteen months. Dr. Home, of Edinburgh, in his Clinical Observations, men¬ tions his having used this medicine, and found it to be a good anthelmintic. According to Lining, thirty large worms (the ieretes) were at once voided by a negro girl by the use of this root. Dr. Home gave it to eight patients, three of whom passed worips ; the other five did not, but were relieved from those complaints which were thought to have proceeded from worms* To children of eight years of age he gave ten grains of the pow¬ der, twice a day ; and to adults half a drachm, four times a day : it produced no vertigo, dimness of the sight, convulsion of the eyes, or any other alarming symptom, but proved only purgative. This medicine has not come into general practice, owing to the alarming effects said sometimes to have arisen from it, as likewise to its loss of virtues from keeping ; but growing very well in this country, it deserves to be cultivated here, and bids fair to be a very useful addition to our arms against disease. In a few cases only I have seen any alarm produced; and as this soon went off, and the patients were relieved of worms, and that nasty viscid slime in which they are engendered, I am inclined myself to think well of this remedy. ' SCAMMONY BINDWEED. CONVOLVULUS SC AMMONIA. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla campanulate, plicate : Stigmas two: Capsule bilocular : Cells two-seeded. Spec. Char. Leaves sagittate, behind truncate : Flowers on slender pedun¬ cles, two or three together. DESCRIPTION. The root is thick and large like bryony, black on the surface and white within, and it is full of an acrid milky juice; from this arise stalks weak and trailing, three or four feet high, and beset with triangular leaves like those of the common field bind¬ weed. The flowers grow from the axillae of these, are large, bell-shaped, and whitish, with a purplish or yellowish tinge. The seed-vessel is of a pointed form, and the seeds themselves an¬ gular and blackish. 106 SCAMMONY BINDWEED* HISTORY. This scammony convolvulus is a climbing perennial plant, which grows in Syria, Mysia, and Cappadocia. The roots, which are very long and thick, when fresh contain a milky juice. This is obtained by removing the earth from the upper part of the roots, and cutting off the tops obliquely. The milky juice which flows out is collected in a small vessel sunk in the earth at the lower end of the cut. Each root furnishes only a few drachms; but the produce of several parts is added together, and dried in the sun. This is the true and unadulterated scam¬ mony. It is light, of a dark gray colour, but becomes of a whitish yellow when touched with the wet finger, is shining in its fracture, has a peculiar nauseous smell and bitter acrid taste, and forms with water a greenish milky fluid, without any re¬ markable sediment. In this state of purity it seldom reaches us, but is commonly mixed with the expressed juice of the root, and even of the stalks and leaves, and often with flour, sand, or earth. The best to be met with in the shops comes from Aleppo, in light spongy masses, having a heavy disagreeable smell, fria¬ ble, and easily powdered, of a shining ash colour verging to black ; when powdered, of a light gray or whitish colour. An inferior sort is brought from Smyrna in more compact ponderous pieces, with less smell, not so friable, and less easily powdered, of a darker colour, not so resinous, and full of sand and other impurities. A resin is the principal constituent of scammony. Sixteen ounces of good Aleppo scammony give eleven ounces of resin and three and a half of watery extract. MEDICAL USE. Scammony is an efficacious and strong purgative. Some have condemned it as unsafe and uncertain, a full dose proving some¬ times ineffectual, whilst at others a much smaller one occasions dangerous inflammation and gripes. This difference, however, is owing entirely to the different circumstances of the patient, and not to any ill quality or irregularity of operation of the medicine: where the intestines are lined with an excessive load of mucus, the scammony passes through without acting upon them ; but where the natural mucus is deficient, a small dose of this or any other resinous cathartic irritates and inflames. Many have en- SCAMMONY BINDWEED. 107 deavoured to diminish the activity of this drug, and to correct its imaginary virulence, by exposing it to the fumes of sulphur, dissolving it in acids, and the like ; but these only destroy a part of the medicine, without making any alteration in the rest. Scammony in substance, judiciously managed, stands not in need of any corrector : if triturated with sugar, or with almonds, it becomes sufficiently safe and mild in its operation. It may like¬ wise be conveniently dissolved, by trituration, in a strong de¬ coction of liquorice, and the solution then poured off from the faeces. The common dose of scammony is from three to twelve grains. The action of cathartics have been variously considered by medical men. Some have entertained that this arises by small spiculae irritating the sensible coats of the bowels ; and these re¬ sinous cathartics are the more powerful on this account ; and it certainly is a curious fact, the mild operation that scammony pro¬ duces, wdth some other cathartics, when triturated with sugar, or blunted with the almond. It is generally given in cold phlegmatic habits, and forms the chief ingredient of those family draughts and pills so commonly used to obviate habitual costiveness. Take of scammony, in powder, grains 10, - - blanched almonds - drachm 1, - cinnamon water - - ounce 1, • - syrup of ginger - - drachm 1 : Rub down the scammony with the almonds first, then add the syrup and cinnamon water gradually. For a purging draught, to be taken early in the morning. Take of scammony, in powder - grains 10, - socotrine aloes - scruple 1, - Spanish soap - - - - drachm 1^, - essential oil of cloves - drops 3, - syrup of ginger - a sufficient quantity : Make thirty pills. Take three going to bed. It forms also a chief ingredient in the famous basilic-powder, as it is called, so serviceable for removing what is commonly termed pot-belly in children. Take of scammony, in powder, - calomel, - antimonial powder, equal parts, grains 2, - cream of tartar - grains 10: To be taken in currant jelly an hour after breakfast every other 108 SCAMMONY BINDWEED. day. It will often not only purge but vomit, which last effect will produce no harm. The great Boerhaave says that this plant is an excellent remedy against the dropsy, provided the viscera are good : <( Est planta laudatissima contra hydropem, modo viscera sint bona.” He gave the flowers : 6( Flores recentes ad unciam dimidiam comesti cum oleo et aceto fortissimo sursum deorsumque purgant.” Many physicians have entertained great fears respecting this remedy. Boerhaave says, it quickly, if too freely given, converts the blood into water : “ Si succus ex radice exprimatur, turn habetur succus scammonii, hie succus sanguinem in aquam cito convertit, et hinc venenatus est, si magna copia assumatur.” But in moderate doses it is good against the bile, and as a hy- drogogue to remove water : u Sed si caute adhibeatur, turn op¬ time convenit, ubi purgandem, aqua ducenda et bilis.” He re¬ commends it in asthma : u Conducit in asthmate.” Hoffmann also had dreadful apprehensions respecting this remedy. He says he never employed it, nor ever will; resolving always to abstain from colliquative poisons : u Ego nunquam in praxi mea in usu habui, nec in posterum habebo ; me semper ab istius- modi venenis colliquativis abstinens.” Nevertheless, as a drastic purgative, in cold habits, it is very usefully employed. PREPARATIONS. The Royal London College order the following preparations : Electuary of Scammony. (Electuarium Scammonii. L.) Take of scammony, in powder, one ounce and a half ; - - cloves, * - ginger, of each, six drachms ; — - essential oii of caraway, half a drachm ; - syrup of roses, as much as is sufficient : Mix the spices, powdered together, with the syrup ; then add the scammony, and lastly the oil of caraway. This electuary is a warm brisk purgative. A drachm and a half contain fifteen grains of scammony. Compound Powder of Scammony. (Pulvis Scammonii com- positus. L.) Take of scammony, - - hard extract of jalap, of each two ounces ; • - ginger, half an ounce: Powder them separately, and mix them. SCAMMONY BINDWEED. 109 The Edinburgh College thus direct : Take of scammony, - super-tartrate of potass, equal parts : Rub them together to a very fine powder. In the first of these compositions the scammony is combined with another purgative more active than itself, and in the other with one much less so ; which difference must be attended to in prescription. The ginger is an useful addition, and will render it less apt to gripe. The dose is from five to ten grains. Compound Powder of Scammony with Aloes. (Pulvis Scammonii compositus cum Aloe. L.) Take of scammony, six drachms ; - hard extract of jalap, - socotrine aloes, of each an ounce and a half ; - ginger, half an ounce : Powder them separately, and mix them. Here we have a combination of three powerful purgatives of the same kind ; but what advantage these compositions have over the ingredients taken separately is not very apparent. Of the present, from five to ten grains is a sufficient dose for a costive habit. Powder of Scammony with Calomel. (Pulvis Scammonii cum Calomelane. L.) Take of scammony, half an ounce ; - calomel, - ■ ■ ■■ - — » double refined sugar, of each two drachms : Powder them separately, and then mix them. In this case the calomel may often be found to be an useful addition to the scammony, as its mode of action is different, al¬ though it coincides with it in the general effect. The dose is from five to ten grains, used in costive habits, and to remove filthy sordes from the bowels. It also properly enters into the composition of the Compound Extract of Colocynth (Extraction Colocynthidis composi¬ tion, L.); Compound Powder of Senna (Pulvis Sennas com¬ positus, L.); Pills of Aloes and Colocynth (Pilulae Aloes \ cum Colocynthide). JALAP BINDWEED. CONVOLVULUS JALAPA. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Leaves ovate, subcordate, villose underneath. DESCRIPTION. This plant has thick, fleshy, radish-like roots, full of a milky juice; the stalks are numerous, twining for support, and rising to about ten or twelve feet ; the leaves vary, being heart-shaped, angular, oblong, or pointed, smooth, and stand alternately upon long footstalks ; the flowers are usually two, on forked peduncles, bell-shaped, entire, plicate, of a reddish colour on the outside, and of a dark purple within. The calyx is com¬ posed of five small oval leaves. Each flower terminates in a wrinkled, roundish, pentagonal, umbilical fruit, about the size of a pepper-corn, including a white kernel. HISTORY. Jalap is a climbing perennial species of convolvulus. It is an inhabitant of Mexico and Vera Cruz, from which it was first imported in 1710. It is now cultivated in the botanical garden JALAP BINDWEED. Ill of Charlestown, and flourishes in our own stoves. When recent, the root is white and lactescent; but it is brought to us in thin transverse slices, which are covered with a blackish wrinkled bark, and are of a dark gray colour internally, marked with darker or blackish stripes. It has a nauseous smell and taste; and when swallowed it affects the throat with a sense of heat, and occasions a plentiful discharge of saliva. When powr- dered it has a yellowish gray colour. Such pieces should be chosen as are most compact, hard, weighty, dark-coloured, and abound most with dark circular strise and shining points ; the light, whitish, friable worm-eaten pieces must be rejected. Slices of briony root are said to be sometimes mixed with those of jalap ; but these may be easily distinguished by their whiter colour, and less compact texture. Neuman got from 7680 parts, 2480 alcoholic, and then by water 1200; and inversely, 2160 watery, besides 360 which precipitated during the evaporation, and 1440 alcoholic : the tincture extracted from 7680 parts, gave, by precipitation with water, 1920. MEDICAL USES. Jalap in substance, taken in a dose of about half a drachm, proves an effectual, and in general a safe purgative, performing its office mildly, seldom occasioning nausea or gripes ; but in hy¬ pochondriacal disorders, and hot bilious temperaments, it gripes violently, if the jalap be good ; but rarely takes due effect as a purge. An extract originally made by water purges almost uni¬ versally, but weakly ; and at the same time has a considerable effect by urine : what remains after this process gripes violently. The pure resin, prepared by alcohol, occasions most violent gripings, and other distressing symptoms, but scarcely proves at all cathartic: triturated with sugar, or with almonds, into the form of an emulsion, or dissolved in spirit, and mixed with syrups, it purges plentifully in a small dose, without occasion¬ ing much disorder : the part of the jalap remaining after the se¬ paration of the resin, yields to water an extract, which has np effect as a cathartic, but operates powerfully by urine. Jalap contains both a gummy and resinous principle, an ounce yielding, according to Cartheuser, about half an ounce of a gummy extract, and about two scruples of a resinous; neither 1 12 JALAP BINDWEED. of them are so strong and purgative as when mixed ; hence it is usually prescribed in substance from ten to fifteen grains ; or it is usefully added in cold habits to accelerate the action of rhu¬ barb, and in this form is found frequently to expel worms, being admirably adapted for the purpose. In very robust country habits jalap is a safe and good purge, producing its effects pow¬ erfully and certainly. In the rheumatism it is a very excellent purge; and is usefully employed mixed with two grains of gam- bodge in the dose of a scruple to carry off water in dropsies, as well as when combined with four or five grains of calomel. Being a powerful drastic purge, Hoffmann thought it highly improper for children and for weakly habits ; but Cullen says, if it be triturated, before exhibition, with any hard powder, (and the cry¬ stals of tartar are the fittest for the purpose,) it will operate in smaller doses than when taken by itself, and at the same time act very moderately, and without griping. When triturated with hard sugar, in small doses it is a safe purge for children ; and in this way they will receive it, the jalap having little taste. PREPARATIONS. Its medical preparations are : Tincture of Jalap. (Tinctura Convolvuli Jalap*. E. Tinc- tura Jalap*. L. D.) Take of jalap, in coarse powder, three ounces (eight ounces L.r live, D.): - diluted alcohol, fifteen ounces (two pints, L. D. ): Digest for seven days, and strain the tincture through paper. Alcohol was formerly ordered for the preparation of this tinc¬ ture ; but diluted alcohol is a preferable menstruum, as it dis¬ solves the active constituents of the jalap, as well as pure alco¬ hol, and is less stimulating. The water is an excellent addition, as it extracts so much of the gummy parts as correct the resinous, which are more active, and by itself very griping ; and this tincture so made may be taken by itself, or mixed with syrup, from a drachm to half an ounce: but it is more frequently added, from the quantity of a drachm or two, to any purgative draught to quicken its opera¬ tion. The Extract is thus prepared: Take of jalap, reduced to powder, one pound; — - of rectified spirits of wine, four pints : JALAP BINDWEED. 113 Mix, and digest them for four days ; pour off the tincture, and boil the residue which remains in ten pints of distilled water, and reduce it to two ; then strain both the tincture and decoc¬ tion through a cloth, evaporate them till they begin to thicken, and reduce them, by gentle evaporation, till they are of the consistence of pills. By this means both the resinous and gummy matters are ex¬ tracted, and it is employed in doses of from four to twelve grains. Triturated with equal parts of sweet almonds, its ope* ration is rendered mild. COMMON PERUVIAN BARK TREE. CINCHONA OFFICINALIS. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Ess ent. Gen. Char. Corolla funnel-shape, petals woolly at their edges: Capsule beneath, two-celled with parallel dissepiment. Spec. Char. Leaves elliptic, underneath pubescent: Limb of the corolla woolly. DESCRIPTION. The tree which produces the bark varies in its size. Wood- ville describes it as very lofty, and sending off large branches. Its leaves are oblong, three inches in length, and about an inch and a half in breadth. The flowers stand in clusters at the ex¬ tremities of the branches, and are composed of a single tubular petal, whose border is divided into five segments. These are succeeded by capsules of the shape of an olive, which when ripe split open lengthwise, discovering two cells divided by a mem¬ brane, and contain each a number of small flatted seeds sur¬ rounded with a membranous edge. COMMON PERUVIAN BARK TREE. 115 HISTORY. The bark commonly called Peruvian bark, of which the Edin* burgh College enumerates three varieties ; 1. The common, the yellow of some foreign authors. 2. The yellow, the orange of some foreign authors. 3. The red. By the recent observations of the Spanish botanists, it is now, however, ascertained that these are not only the barks of distinct species of cinchona, but that probably each of them is indiscri* minately taken from several different species. Ruiz and Pavon have described fifteen species natives of Peru and Chili ; and if to them we add those of Tafalla and Vahl, twenty-five distinct species have been described, of which seven have been found, in North America in the neighbourhood of Santa Fe, by Mutis. Cinchona, considered as a genus, is a mountainous tree, and is never found in the plains. It grows to a great height, and for¬ merly its trunk was often thicker than a man’s body. But since its bark has come into such general use, few trees are to be seen thicker than the arm. Indeed there is reason to fear that it will become still more scarce, as no attention is paid to its cultiva¬ tion, and the trees always die after being stripped of their bark. This operation is performed in the dry season, from September to November. The bark is then carefully dried in the sun, and packed in skins, which contain from 100 to 150 pounds, and are called by the Spaniards xeronne. In these, coarse and fine pieces of the same kind of bark are promiscuously mixed, but they are afterwards sorted. 1. Common pale bark. This is said to be the bark of the Cinchona cordifolia of Mutis, under which he includes the hir- suta, ovata, purpurea , and micrantha of the Flora Peruviana, the officinalis of Linnaeus, and the pulescens of Yahl. In commerce we find several varieties of the common pale bark, the most remarkable of which are, the quilled bark, which comes from Loxa, and the flat bark, from Guanaco. The bark which comes from Loxa consists of thin, singly or doubly rolled, pieces, four or five inches long, and scarcely a line in thickness ; externally rough, of a grayish brown colour, and generally covered with a kind of lichen ; internally of a cin- namon colour. Its fracture should not be fibrous or powdery, but even and shining. It has a peculiar aromatic smell, and a pleasant, bitter, astringent taste. i 2 116 COMMON PERUVIAN BARK TREE* The bark which comes fromGuanaco consists of much thicker*, coarser, and flatter pieces ; externally of a dark brown or al¬ most black colour, but internally it has the same cinnamon co« lour ; and in its resinous fracture, smell, and taste, it exactly resembles the former. When genuine, both varieties are excel¬ lent remedies, although the former be generally preferred on the continent and the latter in Britain. 2. Yellow Peruvian bark. This variety of bark has only been introduced into European practice since 1790, when it was sent from Santa Fe by Mutis. It is the bark of his Cin - chona latifolia , under which he includes the nitida, glabra , or lanceolata, fusca , or rosea } angustifolia, or tunita, the officinalis of Condamine and Vahl. It consists of pieces about six inches in length, thicker, and less rolled up, than the common bark. Its internal surface is of a deeper red. It sometimes wants the epidermis, which is often as thick as the bark itself. It is lighter and more friable than the former variety; its fracture is fibrous; and when reduced to powder, its colour is paler. Its taste is much more bitter, astringent, and stronger, but its smell is weaker. Its decoction when hot is redder, but when cold, paler. Its solution strikes a deeper colour with sulphate of iron. It contains more of the active constituents than either of the * * others, but less gum than the common, and less resin than the red. It is much more powerful than the preceding species, and, according to Mutis, is the only one which is directly febrifuge. The epidermis should always be removed before it be pow¬ dered. 3. Red Peruvian bark is obtained from the Cinchona magni- folia of Ruiz and Pavon, the oblongifolia of Mutis. It occurs generally in much larger, thicker, flatter pieces, but sometimes also in the form of quills. It is heavy, firm, sound, and dry ; friable between the teeth ; does not separate into fibres ; and breaks, not shivery, but short, close, and smooth. It has three layers : the outer is thin, rugged, of a reddish brown colour, but frequently covered with mossy matter; the middle is thicker, more compact, darker coloured, very resinous, brittle, and yields first to the pestle : the inmost is more woody, fibrous, and of a brighter red. Its powder is reddish, like that of Armenian bole. Its astringency and bitterness are more intense, and it contains more resin than the pale bark. It is not, however, allowed by COMMON PERUVIAN BARK TREE. 1 IT Mutis to be like the yellow bark, directly febrifuge. It is said to be more frequently adulterated. The great price of cinchona bark has sometimes tempted dis¬ honest men to adulterate it with other similar and less powerful barks, and, what is still more blameable, with genuine bark, from which the active constituents have been entirely extracted by decoction with water. In selecting cinchona bark, we must therefore take care, that, besides the characteristics already noticed, it be dense, heavy, and dry, not musty or spoiled by moisture, and that a decoction made of it have a reddish colour when warm, but when cold become paler, and deposit a brownish red sediment. Those pieces whose taste is simply intensely bitter, or very astringent, or nauseous, or merely mucilaginous, whose surface is smooth or polished, of a dark colour, or pale yellow, or red, which are tough or spongy, whose bark is fibrous, woody, or powdery, and their internal colour white or gray, are to be rejected. There are few7 vegetable substances w-hich have been subjected to analysis more frequently, and by abler chemists, than the cinchona bark. But from the difficulty of the subject, and from essential differences in the chemical properties of several varieties confounded under one denomination, contradictory re¬ sults have arisen, and our knowledge of the subject is still im¬ perfect. Vauquelin has lately done much to lessen this confu¬ sion, by showing that there are three, if not four, classes of cinchona bark, differing essentially in chemical constitution ; but unfortunately he has not been able to designate with bo¬ tanical accuracy the individuals he found to belong to each. The first class precipitate astringents, but not gelatine. The second precipitate gelatine, but not astringents. The third precipitate both astringents and gelatine; and, Lastly, some barks confounded with these precipitate neither astringent nor gelatine; but these Vauquelin, viewing the genus chemically, does not consider as cinchonas. Individuals in each of the three first classes are capable of curing intermittents, which shows how insufficient our analysis, in its present state, is from explaining the connexion between the medical virtues and chemical properties of this remarkable genus. Besides these principal differences, on which Vauquelin founds his classification, cinchona barks vary in the effects of many chemical agents. The infusions of some kinds redden. 118 COMMON PERUVIAN BARK. TREE. turnsole, others do not affect it; some impart a deep colour to water, others very little ; some affect certain metallic solutions, which others do not; and the decoctions of some kinds remain transparent after becoming cold, others grow turbid as they cool, and deposit a copious precipitate. The following mode of analysis, however, will give an idea of the composition of the second class : — The cold infusion has a red colour, more or less brown or yellow ; bitter taste, with more or less astringency ; becoming in a few days covered with a green mould. On eva¬ porating the infusion, if it be permitted to cool repeatedly during the process, it becomes turbid, and deposits a precipitate for several times. If these precipitates be separated, and the supernatant fluid, after it ceases to become turbid on cooling, be evaporated to the consistence of a soft extract, and treated with alcohol, there remains only a viscid substance of a brown co¬ lour, almost without bitter taste, insoluble in alcohol, perfectly soluble in water, not rendering it turbid on cooling, and which, by spontaneous evaporation, is analysed into a saline mass, con¬ sisting of reddish brown crystals, hexahedral, rhomboidal, or square, and a mucilaginous matter which remains dissolved in the mother-water. The precipitate which is deposited on the cooling of the con¬ centrated infusion, when dried, has a red brown colour and an intensely bitter taste. It is readily soluble in alcohol, especially when heated. The tincture is decomposed by water, and yields crystals on spontaneous evaporation. It is sparingly and only partially soluble in cold water, more copiously and completely in boiling water, which, however, again becomes turbid on cool¬ ing. Its solution reddens tincture of turnsole, grows mouldy in a few days, does not precipitate tartar emetic, or solution of gelatine ; is not visibly acted upon by acids, but with alkalies is coagulated into a thick whitish matter, becoming brown and somewhat hard by exposure to the air, softening with heat, and acquiring the ductility and silky gloss of turpentine. The saline mass which crystallizes from the mother-water, on being purified by repeated solutions and crystallizations, is ob¬ tained in the form of white square or rhomboidal plates, often grot ped, with almost no taste, soluble in about five waters at £>0°, insoluble in alcohol, destructible by fire, not decomposed by ammonia, acetate of lead, or nitrate of silver, but by the fixed alkalies, and the oxalic and sulphuric acids, and by infusion COMMON PERUVIAN BARK TREE* 119 of tan, and of some varieties of cinchona. This salt M. Vau- quelin discovered to consist of lime, and a new acid which cry¬ stallizes in plates, has a very acid taste, forms soluble and cry- stallizable combinations with the alkalies and earths, and does not precipitate the nitrates of silver, mercury, or lead. M. Vau- quelin has given it the name of Kinic acid ; but as this would lead us to suppose that it was obtained from Kino, it appears to me that it ought to be named the cinchonic acid, from the systematic name of the tree from whose bark it has been first obtained. M. Vauquelin has also analysed the barks of the cinchona pubescens and officinalis , which he refers to the first class. In almost every respect the analysis agrees with that now detailed, except in the chemical properties of the deposit from the con¬ centrated infusion, which in the present instance produces a copious precipitate in the infusion of nut-galls, as well in tartar emetic and nitrate of mercury. These deposits, he observes, differ from resins in being soluble in water, in acids and in al¬ kalies, in acting as a dye, in decomposing metallic solutions, and in their watery solution becoming mouldy. He is inclined to consider them as a peculiar vegetable principle, not yet suffi¬ ciently examined. Having thus detailed the latest experiments on this important subject, it may not be superfluous to notice the observations of preceding chemists, with a view of rendering the history of the analysis of cinchona more perfect. Neumann got from 7680 parts of common cinchona 640 alcoholic, and afterwards 300 watery extract ; and inversely, 330 watery and 600 alcoholic; from which it might be inferred, that there were about 600 parts soluble in alcohol only, 300 in water only, and 30 or 40 in both ; but the proportion of the last is certainly too small. Fourcroy extracted from 576 parts of red bark, 38 by water, and afterwards 24 by alcohol. Marabelli got from a pound of yellow bark, 464 grains of gum, 470 of extractive mucous mat¬ ter, 292 of extractive resinous matter, and 125 of resin, besides saline matters, &c. Lewis observed that the decoction became turbid on cooling, and that the precipitate was soluble in alco¬ hol. He also pointed out the deep green colour which decoc¬ tions of cinchona acquire from the addition of chalybeates. Dr. Irving afterwards found that recent decoctions gave a black co¬ lour, while those which had been kept some time gave a green. 320 COMMON PERUVIAN BARK. TREE. I may add, that the tincture gives a black, while the cold infu¬ sion gives a green ; and that, in all cases where an excess of the chalybeate is used, a green colour is produced. These effects have been ascribed to the presence of tannin ; but they have little resemblance to the intensity and durability of the blue co¬ lour produced in infusions of gall-nuts, and other powerful astrin¬ gents. They, however, show that the principle on which the colour depends is more soluble in alcohol and in boiling water, than in cold, and that it is very destructible. It was long be¬ lieved that cinchona was a powerful astringent ; but after Se- guin’s discovery of gelatine as a test of the principle of astrin- gency, Dr. Maton found that cinchona contained very little tannin. In my experiments, solution of gelatine did not affect the cold infusion, but precipitated the tincture, diluted with water and filtered, slightly, and the filtered decoction copiously. The precipitate in the last case was filamentous, and exactly re¬ sembled that produced with gelatine by infusion of galls. Hence it appears that the tannin in cinchona is much less soluble in al¬ cohol and in cold water, than in hot. Dr. Maton discovered that infusion of cinchona was precipitated by infusion of nut- galls. Seguin, who afterwards made the same observation, con¬ cluded from it that cinchona contained gelatine, but erroneously, as I soon after proved. Infusion of galls is precipitated copi¬ ously, not only by the filtered decoction of cinchona, but also by the infusion and tincture diluted and filtered; and as these phsenomena are inconsistent with the properties of gelatine or starch, (the only other principles which, so far as I know, pre¬ cipitate infusion of galls,) 1 conceived myself authorized to ascribe them to a vegetable principle, not hitherto examined, soluble in alcohol and in water, and called it cinchonin. Seguin supposed that it was the tannin of the infusion of galls which formed the precipitate in infusion of cinchona; but this is ex¬ tremely doubtful: for, as I have mentioned in another work, a decoction of cinchona is precipitated both by gelatine and galls, and, when saturated by either of these re-agents, is still acted upon by the other; but an infusion of galls, after being satu¬ rated with gelatine, does not act on a decoction of cinchona. Now, if gelatine deprived the infusion of galls of no other principle but tannin, it would follow, that a decoction of cin¬ chona contains both tannin and a principle precipitable by tan- »in, which can scarcely be the case ; and indeed we do not at COMMON PERUVIAN BARK TREE. 1 SI present see any way of accounting for the facts, but by sup¬ posing that the galls and cinchona contain each of them tannin, and another principle, of a different nature in each, not preci- pitable by tannin, but by each other. It is satisfactory to find that great master of analysis, Vauque- lin, drawing nearly the same conclusion from his observations : — It would seem that it is to the tannin of the oak bark and galls that this principle (cinchonin) unites to form the precipi¬ tates observed in the infusions of these substances ; but as this principle exists in some species which at the same time precipi¬ tate glue, it is doubtful that it really unites to the tannin of the oak bark, or that the principle in the other species of cinchona which precipitate glue, is actually tannin. But the one or the other of these suppositions must be correct, as the infusions of the two species precipitate each other. Dr. Irving obtained from cinchona a small portion of volatile oil, on which its aroma depends; and Fourcroy and other chemists have observed, that during the evaporation of an infusion or decoction of cinchona, exposed to the air, an insoluble pellicle is formed on the surface. Fabbrofti observed, that cinchona loses its solubility by long ex¬ posure to the air, and even by being reduced to very fine pow¬ der; 100 parts of cinchona, when bruised, yielding from 12 to 16 of extract, and when finely powdered only 6 or 7 ; and that cinchona destroys the emetic property of tartrate of antimony, without losing its febrifuge virtues. How little the analysis has hitherto accounted for the virtues of cinchona, is evident from three of the latest writers referring its virtues to totally different principles : Deschamps to the cin- chonate of lime, two doses of which, of 36 grains each, accord¬ ing to him cure every intermittent ; Westring to the tanning principle ; and Seguin, on the contrary, to the principle which precipitates tannin. MEDICAL USES. On dead animal matter cinchona acts as an antiseptic, and on the living body it acts moreover as a stimulant, tonic, and anti- spasmodic. The discovery of its medical virtues was, in all pro¬ bability, the result of accident. In fact, according to some, the Peruvians learned its use by observing certain animals affected with intermittents instinctively led to it ; or, according to others, a Peruvian having an ague, was cured by accidentally drinking pf a pool which, from some trees having fallen into it, tasted of COMMON PERUVIAN BARK TREE. 122 cinchona : and its use in gangrene is said to have originated from its curing one in an agueish patient. It has had various appella¬ tions. About the year 1640, from curing the lady of the Spa¬ nish viceroy, the Comitissa del Cinchon, it was called Cortex or Pulvis Comitissas, Cinchona, &c. ; from the interest which car¬ dinal de Lugo and the Jesuit fathers took in its distribution, Cortex or Pulvis Cardinalis de Lugo, Jesuiticus, Patrum, &c. ; from the place where it was originally found, Peruvian bark, or simply, from its preeminence, Bark. On its first introduction into Europe it was reprobated by many eminent physicians, and at different periods, long after, it was considered as a dangerous remedy ; but its character, in process of time, became universally established. It w as first introduced for the cure of intermittent fevers ; and these, when it is properly exhibited, it rarely fails to cure. But there have been considerable differences of opinion with regard to the best mode of exhibition ; some prefer giving it just before the fit, some during the fit, others immediately after it. Some, again, order repeated doses between the fits ; and this mode of exhibition, although it may perhaps sometimes lead to the em¬ ployment of more bark than is necessary, upon the whole ap¬ pears preferable, from being best suited to most stomachs. The requisite quantity is very different in different cases ; and in many vernal intermittents cinchona seems even hardly necessary. It is now given from the very commencement of the disease, without previous evacuations, which are thought to retard the cure, and to induce, they say, abdominal inflammations, scirrhus, jaun¬ dice, hectic, dropsy, &c.; symptoms formerly attributed to the premature or immoderate use of the bark, but which are best ob¬ viated bjr its early and liberal use. It is to be continued not only till the paroxysms cease, but till the natural appetite, strength, and complexion return. It is then to be gradually left oft', and repeated at proper intervals to secure against a relapse, to which there often seems to be a peculiar disposition, especially when the wind blows from the east. Although, however, evacuation rather counteracts the effects of cinchona in the cure of inter¬ mittents, yet, previous to its use, it is often adviseable to empty the alimentary canal, particularly the stomach ; and on this ac¬ count good effects are obtained from premising an emetic. It is a medicine which seems not only suited to both formed and latent intermittents, but to that state of fibre on which all COMMON PERUVIAN BARK TREE. periodical diseases seem to depend ; as periodical pain, inflamma¬ tion, hsemorrhagy, spasm, cough, loss of external sense, &c. Cinchona is now used by some in all continued fevers ; at the same time attention is paid to keep the bowels clear, and to pro¬ mote, when necessary, the evacuation of redundant bile, always, however, so as to weaken the patient as little as possible. In confluent small-pox it promotes languid eruption and sup¬ puration, diminishes the fever, and prevents or corrects putres¬ cence and gangrene. Dr. Haygarth has lately extolled its use in acute rheumatism, from the very commencement, even without premising venesec¬ tion. In gangrenous sore throats, and indeed in every species of gangrene, it is much used, both externally and internally. In contagious dysentery, after due evacuation, it has been used, taken internally and by injection, with and without opium. In all those hmmorrhagies called passive, and likewise in other increased discharges, it is much used ; and in certain undefined cases of hmmoptysis, some allege that it is remarkably elfectual when joined with an absorbent. It is used for obviating the disposition to nervous and con¬ vulsive diseases ; and some have great confidence in it, joined with sulphuric acid, in cases of phthisis, scrofula, ill-conditioned ulcers, rickets, scurvy, and in states of convalescence. In these cases it is proper to conjoin it with a milk diet. In dropsy, not depending on any particular local affection, it is often alternated or conjoined with diuretics or other evacuants, and by its early exhibition after the water is once drawn off, or even begins to be freely discharged, a fresh accumulation is pre¬ vented, and a radical cure obtained. Peruvian bark may be exhibited, 1. In substance. The best form of exhibiting this valuable remedy is in the state of a very fine powder, in doses of from ten grains to two drachms and upwards. Mutis arid Zea say that two drachms of true genuine bark, in powder, are sufficient to prevent the excess of an intermittent, while, to produce the same effect, it requires the decoction of two ounces. Nay, even the residuum of an infu¬ sion is capable of curing agues, provided it be given in a larger dose than the entire powder. As it cannot be swallowed in the 124 COMMON PERUVIAN BARK TREE. form of a dry powder, it must either be diffused in some liquid, as water, wine, or milk, or mixed with some viscid substance, as currant jelly. Its taste, which is disagreeable to many people, is best avoided by taking it immediately after it is mixed with the vehicle. In this respect, therefore, it is better for the pa¬ tients to mix it up themselves, than to receive it from the apo¬ thecary already made up, into a draught with some simple di¬ stilled water, or into an electuary with a syrup. A much more important objection to giving cinchona in substance is, that some stomachs will not bear it, from the oppression, and even vomit¬ ing, which in these cases it excites. We must endeavour to obviate this inconvenience by the addition of some aromatic, and by giving it in small doses more frequently repeated. If we are unable to succeed by these means, we must extract the most active constituents of the bark by means of some menstruum. It has therefore long been a pharmaceutical problem to discover which menstruum extracts the virtues of cinchona most com¬ pletely. But it would be contrary to analogy to suppose that its constituent principles should subsist so intimately mixed as they must be in an organic product, without exerting upon each other some degree of chemical affinity, and forming combinations possessed of new properties. Accordingly we find, whether it arise from this cause, or merely from the state of aggregation, that neither water nor alcohol extracts these constituents from cinchona bark in the same quantity in which they are able to dissolve them separately, and that we must have recourse to direct experiment to determine the degree of action possessed by each menstruum upon it. With this view, many experiments have been made, and by very able chemists. But most of them were performed when the science of chemistry was but in its infancy ; and even at this time that branch of it which relates to these substances is so little understood, that the results of the latest experiments are far from conclusive. 2. In infusion. To those whose stomachs will not bear the powder, this is the best form of exhibiting cinchona bark. Water, at a given tem¬ perature, seems capable of dissolving only a certain quantity of its active constituents, and therefore we are not able to increase the strength of an infusion, either by employing a larger quantity of the bark, or allowing them to remain longer iu contact. One COMMON PERUVIAN BARR TREE. 105 part of bark is sufficient to saturate sixteen of water in the cours® of an hour or two. To accelerate the action of the water, it is usual to pour it boiling hot upon the bark, to cover it up, and allow it to cool slowly. After standing a sufficient length of time, the infusion is decanted oft' for use. The propriety of this process may, however, be doubted ; for if a cold infusion be boiled, or even gently heated, it acquires a deeper colour, and lets fall a resinous matter, in part insoluble in alcohol and in. water. The infusion in water is, however, liable to one very great objection, that it cannot be kept even a very short time without being decomposed and spoiled. Therefore, in some in¬ stances we prepare the infusion with wine; and it fortunately happens that very often the use of the menstruum is as much indicated as that of the solvent. Cinchona also prevents wine from becoming acid, but in the course of a fewr days throws down its colouring matter, as nut-galls and charcoal do. 3. In tincture. The great activity of the menstruum in this preparation pre¬ vents the bark from being given in sufficiently large doses to exert its peculiar virtues. It is, however, a powerful stimulant. 4. In decoction. Water of the temperature of 212° is capable of dissolving a much larger proportion of the soluble parts of cinchona bark than water at 60°. But the solvent powers even of boiling water have their limits, and by protracting the decoction we do not increase its strength, but rather, by diminishing the quantity of the menstruum, we lessen the quantity of matter dissolved. Be¬ sides, at a boiling temperature some of the active constituents are dissipated, while others absorb oxygen rapidly from the at¬ mosphere, and are converted into what seems to be an insoluble and inert resinous substance. 5. In extract. In this preparation we expect to possess the virtues of cin¬ chona bark in a very concentrated state. The principal objec¬ tions to its use are its great expense, and the decomposition and destruction of the active constituents of the bark during the pre¬ paration, even when most carefully conducted. Not above half the weight of the dry extract is again soluble in water. It is convenient for the formation of pills and boluses, but we would 126 COMMON PERUVIAN BARK TREE. always prefer a fresh infusion or decoction to any mixture in which the extract is redissolved. Externally, cinchona bark is used in substance, as an appli¬ cation to ill-conditioned, carious, or gangrenous ulcers. In the form of clyster it may be given in substance, decoction, or extract. The powder is used as a tooth-powder for spongy and bleeding gums, and the decoction is an excellent astringent gargle or wash. To increase the power of cinchona bark, or to direct its effi¬ cacy to a particular purpose, or to correct some inconveniencies occasionally produced by it, it is frequently combined with other remedies. When it produces vomiting, carbonic' acid forms an useful addition ; when it purges, opium; when it oppresses the stomach, aromatics ; and when it induces costiveness, rhubarb. The choice of bark is of great importance. It was introduced in the year 1649 into Europe by the Jesuits, who sold it at first for an immense price. This obtained it the name of Jesuits’ bark. For a number of years the bark, which is rolled up into short thick quills, with a rough coat, and a bright cinnamon co¬ lour in the inside, which broke brittle, and was sound, had an aromatic flavour, a bitterish astringent taste, with a degree of aromatic warmth, was esteemed the best ; though some people looked upon the large pieces of equal goodness. RED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. CINCHONA RUBRA. During the time of the late war, in the year 1779, the Hussar frigate took a Spanish ship loaded principally with Peruvian bark, which was much larger, thicker, and of a deeper reddish colour than the bark in common use. Soon after it was brought to London it was tried in St. Bartholomew’s hospital, and in other hospitals about town, and was said to be more efficacious than the quill bark. This put practitioners on examining into the history of the bark, and on trying experiments with it, and on making comparative trials of its effects with those of the bark in common use, on patients labouring under intermittent com¬ plaints. In July 1782, Dr. William Saunders published an account of this red bark, in which he says that the small quill bark used in England is either the bark of young trees, or of the twigs or branches of the old ones ; and that the large bark, called the red bark from the deep colour, is the bark of the trunk of the old trees : and he mentions a Mr. Arnot, who himself gathered the bark from the trees in Peru • and M. Condamine, who gives an IS 8 RED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. account of the tree in the Memoirs of the Academy of Sciences at Paris in the year 1738, who both say, that taking the bark from an old tree effectually kills it; but that most of the young trees which are barked, recover, and continue healthy ; and that for these reasons the Spaniards now barked the younger trees for foreign markets, though they still imported into Spain some of the bark of the old trees, which they esteemed to be much more efficacious than what was got from the young. From these accounts Dr. Saunders concludes, that the large red bark, brought to London in the year 1779, was of the same kind as that used by Sydenham and Morton, as it answers to the description of the bark used in their time, which is given by Dale, and other writers on the Materia Medica, who were their cotemporaries. Dr. Saunders says that it is not only stronger and more resinous, but likewise more efficacious and certain in its effect, than the common bark, and had cured many agues after the other had failed. The yellow bark has, like the red bark, superior qua¬ lities to the common bark ; but these, as we observed before, are more frequently adulterated than the other *. The salt of bark, prepared by Godfrey and other chemists, merits more attention than it has hitherto received. Where the bark has been in other forms rejected by the stomach, as in some old very gouty habits, I have found that this as a tonic has suc¬ ceeded ; and where there has been ulcerated sore throat, and glandular swellings from scrofula, I have experienced great advantage by ordering it to be taken, by first moistening the finger and dipping it in the bark flakes, and then applying it to the tongue, and swallowing the saliva ; and in a case of morti¬ fication, where powdered bark was rejected, I had the pleasure to find that this remained, and produced a most happy effect. PREPARATIONS. Infusion of Cinchona Bark. (Infusum Cinchonas Officinalis. E.) Take of Peruvian bark, in powder, one ounce; - water, one pound : Macerate for twrenty-four hours, and filter. * All these barks, we are happy to inform the public, may be obtained genuine, and superlatively fine, of Mr. Adcock, chemist, Leadenhall-street, opposite the India-house, a gentleman who has made it his study to suppiy the faculty with the very best drugs of every kind. • * RED PERUVIAN" BARK TREE*, (Infusum Cinchonas sine Calore. D.) Take of Penman bark, in coarse powder, one ounce; - water, twelve ounces, by measure: Triturate the bark with a little of the water, and add the re- mainder during the trituration. Macerate for twenty-four hours, and decant the pure liquor. This is a very elegant form of exhibiting the active principles of cinchona bark, and that in which it will sit lightest on weak and delicate stomachs. The trituration directed by the Dublin, college will promote the solution. The residuum of the cold infusion may be afterwards employed in making other prepara¬ tions, especially the extract, for its virtues are by no means ex¬ hausted. But it must never be dried and sold, or exhibited in substance, for that wTould be a culpable fraud. Decoction of Cinchona Bark. (Decoctum Cinchonas Officinalis. E.) Take of cinchona bark, in powder, one ounce; - - water, one pound and a half: Boil for ten minutes in a covered vessel, and strain the liquor while hot. Decoction of Peruvian Bark. (Decoctum Corticis Peruviani. L.) Take of Peruvian bark, powdered, one ounce ; • - distilled water, one pint and three ounces : Boil for ten minutes in a covered vessel, and strain the liquoi* while hot. Decoction of Cinchona Bark. (Decoctum Corticis Cinchona3. D ) Take of Peruvian bark, in coarse powder, one ounce; • - - water, one pint: Boil for ten minutes in a vessel almost covered, and strain the liquor, while hot, through linen. Cinchona bark readily yields its active principles to the action of boiling water, and in greater quantity than cold water is ca¬ pable of retaining dissolved ; therefore when a saturated decoc¬ tion cools it becomes turbid, and there is always a deposition of a yellowish or reddish powder, while the supernatant liquor is reduced to the strength of a saturated cold infusion. Decoction, K 130 RED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. therefore, presents us with an easy means of obtaining imme¬ diately an active preparation of cinchona bark, and with one of greater strength, than a cold or even a warm infusion, provided it be drunk while tepid, and before it forms any deposition, or if the precipitate be diffused by agitation after it is formed. As the precipitate contains no woody fibre, or other inert matter, it is extremely probable, that, in very small doses, it would prove, if dried, a very powerful preparation of cinchona bark. Formerly it was supposed that the strength of a decoction of cinchona bark, and similar substances, was increased by con¬ tinuing the boiling for a great length of time ; but this is now known to be a mistake ; because water, at different tempera¬ tures, is capable of dissolving only a determinate proportion of its active principles ; and therefore, as soon as it is saturated, any further decoction is unnecessary. But moreover, these principles, when dissolved in water, are liable to be decomposed, and become inert, by the absorption of atmospheric oxygen; and this decomposition is increased by increase of temperature ; and as boiling constantly presents new surfaces to the action of the air, it is evidently hurtful when protracted longer than what is just necessary to saturate the water. Ten minutes is supposed by the colleges to be sufficient for that purpose. Tincture of Cinchona, or Peruvian Bark. (Tinctura Cinchonas Officinalis. E. Tinctura Cinchonas. D. Tinctura Corticis Peruviani. L.) Take of cinchona bark, in powder, four ounces, (six ounces, L.); - - diluted alcohol, two pounds and a half, (two pints, L. D.): Digest for seven days, and strain through paper, E. This tincture is certainly impregnated with the virtues of cin¬ chona, but not to such a degree that it can be given in sufficient doses to act as cinchona, without exhibiting more alcohol than what is proper to be given as a medicine. Indeed, we are afraid that this and other bitter and tonic tinctures, as they are called, are with some only an apology for dram-drinking, and that the most apparent effects they produce are those of a slight degree of tonic power with much of the stimulus of spirit. BED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. 131 Compound Tincture of Peruvian Bark. (Tinctura Cin- chonae, sive Corticis Peruviani composita. L. D.) Take of Peruvian bark, powdered, two ounces ; — - exterior peel of Seville oranges, dried, one ounce and a half (half an ounce, D. ) ; • - Virginian snake-root, bruised, three drachms; - - saffron, one drachm ; - cochineal, powdered, two scruples ; • - - proof spirit, twenty ounces : Digest for fourteen days, and strain. This is said to be the same with the celebrated Huxham’s tinc¬ ture of bark. As a corroborant and stomachic it is given in doses of two or three drachms, but when employed for the cure of inter- mittents it must be taken to a greater extent. Extract of Cinchona. (Extractum Cinchonas Officinalis. E.) Take of cinchona bark, in powder, one pound ; — - alcohol, four pounds: Digest for four days, and pour off the tincture. Boil the resi¬ duum in five pounds of distilled water for fifteen minutes, and filter the decoction, boiling hot, through linen. Repeat this decoction and filtration, with the same quantity of distilled wa¬ ter, and reduce the liquor, by evaporation, to the consistence of thin honey. Draw off the alcohol from the tincture, by distilla¬ tion, until it also become thick ; then mix the liquors thus in¬ spissated, and evaporate them in a bath of boiling water, satu¬ rated with muriate of soda, to a proper consistency. Extract of Peruvian Bark with the Resin. (Extractum Corticis Peruviani cum Resina. L.) Take of Peruvian bark, reduced to coarse powder, one pound ; • - rectified spirit of wine, four pints: Digest it for four days, and pour off the tincture ; boil the re¬ siduum in ten pints of distilled water to two ; then strain the tincture and decoction separately, evaporating the water from the decoction, and distilling off the spirit from the tincture, until each begins to be thickened. Lastly, mix the resinous with the aqueous extract, and make the mass fit for forming into pills, k 2 132 RED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. There are two kinds of extracts made, the hard and soft. The chapter on Extracts and Resins in the London Pharma¬ copoeia is concluded with the two following general directions : 1. AH the extracts, during the time of inspissation, must be gently agitated. 2. On all the softer watery extracts a small quantity of spirit of wine must be sprinkled. The Dublin college say,— All extracts, when they begin to get thick, ought to be frequently stirred with a clean iron spatula ; and they may be reduced to a proper thickness by means of a stove, heated for that purpose. They must be kept as much as possible excluded from the action of the air ; and the softer extracts are to be sprinkled with rectified spirit of wine. All these extracts are supposed to contain the virtues of the substances from which they are prepared, in a very pure and concentrated form ; but this supposition is probably in several instances erroneous ; and the directions for preparing them are frequently injudicious and unceconomical. As the changes which opium and aloes undergo by solution and subsequent evaporation, have never been ascertained by care¬ ful and satisfactory experiments, well-selected pieces of these substances are to be preferred to the preparations in w hich they are supposed to be purified. As a further proof of the supe¬ riority of good opium over all its preparations, I may also re¬ mark, that the latter, however well prepared, soon become mouldy, the former never. Cinchona bark is a medicine of very great importance ; but, unfortunately, the proportion of woody fibres, or inert matter, which enter into its composition is so great, that weak stomachs cannot bear it when given in quantity sufficient to produce any very powerful effects. On this account, the preparation of an extract, which may contain its active principles in a concen¬ trated form, is a desirable object. On this subject there is still much room for experiment. The London college, in its direc¬ tions, certainly errs in two important particulars : in the first plaqe, in desiring the decoction to be continued until the greatest part of the menstruum is evaporated ; and, in the second place, in separating, by filtration, the powder which separates from the decoction after it has cooled. The first error probably originated in the old idea, that, by continuing the boiling for a great length RED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. 133 of time, more of the bark would be dissolved; but it is now un¬ derstood that water is incapable of dissolving more than a certain quantity of the active principles of cinchona; and that, after the water has become saturated, by continuing the decoction we diminish the quantity of the menstruum, and therefore also di¬ minish the quantity of bark dissolved. It is not easy to account for the second error ; for, according to the old idea, that the powder which separated, on cooling, from a saturated decoction of cinchona, was a resinous substance, it surely ought not to have been rejected from what were supposed to be resinous ex¬ tracts. This precipitate is now known to be caused by the much greater solubility of its active principles in boiling than in cold water, so that the precipitate is not different from what remains in solution. Accordingly, I have found by experiment that cinchona gave at least one half more extract when the de¬ coction was conducted according to the directions of the Edin¬ burgh college. The real advantage of so expensive an agent as alcohol in preparing any of these extracts, has not been demonstrated ; and, if I be not misinformed, it is seldom employed by the apo¬ thecaries in preparing even what are called the resinous extracts. Prescriptions, with Remarks. The best forms of prescription are : R. 1. Take of bark, in powder, ounce 1-J ; Divide into twelve portions, of which take one in some milk every two hours in the interval of the ague fit; when this comes on take thirty drops of vitriolic ether and fifteen drops of lau¬ danum in a decoction of liquorice, after which frequently take a cupful of warm decoction of liquorice until the sweating is over, when resume again the bark as before. R. 2. Take of bark, in powder, - scruples 2, • - snake-root - - - scruple 1 : Make into a powder, to be taken every three hours in some porter. This is given in the advanced stage of putrid fever; some food of the farinaceous kind (not animal) is to be taken an hour after. Sometimes to the powder mixed with porter, a dessert-spoonful of yeast is added, producing a wonderful and unexpected result in cases the most forlorn. R. 3, Take of bark, in powder - - - - - scruples 2 - compound powder of chalk with opium, grains 10 5 m RED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. Form a powder, to be taken three times or four times a day. T his is excellent in obstinate diarrhcea, first evacuating with rhubarb and Colombo, equal parts, three grains every four hours. J^. 4. Take of bark, in powder, - - scruples 2, - cascarilia, in powder, - grains 10 : Form a powder, to be taken every six hours in a glass of red wine. In low nervous fevers. 5. Take of decoction of bark, — — — — lime water, equal parts, a pint: A full wine-glass is to be taken four times a day. This is found frequently to remove obstinate scabies, commonly called violent scorbutic eruption. JBark is usefully joined with calcined magnesia. Two drachms of Peruvian bark in powder, and half a drachm of calcined magnesia, were rubbed together in a mortar, with four ounces of distilled water, for the space of ten or fifteen minutes ; the water being gradually added, so as to reduce the materials in the first instance to the state of a paste. The infu¬ sion, when passed through filtering paper, is found to be pos¬ sessed of the following remarkable properties: 1st. An exceedingly deep red colour, superior to the infusion of common bark in lime water. 2d. It is more bitter and astringent to the taste even than an infusion of red bark. 3d. It produces a very deep black colour, w ith a copious pre¬ cipitation, upon the audition of a solution of sal martis ; while a similar addition to a common infusion of bark occasions a mo¬ derate discoloration and small precipitation only. 4th. It remains beautifully transparent three or four days, and is so strongly antiseptic, that at the end of a week, in summer, it had scarcely made any advances towards fermentation ; while an infusion of bark with simple water will ferment in two days. 3th. It exceeds in specific gravity the infusion of bark in lime water, in the same, or rather in a greater proportion, than that exceeds the simple infusion. In order to determine more particularly the nature of the in¬ fusion prepared by the last experiment, several additions were made to different portions of it. Being mixed in equal quantities with water impregnated with fixed air, no other effect was pro¬ duced than that of simple dilution. A small quantity of the acid of sugar, however, being added to some of the infusion, imme- RED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. 135 diately discharged the red colour, and caused a whitish precipi¬ tation : hence it is obvious that magnesia not only increases the activity of water upon bark, but is in fact dissolved itself in the water in a very small proportion. If calcined magnesia be added to an infusion of bark, prepared in the common way with simple water, it occasions no change in its colour or properties ; from which we may conclude that when bark and magnesia are rubbed together with water, in the manner before mentioned, the magnesia either enables the water to extract something from the bark, which it could not have done alone, or, what is more probable, by uniting chemically, they form a compound more active and soluble in water than pure bark. With a view of ascertaining how far the colouring matter of an infusion of bark with magnesia corresponds with the astrin- gency of it, the following experiment was made : — The clear and colourless liquor was carefully poured off from the precipitate, which the acid of sugar had occasioned when added to the infu¬ sion of bark and magnesia, and being mixed with a proper quan¬ tity of the chalybeate solution changed to a green colour only; from which circumstance it is probable that there is a close con¬ nection between the colouring matter and astringency, for the deeper the red colour of the infusion, the more complete always is the black which the chalybeate produces. Magnesia differs remarkably from lime in its action upon bark ; for, whether in a small or large quantity, it promotes the solu¬ tion, though more completely as the proportion is greater. By the addition of half a drachm, or a drachm at the utmost, how¬ ever, to two drachms of bark and four ounces of water, the full effects are obtained, and an additional quantity of the magnesia would only be wasted. I have mentioned that the magnesia, with which the experiments hitherto related, was calcined. I may add, that it was prepared by my friend Mr. Babington with the greatest care, so as to have lost more than half its weight by calcination. It was next an object to try the action of common magnesia upon bark, in order to determine how far the presence or absence of fixed air could assist in the explanation of the effects which have been enumerated. One drachm of common magnesia (which is about equal to half a drachm of the calcined) was rubbed in a mortar fifteen 136 RED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. minutes, with two drachms of bark and four ounces of pure water, in a similar manner to the infusion with calcined magnesia, and, being filtered, was subjected to all the trials which were made with that infusion. Some little difference was perceived in favour of the infusion with calcined magnesia, but the other ex¬ hibited similar properties in every respect. If. indeed, two infusions be prepared, the one with half a drachm of calcined, the other with the same quantity of common magnesia, the former will appear much stronger, the proportion of real magnesia being double; but when allowance is made for the presence of fixed air in common magnesia, all the effects may be obtained from it nearly, if not in an equal degree, with the calcined. Some experiments were next instituted with magnesia and red bark, and conducted according to the method fully described in treating of the action of this earthy substance upon common Peruvian bark, but with a very different result. It is remarka¬ ble, that in the trials w ith red bark no effects could be perceived either from common or calcined magnesia. The colour of an infusion prepared in this way (i. e. by rubbing two drachms of red bark and half a drachm of magnesia together, for fifteen minutes, with four ounces of water added in a gradual manner) is not deeper than an infusion in simple water. If, however, the magnesia and red bark be kept infused a few hours after being well rubbed, the liquor at length acquires a pretty deep red colour, but is not more bitter to the taste than the plain in¬ fusion of red bark in water. This difference in the action of magnesia upon the common and red bark, seems to point out a difference in the nature of their constituent parts *, which the other experiments were not capable of detecting. As all the substances which had acted upon quilled bark appeared to exert a more powerful action on the red, there was every reason to expect that the effects in the present instance should be similar. I confess myself rather at a loss for a satisfactory explanation of the difference, unless we suppose that the soluble parts of the red bark are already in such a state of activity as not to admit of any improvement from magnesia. * This is a valuable fact in order to detect the adulteration of this bark by colouring ingredients sometimes practised. RED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. IS 7 Many practitioners are in the habit of employing bark and lime water as a tonic in general : — Might not the calcined mag¬ nesia with bark be used as a substitute ? I have been long convinced, indeed, of the efficacy of the in¬ fusion with lime water, and am acquainted with several prac¬ titioners of experience who have frequently recourse to it with the best effects ; and with regard to the preparation with mag¬ nesia, its sensible qualities are so highly in its favour, that Dr. Saunders has been induced to administer it frequently, both in the hospital and in private practice ; and although very exten¬ sive trials would be necessary in order to form a decided con¬ clusion, those which have been hitherto made have been far from proving unfavourable to this remedy. u 1 have,” says Dr. Skeete, 66 communicated my experiments and observations to several practitioners of my acquaintance, and after a trial of the infusion, both in public and private business, i have received as satisfactory accounts from them as the nature of the subject will permit.” In short, any person who will take the trouble of pre¬ paring an infusion of bark with magnesia carefully, in the pro¬ portions and under the circumstances fully explained in the foregoing experiments, will soon be convinced, from its faste and appearance, that it must prove far more efficacious than the common infusion. The rich red colour, its transparency for three or four days, and the length of time which it remains sound, without the addition of any of the spirituous waters, are all qualifies which should operate in obtaining it an extensive application to the purposes of medicine. It appears to me to be an excellent substitute for the decoctions and infusions of the red bark, and, if this be really the case, it is no small acquisi¬ tion. Notwithstanding the remarkable strength of the infusion with lime water, that with magnesia is preferable on several ac¬ counts ; for, independent of its original superior strength, as far as experiments could direct us, it is less disagreeable to the taste, and keeps a much longer time without precipitation. We are not to suppose, however, that because the preparation of bark with lime water becomes turbid in a day or two, it loses much of its strength. It docs not appear at such a time to be in a state of fermentation, and still retains its strong bitter taste. But besides employing magnesia in infusion with bark, I would propose that they should be given more frequently in sub. 138 RED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. stance than has hitherto been the practice. Some physicians have occasionally prescribed powdered bark and magnesia, with a few grains of the aromatic confection, but with no other ex¬ pectation from the magnesia than that of obviating costiveness. I leave it to be determined by my readers, whether there are not good grounds to expect that the bark would be rendered more efficacious likewise by such a mode of exhibition. R.6. Take of decoction of bark - ounces 6, - compound tincture of bark, ounce 1, - - - bark in powder - - - drachm 1, - calcined magnesia - drachm 1 : To form a mixture. Two table-spoonfuls to be given three times a day as a very powerful tonic. R. 7. Take of the soft extract of bark - grains 15, • - purified alum in powder - grains 5, - tincture of opium - - - drops 6 : Make into a bolus, to be taken three times a day in half a glass of red wine. Excellent to check diarrhoeas. R. 8. Take of the decoction of bark - drachms 12, - tincture of bark - - drachm 1, - - syrup of Tolu - - drachm -J, - diluted vitriolic acid - drops 8 : Make into a draught, to be taken three times a day as a tonic in cases of debility. R. 9. Take of bark, in powder - ounce 1, • - syrup of ginger - as much as is sufficient: To make an electuary. The size of a nutmeg to be taken, co¬ vered with moistened wafer-paper, three or four times a day for an ague. R. 10. Take of bark, in powder - drachm J-, ■ - syrup of orange-peel, or - syrup of ginger, as much as is sufficient: Make a bolus, to be taken every two hours along with a glass of port wine, for an ague ; or at tw’elve at noon, and seven in the evening, to prevent a relapse. R. 11. Take of soft extract of bark - - drachm - essential oil of cinnamon - drops 2, - tincture of opium - drops 4: Make a bolus, to be taken every six hours. The opium is added to hinder the bark from running off by the bowels. R. 12. Take of bark, in powder - - - ounces 2, RED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. 139 Take of cammomile, in powder - ounces 1^, - rust of iron - - scruples 1, - - simple syrup - r - - as much as is suf- cient : To form an electuary, of which the size of a nutmeg is to be taken covered with wafer-paper four times a day. The addition of the iron renders it both tonic and stimulant, and produces cures in agues where the bark sometimes fails. 13. Take of soft extract of bark, drachms 2: Make into twenty-four pills : take three or four three times a day. A mild tonic. I]/. 14. Take of soft extract of bark - drachm 1^-, - - calcined zinc - grains 6, - syrup of ginger - as much as is sufficient : Form twenty pills, of which take three three times a day. The zinc adds greatly to the tonic powers of the bark. - 15. Take of soft extract of bark - drachm 1-J-, • — - opium, in powder - - grains 10, - - balsam of Peru - - drops 6 : Make into twenty-four pills, of which take three three times a day. Given in cancers, and to allay irritation without weaken¬ ing the system. 3^. 16. Take of soft extract of bark - drachms 2, • - Colombo, - - rust of iron, equal parts - drachm 1, • - simple syrup - - - - as much as is sufficient : Make into fifty pills ; take two, and gradually increase to five, three times a day. This is an excellent tonic. 1^.17. Take of decoction of bark - - ounces 6, - diluted vitriolic acid J scruple 1, - honey of roses - - - ounce 1 : Make into a gargle ; to be used, mixed with port wine, frequently during the day, in putrid sore throats. f)/. 18. Take of decoction of bark - - ounces 7, - muriated quicksilver - grains 2: Make into a gargle, to be taken every two hours. This is ex. cellent in a common sore throat, before or after it has broken. By adding to this formula two drachms of bark in powder, and an ounce of the compound tincture of bark, I have found a de¬ composition to take place, as the change of colour of the liquid 3 40 BED PERUVIAN BARK TREE. shows, owing to the muriated mercury; and in this form I have ordered a dessert-spoonful to be taken, drinking after it a cup of gruel, at twelve at noon, seven in the evening, and bed-time, and removed thereby the most obstinate cases of scabby erup¬ tions, and cases of venereal affection, without hurting the con¬ stitution, or producing salivation, the common pernicious effects of the usual application of mercury. R. 19. Take of decoction of bark ounces 7, - tincture of myrrh - drachms 2, - purified nitre - - drachms 3 : Make into a gargle. This is a sovereign method to disperse a tumiried gland, or common sore throat. By taking upon such occasions a small lump of purified nitre, and putting it into the mouth, and letting it dissolve there, and then removing it, and applying it again in a few seconds, swallowing the saliva, I have al ways for many years prevented a sore throat from forming; and sometimes 1 have added to this process the taking a tea¬ spoonful of brandy on sugar, letting the saliva pass on the side where the gland of the neck has become enlarged from cold or infection. A flannel should be put round the throat, or a stocking. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla rotate: Anthers nearly coalesced, opening at their apices by two pores : Berry two-celled. Spec. Char. Stem unarmed, shrubby, winding: Superior leaves hastate Racemes cymose. DESCRIPTION. 1 ms plant rises to four, five, or six feet in height. Branches climbing. Leaves long, oval, pointed, on the top hastate, or halbert-shaped. Flowers in loose clusters, always turning against the leaves, and avoiding the sun. Corolla composed of one petal, wheel-shaped, divided at the border into five pointed seg¬ ments, which are bent back, and of a purple colour. Promi¬ nences like dots surrounding the rim of the corolla form the nectary. The yellow anthers make a beautiful contrast to the corolla. These flowers become bilocular berries, which acquire WOODY NIGHTSHADE. SOLANUM DULCAMARA. 142 WOODY NIGHTSHADE. a bright red and inviting appearance somewhat resembling our currant, and of a bitter sweet taste. HISTORY. This climbing shrub grows common in moist hedges and on dunghills, has woody brittle stalks, and flowers in June and July. The twigs should be gathered early in spring. The taste, as the name of the plant expresses, is both bitter and sweet ; the bitterness being first perceived, and the sweetness after¬ wards ; and when fresh they have a nauseous smell. MEDICAL USE. The dulcamara was formerly much esteemed as a powerful medicine. It is in general said to increase all the secretions and excretions, to excite the heart and arteries, and, in large doses, to produce nausea, vomiting, and convulsions ; but its effects seem to differ according to the nature of the soil on which it grows, being most efficacious in warm climates, and on dry soils. It has been recommended in cutaneous affections, in rheumatic and cathartic swellings, in ill-conditioned ulcers, scrophula, in¬ durations from milk, leucorrhoea, jaundice, and obstructed men¬ struation. It has principally been employed under the form of the watery infusion of a drachm taken daily, and gradually in¬ creased to two ounces. Six ounces may be boiled in six pounds of water to four, and four or five ounces given for a dose in as much milk. In the form of extract, from five to ten grains may be given for a dose. The expressed j uice of the dulcamara is useful in inflammations and cancers. u I have seen,” says Haller, u a cancerous ulcer of the breast soften by the application of the juice upon the wound, and the leaves applied over the whole breast, and cica¬ trise afterwards perfectly, and without a return of the complaint, in a lady 70 years old. The ulcer was in the commencement, but half an inch in depth. u Bocrhaave,” adds Haller, u my illustrious master, set a great value on this plant in pleurisy and pituitous peripneu- mony, ordering his patients to drink an infusion of the twigs.” It must be here observed, that this remedy should be commenced in a small dose, for in a large one dangerous symptoms are fre¬ quently excited. This caution is given by Murray, who says, 66 Largtor dulcamarae usus initio et antequam ventriculus illl Woody nightshade. assueverit, nauseam et vomitum excitat, quin convulsiones et de¬ li ria, et, notante cl. Govan, protractam paralysin linguae.” — u A large dose of the dulcamara being given before the stomach has been accustomed to its effects, produces nausea and vomit¬ ing, also convulsions and delirium, and, as Govan observes, a protracted paralysis of the tongue.” The preparation should be as follows, according to Razou : Take of the fresh twigs of dulcamara - drachm • - clearwater ------ ounces 16: Boil to eight ounces. The dose is three or four drachms, in some milk, to be taken every four hours. An emetic and ca¬ thartic should be first premised. This obviates the necessity for bleeding, and the recovery by this mode of treatment is more rapid, and the patient is sooner able to return to his ordinary occupation. It should be given only in robust habits. Bergius recommends a decoction of its stalks, made by boiling a drachm of them from a pint to half a pint of water, to be mixed with milk, and to be taken for the cure of herpes and land scurvy, and other cutaneous diseases. Tragus considers this as a sovereign remedy for jaundice, even in the last stage. Haller mentions that it is an admirable remedy for inward bruises, and relates a case of a man who was attacked by a robber, and nearly beaten to death, who took a decoction of the stalks, and at the end of two days was cured of the most violent inward bruises, accompanied with extreme agony. The stalks are more powerful than the leaves, and a decoc¬ tion of the woody part acts as a purgative, and is recommended by Lobel as a cure of the dropsy. The berries both purge and vomit, and are extremely dangerous for children, for thirty of them being given to a dog, killed it in less than three hours. CAPSICUM ANNUUM. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla rotate : Berry without juice. Spec. Char. Stem herbaceous : Peduncle solitary. ■iiirnUF* - DESCRIPTION. This plant rises four or five feet in height. The leaves are egg-shaped, ending acute. The flowers are placed on footstalks, which bear a single flower, usually proceeding from the axilla of the leaf. The calyx consists of one leaf cut into five segments. The corolla is monopetalous, rotate, divided also into five seg¬ ments. To the flower succeeds a soft fruit, membranous, di¬ vided into two or more cells, polished, shining, in the beginning green, then becoming a bright orange, containing several flattish kidney-shaped seeds. H I STORY. This is an annual plant, a native of South America, cultivated in large quantities in our West India islands ; and even fre¬ quently in our stoves, for the beauty of its pods. GUINEA PEPPER. GUINEA PEPPER. 145 The pods of this species are long, pointed, and pendulous, at first of a green colour, and when ripe of a bright orange red. They are filled with a dry loose pulp, and contain many small, flat, kidney-shaped seeds. The taste of capsicum is extremely pungent and acrimonious, setting the mouth as it were on fire. The principle on which its pungency depends, I find, is so¬ luble in water and in alcohol, is not volatile, reddens infusions of turnsole, and is precipitated by infusion of galls, nitrate of mercury, muriate of mercury, nitrate of silver, sulphate of cop¬ per, sulphate of zinc, red sulphate of iron (but the precipitate is neither blue nor green), ammonia, carbonate of potass, and alum, but not by sulphuric, nitric, or muriatic acid, or silicized potass. Cayenne pepper is an indiscriminate mixture of the powder of the dried pods of many species of capsicum, but especially of the capsicum frutescens or bird pepper, which is the hottest of all. Cayenne pepper, as it comes to us in powder from the West Indies, changes infusion of turnsole to a beautiful green, pro¬ bably owing to the muriate of soda, which is always added to it, and to red oxide of lead, with which it is said to be mixed. MEDICAL USE. These peppers have been chiefly used as a condiment. They prevent flatulence from vegetable food, and have a warm and kindly effect in the stomach, possessing all the virtues of the oriental spices, without, according to Dr. W^ right, producing those complaints of the head which the latter are apt to occa¬ sion. An abuse of them, however, is supposed to occasion visceral obstructions, especially of the liver. In the practice of medicine they constitute one of the simplest and strongest sti¬ mulants which can be introduced into the stomach, their action not being followed by any narcotic effects. Dr. W’ right says that in dropsical and other complaints, where chalybeates are indicated, a minute portion of powdered capsicum forms an ex¬ cellent addition ; and he recommends its use in lethargic affec¬ tions. It has also been successfully employed as a gargle in cynanche maligna, when it has resisted the use of cinchona, wine, and the other remedies commonly employed. In tropical fevers, coma and delirium are common attendants; and in such cases cataplasms of capsicum have a speedy and happy effect. They redden the parts, but seldom blister, unless when kept on L 146 GUINEA PEPPER. too long. In ophthalmia from relaxation, the diluted juice of capsicum is a sovereign remedy. Dr. Adair gave six or eight grains for a dose, made into pills, or prepared a tincture, by digesting half an ounce of pepper in a pound of alcohol, the dose of which was one or two drachms diluted with water. As an aromatic of the most acrid and stimulant kind, it certainly may be found efficacious in some paralytic and gouty cases, or to promote excitement where the bodily organs are languid and torpid. Bergius gave the seeds of capsicum, with great success, in inveterate intermittents. The pungency of the taste in the mouth is removed by rinsing the mouth with vinegar and water. SMALLER CENTAURY. CHIRONIA CENTAURIUM. GENTIANA CENTAURIUM. Class V, Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla rotate : Pistil declined : Stamina sitting upon the tube of the corolla: Anthers at length, spiral : Pericarp two-celled. Spec. Char. Corolla funnel-shaped, five-cleft: Stem dichotomous: Pistil simple. DESCRIPTION. It rises from six to ten inches in height. The stalk is erect. The leaves are opposite, sessile, oblong, blunt. Flowers ter¬ minal, in bunches, of a pink or red colour. The calyx is cut into five erect small teeth. The corolla is funnel-shaped, the tube is cylindrical, and the border is divided into five egg-shaped segments. HISTORY. This plant is annual, and grows wild in many parts of En¬ gland on barren pastures. It flowers between the months of June and August. l 2 148 SMALLER CENTAURYe Neumann got from 480 parts 210 alcoholic, and 140 watery extract; and inversely, 320 watery, and 40 alcoholic. After the example of Dr. Woodville, I have separated this plant from the gentian tribe and placed it as a chironia. MEDICAL USES. Centaury is justly esteemed as one of the most efficacious bitters indigenous to this island. It is often substituted for gen¬ tian, which it much resembles. It is milder than the worm¬ wood, and holy thistle. It was formerly much used as a sto¬ machic bitter both in substance and infusion, and for the cure of intermittent fevers. It is recommended for worms, and, like chamomile, is made into tea for assisting the operation of eme¬ tics. It answers the purpose of any of the bitters, and is often taken to create an appetite ; but the long continued use of any bitter impairs the coats of the stomach, aud produces an incura¬ ble debility of that organ. BUCKTHORN. RHAMNUS CATHARTICUS. SPINA CERVINA. P. L. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx tubular : Scales arming the stamina: Corolla none : a Berry. Spec. Char. Spines terminal: Calyx four-cleft, dioecious: Leaves ovate: Stem erect, DESCRIPTION. This is a prickly bush, or low tree, common in hedges; with oval, pointed, sawed leaves. The flowers are male and female upon different plants, small, and in clusters upon simple pedun¬ cles. The calyx is funnel-shaped, divided into four spreading segments. The stamina are usually four only. It produces a round black berry containing four seeds. 150 BUCKTHORN. HISTORY. This tree, or bush, is common in hedges : it flowers in May and June, and ripens its fruit in September or the beginning of October. In our markets, the fruit of some other trees, as the blackberry-bearing alder, and the dogberry tree, have of late been frequently mixed with, or substituted for, those of buck¬ thorn. This abuse may be discovered by opening the berries ; those of buckthorn have almost always four seeds, the berries of the alder two, and those of the dogberry only one. Buck¬ thorn berries, bruised on white paper, stain it of a green colour, which the others do not. Those who sell the juice to the apo¬ thecaries are said to mix it with a large proportion of water. MEDICAL USES. Buckthorn berries have a faint disagreeable smell, and a nau¬ seous bitter taste. They have long been in considerable esteem as cathartics ; and celebrated in dropsies, rheumatisms, and even in the gout ; though in these cases they have no advantage over other purgatives, but are more offensive, and operate more severely, than many which the shops are furnished with. They generally occasion gripes, sickness, dry the mouth and throat, and leave a thirst of long duration. The dose is about twenty of the fresh berries in substance, and twice or thrice this number in decoc¬ tion ; an ounce of the expressed juice, or a drachm of the dried berries. PREPARATIONS. j The only officinal preparation ordered by the colleges is a syrup, simple as directed by the Edinburgh college, and pro¬ perly corrected by ginger and pimento by the London. Syrup of Buckthorn. (Syrupus Rhamni Cathartici. E.) Take of the juice of ripe buckthorn berries, depurated, two parts ; — — - double refined sugar, one part : Boil them so as to form a syrup. Syrup of Buckthorn. (Syrupns Spin* Cervin*. L.) Take of the fresh juice of ripe buckthorn berries, one gallon; ■ - ging©r5 bruised, one ounce ; — — — - pimento, powdered, one ounce and a half; . — double refined sugar, seven pounds : BUCKTHORN. 151 Set aside the juice for three days, that the faeces may subside ; and then strain it. Macerate the ginger and pimento in a pint of the strained juice for four hours, and filter. Boil away the rest of the juice to three pints ; then add that part of the juice in which the ginger and pimento have been macerated, and form a syrup of it with the sugar. Both these preparations, in doses of three or four spoonfuls, operate as brisk cathartics. The principal inconveniencies at¬ tending them are their being very unpleasant, and their occa¬ sioning a thirst and dryness of the mouth and fauces, and some¬ times violent gripings ; these effects may be prevented by drink¬ ing liberally of water-gruel, or other warm liquids, during the operation. It is seldom employed alone, but to give power to other pur¬ gatives, except in dropsies. The juice dried produces for the painter their sap green3 a very fine dark green, but not very durable. RED CURRANT. RIBES RUBRUM. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Petals five : Stamina inserted into the calyx : Styles two-cleft: Berry many-seeded beneath. Spec. Char. Stem unarmed : Racemes smooth, pendulous : Flowers some¬ what flat, DESCRIPTION. This bushy shrub grows four or five feet in height. Leaves are serrated, divided into five or seven lobes, of a pale green, standing upon hairy long footstalks. The calyx consists of a single leaf divided into five reflexed segments, of a yellowish green colour. The corolla is composed of five small upright petals, of a yellowish colour, inserted into the calyx. The fruit is a round shining red berry (or white) containing many seeds. HISTORY. This shrub grows wild in England, and is very generally cul¬ tivated for the sake of its pleasant subacid fruit. The juice of the fruit contains saccharine matter, malic and citric acids, and a substance scarcely soluble in cold water, very soluble in hot water, and coagulating into the form of a jelly as it cools. By BED CURRANT. 155 boiling currant-juice with a sufficient quantity of sugar to absorb the acid watery parts, the whole forms, on cooling, an uniform jelly, which is often used as an acid demulcent in sore throats ; and, dissolved in water, forms a pleasant cooling drink in feverish complaints. The juice, fermented with a proper quantity of .sugar, affords a very palatable wine, much improved by keep¬ ing, even for twenty years, when it possesses the taste and pro¬ perties of champaigne. It is made thus PREPARATIONS. Currant Wine. Take four gallons of cold water to four of bruised currants, - picked carefully from their stalks ; let these stand together for four days, then strain them off, and mix three pounds and a half of brown sugar, or white sugar, which is greatly to be preferred, to each gallon of diluted currant- juice ; stir it well, then put it into a cask, and add also a piece of toasted bread spread over with yeast, which will ferment it ; after this is over bung it up very tight, and it will be ready for bottling off in six months, and for domestic use after six months keeping in the bottle. The white currant alone produces the best wine, when it is clear like champaigne, and sparkles as much j but it is oftener made of red currants, when it has the appearance of mountain grape wine, or the two are mixed together. Respecting the properties of these wines, I have often ordered the old white currant wine in putrid fevers and in calculous affections, and it exceeded all expectation. There can be no doubt but these home¬ made wines would be an excellent substitute for the more expen¬ sive foreign, provided they were kept a sufficient length of time, and properly fermented : but home-made wine, when new and ill made, is very apt to ferment upon the stomach, and thus disorder the whole frame. — But more upon the subject of these wines in our next article. If equal weights of picked currants and pure sugar are put over the fire, the liquor that separates spontaneously is a most agreeable jelly. The regular mode of preparing currant jelly is as follows : — - Currant Jelly. Take some ripe red currants, with one third of white ; pick, and put them into a preserving-pan over a good fire, to dissolve; run their liquor through a flannel bag, and to a pint of juice 154 BED CURRANT. add fourteen ounces of sifted sugar; boil quick, skim, and re¬ duce to a good thickness, which may be known by putting a little into a saucer and setting it in cold water. Jelly is contained in the juices of several acid fruits, particu¬ larly currants. It is deposited from them in the form of a soft tremulous mass, almost colourless, and agreeable to the taste. It is scarcely soluble in cold water, but very soluble in hot water ; and when the solution cools, it again assumes a gela¬ tinous state. With sugar its combination is well known. By long boiling it loses this property of congealing. When dried, it becomes transparent, hard, and brittle, resembling gum. It combines with the alkalies, and is converted by the nitric acid into oxalic acid. In the dry state of the fauces and tongue it is excellent, and to give children after medicine, or to mix some powders with it, especially calomel. BLACK CURRANT. RIBES NIGRUM. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia, Essent. Gen. Char. Petals five ; Stamens inserted into the calyx: Styh two-cleft: Berry many-seeded beneath. ■Spec. Char. Stem unarmed: Racemes hairy : Flowers oblong. DESCRIPTION. This shrub rises from five to six feet in height. The leaves ar« commonly divided into three lobes, irregularly serrated. On the under side are small glands, which secrete a peculiarly smelling fluid. The flowers are on pendant bunches, upon slender foot¬ stalks, placed alternate on the raceme. The calyx is cut into five segments. The corolla consists of five roundish petals. The berries are black. MEDICAL VIRTUES. It is a wholesome fruit, and a gentle aperient. The leaf applied to a gouty limb is said greatly to assuage pain and in¬ flammation of the part. The inner bark of this, and also of the red currant and gooseberry, made into a decoction, is a popular 156 BLACK CURRANT. remedy in jaundice, and, with some medical men, for dropsy* But the chief use is from the following PREPARATIONS. Black Currant Wine. The currants should be gathered on a dry day, when quite ripe; strip them, put them into a large pan, bruise them with a wooden pestle, and let them stand twenty-four hours to fer¬ ment: then rub it through a hair sieve, but do not let the hand touch the liquor. To every gallon of this liquor stir in two pounds and a half of white sugar, and put it into a vessel. To every six gallons add one quart of brandy, and let it stand six weeks. If fine, bottle it ; if not, draw it off clear into another vessel, or large bottles ; and, in a fortnight, bottle it up for use. Another Way .—Take four gallons of currants, not too ripe, strip them into an earthen stein with a cover to it ; then take two gallons and a half of water, and five pounds and a half of sugar ; boil the sugar and water together, and well skim it ; then pour it boiling on the currants, and let it stand forty-eight hours; afterwards strain it through a flannel bag into the vessel again, and let it stand a fortnight to settle : then bottle it off. Black Currant Jelly. This is made as the red, which see (p. 153). There is nothing which relieves sore throats more than this jelly, it deterges, to use the medical expression, and abates thirst and fever. Barley water is frequently acidulated with it, which makes a most refreshing drink in all fevers. It is particularly serviceable in the low stages of typhus fevers. Syrup of Black Currants. (Syrupus Ribis Nigri.) Take of the juice of black currants, strained, two pints; - double refined sugar, fifty ounces: Dissolve the sugar, and boil to make a syrup. A tea-spoonful of this is given to children in the thrush. COMMON VINE. VITIS VINIFERA. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Petals adhering at their apices, withered : Seed five-seeded, above. Spec. Char. Leaves lobate, sinuate, naked. DESCRIPTION. The Tine rises to a considerable height, and climbs by means of tendrils. The leaves are deeply serrated, commonly divided into three lobes, having long footstalks. The calyx is cut into five segments. The petals are five, whitish, and soon drop. The fruit is a large round berry of one cell, and has five hard seeds of an irregular form. HISTORY. 1. The hardy vines, which ripen in August, are, the black July grape ; black sweet-water white ditto ; black Corinth, or cur¬ rant. 2. In September, the early white muscadine; white musca¬ dine royal, or chasselas blanc; white lc cour grape, or musk chasselas; red chasselas; red ditto; black Burgundy; black Frontignac; black cluster, having hoary whitish leaves, and short compact clusters. 158 COMMON VINE. 3. Ripening in October, red Hamburgh, black ditto. The grapes of both large. Tender vines, seldom ripening unless the autumn proves very- warm and mild ; and are therefore often planted against hot- wails. hot-houses, and forcing-frames. 1. Ripening in September, red Frontiniac; grisly ditto ; white ditto; white muscat of Alexandria; red ditto. Ripening in October, St. Peter’s ; Tokay ; white Syrian exceeding large cluster); red raisin ; white ditto; claret. The hot-house ripens some of the early sorts in May and June, others in July and August. The vine, besides in England, grows in temperate situations ia many parts of the world, and is cultivated very generally for the sake of its agreeable subacid fruit. Before they are ripe, grapes are extremely harsh and acid, and by expression furnish a liquor which is called verjuice. It contains malic acid, super-tartrate of potass, and extractive, and may be made to furnish wine by the addition of sugar. Raisins,— As the grape advances to maturity, the quantity of sugar in it increases, while that of malic acid diminishes: by this means not only the water they contained is dissipated, but the quanfity of acid seems to be diminished. They become more saccharine, mucilaginous, and laxative than the recent grape, but are less cooling. PREPARATIONS. Raisin Wine. To one gallon of water put six gallons of sun raisins ; let it stand in a tub twelve days, stir frequently, press the raisins as dry as possible, and put the liquor into a cask of the proper size : to ten gallons put a quart of brandy. If you wish to make it very rich, yon may put seven pounds of raisins to a gallon, and dissolve five pounds of sugar-candy in the liquor, before you put it into the barrel ; when made thus it must stand longer, and is scarcely inferior to any foreign wine. Sherry. (Vinum album Iiispanum. E. Vinum. L.) Wine is the juice of the grape altered by fermentation. The numerous varieties of wine depend principally on the proportion of sugar contained in the must, and the manner of its fermenta¬ tion. When the proportion of sugar is sufficient, and the fer- COMMON TINE. I5S mentation complete, the wine is perfect and generous : if the quantity of sugar be too large, part of it remains undecomposed, as the fermentation is languid, and the wine is sweet and luscious ; if, on the contrary, it be too small, the wine is thin and weak ; and if it be bottled before the fermentation be completed, it will proceed slowly in the bottle, and, on drawing the cork, the wine will sparkle in the glass, as, for example, Champaigne. When the must is separated from the husk of the grape before it is fermented, the wine has little or no colour : these are called white wines. If, on the contrary, the husks are allowed to remain in the must while the fermentation is going on, the al¬ cohol dissolves the colouring matter of the husks, and the wine is coloured : such are called red wines. Besides, in these prin¬ cipal circumstances wines vary much in flavour. The red wines most commonly drunk in this country are Port, which is strong and austere, containing much tannin, and claret, which is thin¬ ner and higher flavoured. Our white wines are all strong, Ma¬ deira, Sherry, Lisbon, Malaga, and Hock. Of these Hock is the most acidulous, and Malaga the sweetest. MEDICAL USE. Wine, taken in moderate quantities, acts as a beneficial sti¬ mulus to the whole system. It promotes digestion, increases the action of the heart and arteries, raises the heat of the body, and exhilarates the spirits. Taken to excess, it produces in¬ ebriety, which is often succeeded by head-ach, stupor, nausea, and diarrhoea, wrhich last for several days. Habitual excess in wine debilitates the stomach, produces inflammation of the liver, weakens the nervous system, and gives rise to dropsy, gout, apoplexy, and cutaneous affections. One cannot but lament that a remedy so extremely useful should be so difficult to procure genuine, for it is a known fact that dear things are always sophisticated ; and I would here remark, that Providence has. with consummate wisdom diversified climates, and hence productions, to create a spirit of intercourse, barter, or trade; and that when anyr government, through a narrow, contracted, sneaking jealousy, prohibits by duties the purchase of such a necessary as wine, of a neighbour, that this act is a sin against the omnipotent Creator, and productive to mankind of the highest calamity, and all good men should endeavour to open the eyes of such rulers, and make them sensible of both the wicked- 160 COMMON VINE. ness and impolicy of such envious jealousy. Peace and good will should prevail throughout the world, and we shall ever find, that if our neighbours the French be rich, they would be less inclined to do us an injury and go to war than when poor ; and it is worthy of remark, that the French once thought them¬ selves so wretched in their own poor soil, that they invaded Italy, and, bringing thence some vines, the whole country has become a vineyard, and more delicious wine is produced in France alone than in all the world beside. In Italy an useful oil is drawn from the grape stones. In order to separate the seeds from the husks and refuse matter, the mash is put into a bucket with some water and worked about with the hands until the seeds, from their superior weight, have fallen to the bottom of the vessel. They are then to be removed and dried in the sun, or by any other way, as soon as possible : when a sufficient quantity is collected, the whole is to be ground in the same kind of mill that is used for hemp- and cole-seed : being then cold drawn, a fine oil is procured, which is scarcely di¬ stinguishable from common olive oil. The refuse matter, being scalded in a little hot water, yields a fresh portion of oil, though of an inferior quality, which burns excellently well in a lamp, giving out no unpleasant odour, and very little smoke. I recollect somewhere to have read of a person who took the loppings or prunings of the vine and made excellent vinegar from the same, and even wine with the aid of sugar. COMMON LUNGWORT. PULMONARIA OFFICINALIS, Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen, Char. Corolla funnel-shaped, pervious in the throat: Calytc prismatic five -angled. Spec. Char. Leaves radical, ovate-cordate, hairy. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises to a foot in height. Stem is erect, rough. Leaves oblong, pointed, rough, with white spots on the upper surface. The flowers are reddish and purple. The calyx con. sists of one leaf, divided on the top into five points. The corolla is cut in the margin into five obtuse segments. The seeds are four, lodged in the bosom of the permanent calyx. M 162 COMMON LUNGWORT. HISTORY. It is a plant common enough in hedges, and in shady and rather moist situations. It flowers in May. From its beauty it has obtained a place in our gardens. MEDICAL VIRTUE. It is a popular remedy, as Dr. Woodville observes, probably from its spotted foliage, resembling in this the freckled appear¬ ance of the lungs. It is not admitted into our Pharmacopoeias, and might have been rejected by me, unless the illustrious Haller had said that its viscous juice, possessing some degree of acidity, had been found of use to take off a dryness of the throat, and in a case of cough, accompanied with spitting of blood. COMMON GROMWELL. LITHOSPERMUM OFFICINALE. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla funnel-shape, neck perforate, naked : Calyx five-parted. Spec. Char. Corolla scarcely exceeding the calyx : Leaves lanceolate : Seeds polished. DESCRIPTION. The stem is erect, and beset with short bristly hairs. The leaves are alternate, sessile, pointed, hairy beneath, and studded with cartilaginous tubercles above. The flowers are of a pale yellow colour. The calyx is divided into five segments. The corolla is monopetalous, funnel-shaped, mouth naked, its border is cut into five blunt teeth. The seeds are four, egg-shaped, shining and extremely hard, m 2 164 COMMON GROMWELL. HISTORY. It grows in England on a dry gravelly soil. Its flowers ap¬ pear in May and June. The seeds have the most exquisite polish, and are of a stony hardness and appearance. Hence Pliny, speaking of these, says, u Nec quicquam inter herbas ma- jore quidem miraculo aspexi. Tantus est decor, velut aurificum arte alternis inter folia candicantibus margaritis : tarn exquisita difficultas lapidis ex herba nascentis.” MEDICAL USE. As the lungwort gained its reputation and trial from the re¬ semblance to the lungs, so superstition thought that Providence pointed out this as a remedy against the stone, the seeds being made to indicate such virtue, being stones themselves. Haller says that these effervesce with an acid. The fact is, that the internal part is of the nature of almonds, with more oil in it, and a decoction of the seed of the lithospermum is lubricating, and hence beneficial in the stone and strangury. Murray says of this remedy, Lotum movere hisce quidem credo, et in stranguria efficere aliquid posse, quum ob nucleum emulsive naturae est.” The root is used by ladies as paint. OFFICINAL BUGLOSS, OR ALKANET. ANCHUSA OFFICINALIS. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla funnel-shaped, the throat closed by promi¬ nences : Seed hollowed at the base. Spec. Char. Leaves lanceolate, rough : Spikes both lateral and terminal imbricated : Calyx live-parted. DESCRIPTION. The plant rises about two feet. Leaves alternate, narrow, lanceolate, rough, hairy. Flowers purple. Calyx rough, cut into five acute segments. Corolla funnel-shaped. Limb cut into five obtuse segments. Seeds four. HISTORY. This plant is seldom found wild in England, but is common on the continent, and is cultivated in our gardens. It arranges under the natural order Asperifoliai. MEDICAL USE. Boerhaave, speaking of this plant, says : u In tussi invete- 166 OFFICINAL BUGLOSS, OR ALKANET. rata et omnibus morbis pulmonum prodest, folia et radices in decoctis pectoralibus adhibentur, succus ejus cum magno suc- cessu in pleuritide datur.” — <£ A decoction of the leaves and root of the alkanet is advantageous in inveterate coughs, and all dis¬ orders of the chest. It is both demulcent and pectoral, and the expressed juice is given with great success in pleurisy.” Cliomel relates, that boiled with milk it is efficacious in dysentery. Being of a glutinous nature, it is probable that it may be of some use, although of no great medical virtue. What surprises most is the vaunted accounts of its efficacy in the cure of melancholia and other hypochondriacal diseases. But then it must be steeped in strong ale and wine :—u Quo vino inditum animi voluptatis augere, hilaritatemque offerre creditur.” — Dios. 1. iv. c. 128. Hence it is reckoned as one of the four grand cordial flowers. But as Dr. Woodville justly observes, the efficacy of warm water as a diluent, and of wine as a true cordial, cannot be denied, and this will explain to us the varied accounts of certain plants acting according to the vehicle employed. COMMON BUGLOSS, BORAGO OFFICINALIS. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla rotate : the throat closed with rays. Spec. Char. Calyx patent : all the leaves alternate. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises to two feet, stalk much branched. Leaves undulate, hairy, ciliate, vaginant. Flowers conspicuous, blue, pendent. Calyx cut into five segments, permanent. Corolla monopetalous, wheel-shaped. Border cut into five large spread¬ ing pointed segments. The mouth closed with five prominences, blunt, notched at the end. The calyx serves the office of cap¬ sule, and contains the seeds, which are four, of an irregular shape. HISTORY. It is a perennial plant, and although not indigenous to this climate, has stolen out of the gardens, and is to be found in waste grounds and on old walls, usually near the residence of man. Bolduc relates, that a decoction of borage leaves, evapo¬ rated to the consistence of a syrup, and set by for a few days, yielded saline crystals, partly in form of fine needles, and partly 168 COMMON BCCLOSS. cubical ; that the needled crystals were found to be perfect nitre, and the cubical sea salt : that by passing the decoction through quicklime before the inspissation, both salts were obtained in greater purity and larger quantity i that the substance of the leaves remaining after the boiling being dried and burnt, and the ashes elixated with water, the lye, properly evaporated and set to shoot, yielded first a vitriolated tartar, and afterwards sea salt ; the liquor after the crystallization also proved alkaline. Common observation also shows that this plant, if dry, and put upon the fire, emits a sort of coruscations, with a slight de¬ tonation in the burning, which points out the nitre it contains. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The borage is esteemed as one of the four grand cardiac plants* But then it must be mixed with wine. Vinum potatum quo sit macerata buglossa, Moerorem cerebri dicunt auferre periti. Schol. Salem, c. xxi. But its real use is in the composition of a ptisan to aid the operation of Nature, or rather as substituting what is bland and unirritating for the usual stimulus of food to allay action. Hence it is found of service in colds, and all inflammatory affections, as a diluting drink. In this way it may answer the high enco¬ mium on it given by Boerhaave: — u Hasc planta contra bilem exasperatam vobis commendabo, succus expressus saporem spu- mantem refert sine ulla acrimonia, 11am est subdulcis, saponaceus, et pro summo solamine in morbis adhibetur, si cum sero lactis vel syrupo citri gratior redditus diluatur, turn in omni morbo inflammato, podagra, phrenitide, paraphrenitide, et peripneu¬ monia convenit.” According to Dr. Woodville and others, the diluent does the business, and the use of such kind of herbs is only to cloak the aqueous fluid in the appearance of a medicine. Under the idea that it is cooling, it is put into a mixture of cider, water, and lemon-juice, with some wine added, when it has the emphatic appellation of a cool tankard, and this is drunk jn the middle of summer as a most cooling refreshing drink. Malouiu remarks, that the juice of the leaves, which is not green like that of most other herbs, but of a brown colour, added to the bitter mixtures of the juices of cresses, chervil, &c. takes off their unpleasantness. Dr. Withering remarks, that the young and tender leaves are good in sallads, or as a pot-herb. / VOMIC NUT, OR POISON NUT. STRYCHNOS NUX VOMICA. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla five-cleft: Berry one-celled, with a ligneous bark. Spec. Char. Leaves ovate : Stem unarmed. DESCRIPTION. It is a large tree. The young branches have a gouty appear¬ ance. The leaves are in pairs, upon short footstalks, ovate, with three or five ribs. The flowers are terminal in a fascicular kind of umbel. Calyx tubular, five-toothed. Corolla mono- petalous, tube cylindric, the border cut into five segments. Ill STO RY- It is a native of the East Indies, and was introduced into Eng¬ land in 1770 by Dr. Russel. The nut is flat, round, about an inch broad, and near a quarter of an inch thick, with a promi¬ nence of a gray colour, covered externally with woolly, and in¬ ternally with hard and tough like horn, and remarkably bitter. 170 VOMIC NUT, Oil POISON NUT. VIRTUES. It has been given and recommended by foreign physicians as a vermifuge, in rheumatism, gout, canine madness, dysentery, and mania ; but such powerful remedies require a very cautious hand, and more facts in their favour, before we would recom¬ mend their application. The nux vomica is chiefly employed for the destruction of vermin. It is quickly fatal to dogs^ hares, foxes, wolves, rab¬ bits : and Loureiro relates, that a horse died in four hours after taking a drachm of the seed. From examination after death, it appears that it does not act upon the stomach or bowels, but immediately on the nerves by its narcotic power. A scruple will destroy a large dog, and four grains has killed a cat. In a small quantity it is fatal to rats, which are readily destroyed by the following method - In or near the place frequented by rats, place on a slate or tile one or two table-spoonfuls of dry oatmeal. Lay it thin, and press it flat, that it may be easily ascertained what is taken away. The rats, if not interrupted, will come regularly there to feed; supply them with fresh oatmeal for two or three days; and then, well mixing, in about six table-spoonfuls of dry oatmeal, three drops of oil of aniseeds, feed them with it for two or three days more. Afterward, for one day, give them half the quan¬ tity of this scented oatmeal which they have before eaten ; and, next day, the following mixture: To four ounces of dry oatmeal, scented with six drops of oil of aniseeds, add half an ounce of the poison-nut powder, pounded very fine in a mortar, and sifted through fine muslin. Mix this with the scented oatmeal ; lay it on the tile or slate, let the rats eat it, without interruption, for twenty-four hours. A few hours after eating any of it, they will be seen running about, as if drunk or paralytic ; but they generally, at last, retire to their haunts, and die. When they have, during the twenty-four hours, eaten only a small portion, leave the remainder of the mixture twenty-four hours longer ; after which it will be best to burn what is left, a fresh mixture being prepared at so trifling an expense when wanted. The doors of the place where the mixture is exposed to the rats, should be kept shut, to prevent them from being disturbed, and to keep children and domestic animals from getting at it. COMMON WINTER CHERRY. PHYSALIS ALKEKENGI. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla rotate : Stamina conniving : Berry within the calyx, inflated, bilocular. Spec. Char. Leaves in pairs, entire, acute : Stem herbaceous, beneath subramous. DESCRIPTION. The root of this plant is perennial, but it dies down every year. The leaves are alternate, sometimes two together, of an irregular shape, undulated, pointed, veined. Calyx permanent, becoming a large, orbicular, pentangular, inflated membrane, encompassing the berry, which is two-celled, and contains nu¬ merous flat kidney-shaped seeds. HISTORY. It is a native of the south of Europe, common in our gardens, and has been cultivated ever since the time of Gerarde, in 1597. It flowers from July till September, and ripens its fruit in Oc¬ tober. 172 COMMON WINTER CHERRY. MEDICAL USES. This is also one of the plants discarded from the Pharmaco¬ poeias ; and we might be tempted to follow the routine of fa¬ shion, unless the great Boerhaave had said u it was good in fe¬ vers, and disorders of the kidneys.” u Baccae habent succum vinosum penetrantissimum, similem succum citri vel vini ; hinc in febribus ardentibus laudatur, hie succus quoque est diureticus, ergo in morbis renum commenda- tur, et quidem optimus est, quia nil in nostro corpore nisi sola urina, quae in putredinem alcalinam vergit, hinc alcalia diuretica vobis semper sint suspecta. Baccae exsiccatae, in pollinem con- tritae et vino infusae est summum diureticum, quod etiam al- vum movet, sic etiam contra calculum laudatur, valet contra omnes morbos ardentes vi smt refrigerante, semina exsiccata et contrita cum saccharo ad unciam dimidiam sunt optima in om¬ nibus renum morbis, instar thee et coffe adhibita renes purgunt, baccae valent contra sanguinem congrumatum, icterum, strangu- riam, urinae remoram arthritidem et hydropem ; fumus seminis ore exceptus mire prolicit vermiculos ex dentis cavo ; ex baccis hunt trochisci option.” The dose is six to twelve berries, or an ounce of their ex¬ pressed juice. There is no danger that can be derived from a larger number, as in Spain and Switzerland they frequently sup¬ ply the place of other edible fruit. Ray, our countryman, whose medical knowledge was tem¬ pered with superstition, mentions, that a gouty person prevented the returns of this disorder by eating eight of these cherries at each change of the moon. It is some knowledge, however, to know, that should chil¬ dren, or any other person, foolishly be invited to taste of this fruit, they will not surely die; for if not their medical virtues, their innocency has been abundantly proved. MANDRAKE. ATROPA MANDRAGORA. Class V. Penlandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essext. Gex. Char. Corolla campanulate: Stamina distant: Berry glo¬ bular, two-celled. Spec. Char. No stem: Scape one-flowered. DESCRIPTION. A small plant. Leaves radical, ovate, veined, waved; at first erect, afterwards resting on the ground. Flowers large, whitish^ Calyx five-cleft, segments pointed. Corolla deeply cut into five segments. Berry large. Root fusiform. HISTORY. Native of the southern parts of Europe, flowers in March and April. Cultivated with us, according to Turner, in 1562. MEDICAL USE. This is one of the plants of which such strange things are re¬ ported. Its root frequently dividing into two below, and shoot¬ ing out fusiform radicles, on each side, gave a resemblance to a man, and being aided by art, this likeness was rendered so com- 174 MANDRAKE. plefce as to deceive the multitude by such an extraordinary vege® table production. The possessor of such wonders reported, that it was death to dig up the root; that screams were heard when these became wounded ; and that they were to be drawn out by means of a dog, which perished ; and in this way only they could be extracted. u Ferunt has praestantissimas radices non sine periculo manu effodi, quapropter eas primum confodiendum esse, ita ut mini¬ mum ex radice terra sit conditum, dein ab ea religandum canem, a quo postea fugiente radix extrahitur et sequitur, sed non adeo longe, quandoquidem statim atque effossa est, canis moritur : nullum postea accipientibus amplius metum esse, imo summe proficuas esse, maleficia et infortunia quaecunque avertendo, et felicitates quascunque desiderabiles afferendo.” — GeolF, u As an amulet this root was deposited on the mantle-pieces to avert misfortune, and bring to the possessor every desirable felicity:” — so degraded once was the Materia Medica, filled with such absurd and ridiculous fancies ! This root is anodyne and soporific ; hence our immortal bard makes Othello say, after his destruction of Desdemona, • - Not poppy nor mandragora, Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world, Shall ever medicine me to that sweet sleep Which I had yesterday. By this it appears it was formerly given in the form of a syrup, and in powder it has been administered for this purpose in the dose of three or four grains of the dried root. A tincture has been employed, but the extract might answer better. Boer- liaave mentions, that even the smell of the plant induces sleep : — u Ease planfa loco clauso illata somnum conciliat iis qui dor- mire non poterant, hinc odore dicitur somnum excitare.” It has been employed by the ancients in maniacal cases ; and Pallas mentions its frequent use in dreadful chronic disorders, which require the alleviation of some powerful drug. Hoffberg advises its use in u gout,” in the dose of a scruple three times a day ; a disease that bathes the ordinary remedies, and its unhappy sufferers are too often doomed to become the martyrs of dangerous experiments, which debilitate the habit, stop for a time the progress of a disease perhaps salutary to the patient, but soon after he finally sinks under some other more dreadful malady. MANDRAKE. 175 In the king’s evil, scrophulous or glandular affections, the leaves boiled with milk are reported by the great Boerhaave as beneficial : 66 Folia ejus cum lacte in cataplasmatis formam cocta conducunt in omnibus tumoribus scrophulosis et scirrhosis.” Woodville reports, that the berries of the mandrake may be eaten without producing any bad effects, from the authority of Ray. Boerhaave makes it doubtful: u Fructus comestus di- citur vitam extinguere, verum clari viri in Gallia publice sine noxa ederunt baccas.” Haller says, that Rhazes relates, that such as have eaten the berries of the mandragora, have felt a heaviness of the head, and that five of these apples have pro¬ duced syncope and other dangerous symptoms, which he has cured; and that modern authors, worthy of credit, confirm the report of its soporific effects, and sometimes producing convul¬ sions and violent maniacal fury. Respecting the root Haller relates, that a priest having chewed it for liquorice root, it pro¬ duced cardialgia, syncope, and almost mortal delirium. Such contradictory reports merit inquiry. Perhaps next to an emetic, acids may counteract this poison. DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. ATROPA BELLADONNA. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla campanulate : Stamina distant: Berry glo¬ bular, two-celled. Spec. Char. Stem herbaceous : Leaves ovate, entire. DESCRIPTION. Root very thick, whitish, sending forth strong purple-coloured stems, from three to five feet high. Leaves of an unequal size, entire, oval, pointed, in pairs, on short or hardly any foot¬ stalks. Flowers of a dark purple, large, pendant, bell-shaped, furrowed, the border of which is cut into five segments. HISTORY. • I This plant is common in stony waste grounds, and flowers in DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. 177 June or July, and its berries ripen in September, when it ac¬ quires a shining black colour. It is supposed to be the 'Zrpij^vog lj.cLviy.bg of Dioscorides, and has been long known as a very fatal poison. MEDICAL VIRTUES. Ray found, by applying the leaves of the belladonna near the eye, a remarkable relaxation of the uvea was produced. Sau- vages (Nosol.) supposes that the belladonna was the plant which produced such strange and dreadful effects upon the Roman sol¬ diers during their retreat, under the command of Anthony, from the Parthians : they are said to have u suffered great distress for want of provisions, and were urged to eat unknown plants ; among others, they met with an herb that was mortal ; he that had eaten of it lost his memory and his senses, and employed himself wholly in turning about all the stones he could find ; and, after vomiting up bile, fell down dead.” — Plutarch’s Life of An¬ thony. The Scotch historian Buchanan relates, that the Scots mixed a quantity of the juice of the belladonna (Solanum som- niferum) with the bread and drink which by their truce they were to supply the Danes with, which so intoxicated them that the Scots killed the greatest part of Sweno’sarmy while asleep. — Lib. vii. Ray relates a curious instance of the effects of this plant in the following words (Hist. Plant, p. 680) : — 66 Accidit, ni fallor, tempore pontificis maximi Urbani ultimi, ut quidam de famulitio cardinalis magni nominis (ut mihi hie Auguste retulit ejus hor- tulanus) infunderit in vino Malvatico herbam illam quam Bellam Donnam vocant, daturam alias per noctem ut ejus herb* effectus discerent; infusum hoc propinarunt cuidam fratri mendicanti ex conventu S. Hieronymi, qui Patavii Fratrum ignorantias dicitur, a primo breve delirium, cachinni, gesticulationes variae ; dein * insania vera, post stupor mentis qualis est ebriorum vigilantium. Cardinalis pro ebrio in carcere includit ; deinde a medico qui rem subolfecerat innocens pronuntiatur, qui aceti cyatho pro- pinato, & dementia quam Bella Donna causavit eum liberat.”— Hachstellerus Decad. 7 ob. And Shakespeare, in his Macbeth, makes Banquo say, 44 Or have we eaten of the insane root That takes the reason pYisoner i” N 178 DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. The number of these berries necessary to produce deleterious effects may probably depend upon the state of maturity in which they are eaten : if not more than three or four be swal¬ lowed, according to Haller’s account no bad consequence en¬ sues : u Baccae sapore fatuo dulci possunt absque noxa edi si numerus tres quatuorve non excesserit: plures etiam a studioso medicinse Coloniensi nomine Simonis vidi deglutiri.”- — Hal. Stirp. Helv. No. 579. But when a greater number of the berries are taken into the stomach, scarcely half an hour elapses before violent symptoms supervene; viz. vertigo, delirium, great thirst, painful degluti¬ tion, and retching, followed by furor, stridor dentium, and con¬ vulsions ; the eye-lids are drawn down, the uvea dilated and im¬ movable*; the face becomes red and tumid, and spasms affect the mouth and jaw ; the general sensibility and irritability of the body suffer such great diminution, that the stomach often bears large and repeated doses of tart. emet. (gr. 14.) without being brought into action ; the pulse is small, hard, quick, and subsultus tendinum, risus sardonicus et coma, generally precede death. The body being opened, inflammation has been disco¬ vered in the intestines, mesentery, and liver, (Comm. Nor, 1743, p. 61.) And Boulduc, (Hist, de PAcad. des Sc. de Paris, 1703, p. 56,) found the stomach of a child eroded in three places. It may be necessary to remark, that vinegar, liberally drunk, has been found very efficacious in obviating the effects of this poison ; evacuations should, however, be always first premised. The great Boerhaave relates, u that one berry alone is fatal, that a gardener was hanged for neglecting removing these plants, and that there is only one antidote known, — honey mixed with water, and a clyster of honey and oil.” His words are : u Ham planta est vencnatissima, nam si homo unicam baccam comedat, ilico convellitur, si plus, moritur, neque remedium contra hoc venenum notnm est, ut tristissimo casu hie in Batavia coutigit, ut pueri allecti pulchritudine harum baccarum comederit, et brevi suffocati mortui sint, sic et in Aula Hetrusca accidit, ubi tres pueri inde mortui sunt, qua de re hortulanus, cui jussiun erat has venenatas plantas cavere, suspendio fuit plexus; unicum * From this effect of dilating the pupil, professor Reimar was induced to employ the belladonna before performing the operation for the cataract? by dropping some of the infusion into the eye. DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. 179 tantum est remedium, quod est mel cum aqua, in magna copia, et clysma ex roelle et oleo ; externe conducit in tumoribus re- solvcndis.” Conrad Gesner, the greatest genius of the age he lived in, who almost merits the proud appellation of the father of botany, had the superior courage to try the expressed juice of this plant : boiled with sugar, and taken to the amount of a tea-spoonful, it imitated the operation of opium, and cured in him a most vio¬ lent dysentery. Lambergen cured with the belladonna infused in water, by the dose of two grains, increased to four daily, a true cancer. Junker succeeded in the same manner. Vandenblock re¬ moved also a cancerous tumour of the breast by the internal use of the belladonna. Degner dissipated a cancer of the breast, and cured an ulcer of the leg arising from the bite of a leopard. Nor must we omit here the experience of our own practi¬ tioners, Bromfiekl and Gataker, the latter of whom found it be¬ neficial in the hooping cough. In the Phil. Trans, vol. i. p. 77, mention is made of a woman being cured of a cancer in her breast, by taking a tea-cupful of an infusion of the dried leaves every morning. The complaint at first grew worse, but after persevering some time in the use of the medicine, the symptoms abated, and in about half a year she was perfectly well. The infusion was made by pouring ten tea-cupfuls of boiling water on twenty grains of the dried leaves, and letting it stand to infuse all night in a warm place. The celebrated Cullen says: u I have had a cancer of the lip entirely cured by it ; — a scirrhosity in a woman’s breast, of such a kind as frequently proceeds to cancer, I have found entirely discussed by the use of it ; — a sore a little below the eye, which had put on a cancerous appearance, was much mended by the internal use of the belladonna ; but the patient, having learned somewhat of the poisonous nature of the medicine, refused to continue the use of it, upon which the sore again spread, and was painful ; but upon a return to the use of the belladonna was again mended to a considerable degree; when, the same fears again returning, the use of it was again laid aside, and with the same consequence of the sore becoming worse. Of these alter¬ nate states, connected with the alternate use of, and absti- N 2 180 DEADLY NIGHTSHADE. nence from, the belladonna, there were several of these alter* nations which fell under my own observation. ” The leaves of the belladonna were first used externally to dis¬ cuss scirrhous and cancerous tumours, and also as an application to ill-conditioned ulcers : their good effects in this way at length Induced physicians to employ them internally for the same dis¬ orders, and we have a considerable number of well-authenticated facts which prove them a very serviceable and important remedy. But it must likewise be confessed, that many cases of this sort have occurred in which the belladonna has been employed with¬ out success : this, however, may be said of every medicine. In our present state of medical science we would advise ex¬ treme caution in the use- of such a poisonous drug : for, as the great Haller says, we have seen from its use a furious delirium arise, which has continued ; a permanent blindness ; and more than one case where this remedy, used as a cure for the gout5 has proved fatal to the party. HENBANE. HYOSCYAMUS NIGER. Class Y. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla funnel-shaped, obtuse: Stamina inclined : Capsule operculate, bilocular. Spec. Char. Leaves embracing the stem, waving: Flowers sessile. DESCRIPTION. 1 he plant rises from one to two feet. The leaves are large, cut into irregular lobes or pointed segments, of a glaucous co¬ lour, undulated, woolly, and embrace the stem. Flowers are funnel-shaped, the tube short, the border expanded, and cut into five obtuse segments. The colour is a dingey yellow, with bright purple streaks, which is the livery of poisonous herbs, purple with yellow being the characteristic. The calyx is also divided into five short-pointed downy segments. 182 HENBANE. HISTORY. Henbane is an annual plant, which grows in great abundance in most parts of Britain, by the road sides and among rubbish, flowers in July. Its smell is strong and peculiar, and when bruised somewhat like tobacco, especially when the leaves are burnt ; and on burning they sparkle, as if they contained a ni¬ trate; when chewed, however, they have no saline taste, but are insipid, mild, and mucilaginous. MEDICAL USE. This, like the last, is often a fatal poison. Many examples might be produced ; but out of the many instances of this kind, we shall only advert to some of them, in order to show that the roots, seeds, and leaves of this plant have separately produced poisonous effects. Dr. Patouillat, physician atToucy in France, relates, in the Phil. Trans, vol. xl. p. 446, that niue persons, in consequence of having eaten the roots of hyoscyamus, were seized with most alarming symptoms : u Some were speechless, and showed no other signs of life than by convulsions, contor¬ tions of the limbs, and the risus sardonieus ; all having their eyes starting out of their heads, and their mouths drawn backwards on both sides : others had all the symptoms alike : however, five of them did now and then open their mouths, but it was to utter howlings. The madness of all these patients was so complete, and their agitations so violent, that in order to give one of them the antidote, I was obliged to employ six strong men to hold him while I was getting his teeth asunder to pour down the remedy.” And, what is remarkable, Dr. Patouillat says, that on their re¬ covery all objects appeared to them as red as scarlet, for two or three days. Further accounts of the effects of these roots are given by Wepfer de Cicut. &c. p. 230: Simon Pauli Quadr. p. 384: Blom, in Vet. Ac. Handl. 1774, p. 52. Respecting the seeds of henbane, we have an account given by sir Hans Sloane, in the Phil. Trans, vol. xxxviii. p. 99, of four children who ate them by mistaking the capsules, in which they were con¬ tained, for filberts. u The symptoms that appeared in all the four were great thirst, swimmings of the head, dimness of sight, ravings, profound sleep, which last in one of the children con¬ tinued two days and nights.” See also Essays and Observations, Phys. and Lit., vol. ii. p. 243: Helmont. Ort. Med. p. 306: Ephemer. Germ, annis 7 et 8, &c. The leaves of hyoscyamus, HENBANE. 183 we are told, were boiled in broth, and eaten by seven persons (five men and two women), who soon became affected with sym¬ ptoms of intoxication. Dr. Stedman says : 44 I saw them about three hours after having eaten it ; arid then three of the men were become quite insensible, did not know their comrades, talked incoherently, and were in as high a delirium as people in the rage of a fever. All of them had low irregular pulses, slavered, and frequently changed colour : their eyes looked fiery, and they catched at whatever lay next them, calling out that it was going to fall.” — Phil. Trans, voh xlvii. an. 1750. iialler relates, 44 that a young student of great spirit and thirst for knowledge (Simon), from an experiment on himself with this plant, became idiotic, and paralytic on one side, and was with difficulty restored,” — 44 Memini sodalem meum Simo- nium, cum Leidae mecum, anno 17*25. Boerhaavii scholas fre- quentaret, aconita, apocyna, belladonnae baccas impune de- vorasse, ab hyoscyami vero semine victum, nimiai curiositatis poenas dedisse, atque mente alienatum, alteroque latere resolu- tum, tamen a preceptore servatum fuisse.” Stirp. Ilelv. n. 580. Henbane, in a moderate dose, often produces sweat, and sometimes an eruption of pustules, and generally sound sleep, succeeded by serenity of mind and recruited vigour of the body ; but, like the other narcotics, instead of these it sometimes gives rise to vertigo, headach, and general uneasiness. With parti¬ cular individuals it occasions vomiting, colic pains, a copious flow of urine, and sometimes purging. In excessive doses its effects are fatal ; general debility, delirium, remarkable dilata¬ tion of the pupils of the eyes, convulsions, death. Upon the whole, like opium, it is a powerful anodyne ; and, like cicuta, it is free from any constipating effect, having rather a tendency to move the belly. Dr. Cullen says: 44 We have indeed found the hyoscyamus to be often an agreeable anodyne and soporiferous medicine; and we have frequently found it such in persons who, from particular circumstances, did not agree with opium, and particularly be¬ cause it was less binding to the body than opium. We judge, however, that it is more ready in full doses to give delirium than opium is, and therefore we found it in many cases to give tur¬ bulent and unrefreshing sleep ; and notwithstanding its laxative qualities, for which we had employed it, we have been obliged to lay it aside.” Stoerck and some others recommend this ex- 184 HENBANE. tract in the dose of one grain or two ; but Dr. Cullen observes, that he seldom discovered its anodyne effects till he had proceeded to doses of eight or ten grains, and sometimes to fifteen, and even to twenty. From the writings of Dioscorides and others, it appears that different species of henbane have been long used in the practice of medicine. By Celsus it was applied externally as a collyrium in ophthalmia ; for allaying the pain of the toothach ; and he gave it internally as an anodyne. Heledius first gave the seeds of henbane in haemoptoe (spitting of blood), and the same was afterwards successfully employed by Forrestus and our Boyle. Clauder employed the same means in dysentery with advan¬ tage, and Turguet for epilepsy : but the danger of the remedy (forTurguet gave from eight to twenty-five grains) soon brought it into disuse. It was at length revived by Dr. Stork of Vienna, who made an Extract by evaporating the expressed juice of the plant; and in convulsions he gave two grains, increasing the dose to five, six, even to ten and sixteen grains a day. He conquered an epilepsy by giving six grains a day of the same remedy. Haller says, that he also cured several persons afflicted with this disease by mixing together a grain of the extract of hyoscyamus, with the same quantity of the missel toe and paeony root, and giving at first one grain a day, each day augmenting the dose by a single grain until it was increased to twenty, when it was continued a week ; after that twenty grains twice a day every other day, and on the alternate days only twenty grains, for another week, and then forty grains for two days, after which it was reduced to five grains every day. Stork afterwards gave it in both furious and melancholy mad¬ ness with success, administering daily at first two, then four to eight grains of the extract. In haemoptysis he gave three grains. Convulsions were also cured by him in the same manner, as well as a bad palpitation of the heart. He applied it also in wandering rheumatic pains, in indura¬ tions of the breast from retained milk, painful swellings, whe¬ ther scirrhous or not, all scrofulous and cancerous ulcers, in inflamed and the blind piles. The remedy employed, besides the extract internally 9 was under the form of a cataplasm of HENBANE. 185 the bruised leaves, mixed with bread and milk ; of an ointment made with the powder of the leaves, with wax and oil ; of a simple powder, sprinkled on the sore, or as a decoction with milk. Schenkbecher, as Haller reports, gave an ounce of the extract during the space of twelve days for a vertigo, which disappeared in consequence, and without the smallest injury to the patient. Gesner cured with it a very strong hysteric affection. After all these testimonies in its favour, it w ould be wrong in us at once to discard the hyoscyamus from amongst our cata¬ logue of valuable medicinal plants, although it must be confessed that several practitioners have complained of not reaping the same successful issue in practice as has been related ; and even the great Dr. Cullen affirms : uWe have frequently employed it, but have never found it of any great virtue, not more than is to be met with in opium;” yet still we may hesitate in passing our final judgment, at the same time advising a very cautious use of a remedy that, injudiciously administered, might prove of the highest injury to the community ; always anxious to dissuade from em¬ ploying powerful poisonous remedies, except it be in cases truly deplorable, when indeed it may be perhaps justified, as leaving only the choice of two evils. \ THORN-APPL E. DATURA STRAMONIUM. Class V* Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char* Corolla funnel-shaped, plicate. Calyx tubular, angular, deciduous. Capsule four-valved. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises two feet in height. Stem large, upright, above forked. Leaves alternate, large, broad towards the base, pointed at the extremity, toothed, varying in the size of these teeth, standing upon strong footstalks. Flowers solitary, white, large, consisting of a single leaf, plicate, cut into five teeth, standing upon a long tube. Anthers conspicuous. Capsule covered with 0 THORN-APPLE* 1ST spines, large, fleshy, opening with four valves, showing a co- lumn in the centre, giving nourishment and support to many kidney-shaped seeds. HISTORY. The thorn-apple is an annual plant, a native of America, gra¬ dually diffusing itself from the south to the north, and now even growing wild on dry hills and uncultivated places in England and other parts of Europe. The leaves are dark green, sessile, large, egg-shaped, pointed, angular, and deeply indented, of a disagreeable smell and nauseous taste. Every part of the plant is a strong narcotic poison, producing vertigo, torpor, death. Dr. Barton mentions the cases of two British soldiers who ate it by mistake for the Chenopodium album : one became furious and ran about like a madman, and the other died with the symptoms of genuine tetanus. The best antidote to its effects is said to be vinegar. The following advertisement appeared in the Bath paper, with the respectable signature of Dr. Haygarth : u Gardeners are particularly desired to take care never to throw poisonous plants out of gardens into the streets, lanes, or even the fields to which people can have access. Poor chil¬ dren, for diversion, curiosity, or hunger, are prompted to eat all kinds of vegetables which come in their way, especially seeds, fruits, or roots. This caution does not proceed from fanciful speculation, but from actual mischief, produced by the cause here specified. A physician has lately seen several children poi¬ soned with the roots of the aconite or monkshood, thrown into an open field in the city of Chester, and with the seeds of the stramonium or thorn-apple, thrown into the street. The former were seized with very violent complaints of vomiting, an alarm¬ ing pain of the head, stomach, and bowels ; the latter with blind¬ ness, and a kind of madness, biting, scratching, shrieking, laughing, and crying, in a frightful manner. Many of them were very dangerously affected, and escaped very narrowly with life. These, and all other poisonous plants, taken out of gar- deus, should be carefully buried or burned.” I shall relate only the following case from Dr. Woodville: u A man, aged sixty-nine, labouring under a calculous com¬ plaint, by mistake boiled the capsules of the stramonium in milk, and in consequence of drinking this decoction was affected with 188 THORN-APPLE. vertigo, dryness of the fauces, anxiety, followed with loss of voice and sense ; the pulse became small and quick, the extre¬ mities cold, the limbs paralytic, the features distorted, accom¬ panied with violent delirium, continual watchfulness, and a total suppression of all the evacuations ; but in a few hours he was restored to his former state of health.” MEDICAL VIRTUES. This plant has been long known as a powerful narcotic poi¬ son ; its congener, the D. metel, is thought to be vixo$ of Theophrastus and Dioscorides, and is therefore the spe¬ cies received by Linnaeus into the materia medica. The stra¬ monium, in its recent state, has a bitterish taste, and a smell somewhat resembling that of poppies, or, as called by Bergius, narcotic, especially if the leaves be rubbed betwixt the fingers. By holding the plant to the nose for some time, or sleeping in a bed where the leaves are strewed, giddiness of the head and stu¬ por are said to have been produced. Odhelius tells us, that of fourteen patients suffering under epileptic and convulsive affections, to whom he gave the stra¬ monium, in an hospital at Stockholm, eight were completely cured, five were relieved, and only one received no benefit. Bergius relates three cases of its success, viz. one of mania, and two of convulsions. Reef, a Swedish physician, mentions its utility in twro cases of mania. Wedenberg cured four girls, af¬ fected with convulsive complaints, by the use of this medicine. Other instances of the kind might be added. Greding, however, who made many experiments with a view to ascertain the efficacy of this plant, was not so successful ; for out of the great num¬ ber of cases in which he employed the stramonium, it was only in one instance that it effected a cure ; and he objects to the cases stated by Dr. Odhelius, on the ground that the patients were dismissed before sufficient time was allowed to know whe¬ ther the disease would return again or not. In this country we are unacquainted with any practitioners whose experience tends to throw any light on the medical character of this plant. It appears to us, that its effects as a medicine are to be referred to no other power than that of a narcotic ; and Dr. Cullen, speak¬ ing on this subject, says, 66 I have no doubt that narcotics may be a remedy in certain cases of mania and epilepsy ; but I have not, and I doubt if any other person has, learned to distinguish THORN-APPLE. 189 the cases to which such remedies are properly adapted. It is therefore that we find the other narcotics, as well as the stra¬ monium, to fail in the same hands in which they had in other cases seemed to succeed. It is this consideration that has occa¬ sioned my neglecting the use of stramonium, and therefore pre¬ vented me from speaking more precisely from my own expe¬ rience on this subject.” Dr. Stork, I believe, was the first who tried the thorn-apple as a remedy in mania and melancholy with considerable success. Several cases of the same diseases were also cured or relieved by * it, under the direction of different Swedish physicians. Dr. Barton, professor of botany in America, considers it to be a medicine of great efficacy ; and although, with others, it has fre¬ quently failed, it deserves the attention of practitioners, and well merits a trial in affections often incurable by other means. It has also been employed, and sometimes with advantage, in con¬ vulsive and epileptic affections. An ointment prepared from the leaves has been said to give ease in external inflammations and haemorrhoids. The inspissated juice of the leaves has been most commonly used, but its exhibition requires the greatest caution. At first, a quarter of a grain is a sufficient dose. Dr. Barton gives it in powder, beginning with doses of a few grains, and increasing them in a few days to 15 or 20. In a case in which it was exhibited to the extent of 30 grains, it dilated the pupil of one eye, and produced paralysis of the eyelids, which was removed by a blister ; and the bruised leaves, according to Plenk, soften hard and inflamed tumours, and discuss tumours in the breasts of nurses from indurated milk. Hufeland gave it in the form of a tincture, prepared of two ounces of the seeds in four ounces of wine and one of diluted alcohol, in diseases of the mind. TOBACCO. NICOTIAN A TABACUM. Class V. Pentanclria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla funnel-shaped, limb plicate : Stamina in¬ clined : Capsule two-valved, two-celled. Spec. Char. Leaves lanceolate-ovate, sessile, decurrent: Flowers with segments acute. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises from five to six feet in height ; stalk erect. Leaves large, oblong, pointed, veined, entire, of a pale green, without footstalks. The bracteas are long, linear, pointed. The corolla is composed of a single petal, funnel-shaped, with a long tube beset with short hairs, and whose border is cut into five segments, ending acute. The calyx is large, also hairy, ending in five pointed segments. The capsule is oval, divided into two cells, containing many small roundish seeds. TOBACCO, 101 HISTORY, The Nicotiana is a native of America, and flowers in July and August. Tobacco was first imported into Europe about the middle of the sixteenth century bv Hernandez de Toledo, who sent it to Spain and Portugal ; at that time the ambassador of Francis H. resided at the court of Lisbon, and in the year 1560 he carried the tobacco into France, when it was presented to Catharine de Medicis as a plant from the new world possessing extraordinary virtues. The ambassador’s name was Nicot, and hence the appellation Nicotiana. It appears from Lobel, that this plant was cultivated in Britain previous to the year 1570 ; and the introduction of the custom of smoking it in England is ascribed to sir Walter Raleigh. The cultivation of tobacco is now common in various parts of the globe, and though prohi¬ bited by the laws of this country, still the manufacture of it forms no inconsiderable branch of commerce. MEDICAL USE. Tiiis plant w7as first brought into Ea rope about the year 1560, from the island of Tobago in America, and is now sometimes cultivated for medicinal use in our gardens, but in general im¬ ported from America in large quantities. The leaves are about two feet long, of a pale green colour whilst fresh, and when carefully dried of a lively yellowish cast. They have a strong, disagreeable smell, like that of the narcotic plants, and a very acrid burning taste. Taken internally, they prove virulently cathartic and emetic, occasioning almost intolerable cardialgic anxieties. By boiling in water their virulence is abated, and at length destroyed. An extract made by long coction is recom¬ mended by Stahl and other German physicians as a safe and most effectual aperient, expectorant, detergent, &c. ; but this medi¬ cine, which is extremely precarious and uncertain in strength, has never come into esteem among us. Of late, however, To¬ bacco, under the form of a vinous or watery infusion, and taken in such small doses as to produce little effect from its action on the stomach, has been recommended to the attention of prac¬ titioners by Dr. Fowler. He has found it to be a very useful and powerful diuretic, and has published many cases of dropsy and dysury, in which its employment has been attended with the 1 192 TOBACCO. best effects. And these good effects have been confirmed by the observations of other practitioners. Tobacco is sometimes used externally in unguents, for de¬ stroying cutaneous insects, cleansing old ulcers, &c. Beaten < into a mash with vinegar or brandy, it has sometimes proved serviceable for removing hard tumours of the hypochondres $ an account is given in the Edinburgh Essays of two cases of this kind cured by it. Injections by the anus of the smoke or decoction have been ursed with advantage in cases of obstinate constipation threaten¬ ing ileus, aof incarcerated hernia, of ascarides, of spasmodic asth¬ ma, and of persons apparently dead from drowning or other sud¬ den causes. It has been used internally in the form of syrup, conserve, and infusion, in cases of worms, epilepsy, amenorrhoea, asthma, &c. ; but it is certainly too active to be thus ventured on. An infusion of its ashes, recommended in dropsy, is not probably different from other vegetable lixivia. Dr. Cullen remarks, respecting tobacco : An infusion of from half a drachm to a drachm of the dried leaves, or of these as they are commonly prepared for chewing, for an hour or two, in four ounces of boiling water, affords an emetic which has been employed by some practitiouers, but more commonly by the vulgar only. As it has no peculiar qualities as an emetic, and its operation is commonly attended with severe sickness, it has not been, nor is it likely ever to come into common practice with physicians. It is more commonly employed as a purgative in clysters ; and, as generally very effectual, it is employed in all cases of most obstinate costiveness ; and its powers have been celebrated by many authors. I have known it to be in frequent use with some practitioners ; and it is indeed a very effectual medicine, but at¬ tended with this inconvenience, that when the dose happens to be in any excess, it occasions severe sickness at the stomach ; and I have known it frequently occasion vomiting. It is well known, that in cases of obstinate costiveness, in ileus and incarcerated hernia, the smoke of burning tobacco has been thrown into the anus with great advantage. The smoke operates here by the same qualities that are in the infusions of it above mentioned; but as the smoke reaches much further into the intestines than injections can commonly do, it is thereby TOBACCO. 193 applied to a larger surface, and may therefore be a more power¬ ful medicine than the infusions. In several instances, however, I have been disappointed of its effects, and have been obliged to have recourse to other means. The infusion of tobacco, when it is carried into the blood- vessels, has sometimes shown its stimulant powers exerted in the kidneys ; and very lately we have had it recommended to us as a powerful diuretic of great service in dropsy. Upon the faith of these recommendations we have now employed this remedy in various cases of dropsy, but with very little success. From the small doses that are proper to begin with, we have hardly observed any diuretic effects ; and though from larger doses they have in some measure appeared, we have seldom found them considerable : and when, to obtain these in a greater degree, we have gone on increasing the doses, we have been constantly re¬ strained bjf the severe sickness at stomach, and even vomiting, which they occasioned : so that we have not yet learned the ad¬ ministration of this remedy so as to render it a certain or con¬ venient remedy in any cases of dropsy. The same circumstances have occurred to several other prac¬ titioners of this city and neighbourhood ; and of late the trials of it have been very generally omitted, owing perhaps to our practitioners being directed at the same time to the use of the jdigifalis, with which they have had some more success. From some experiments we are certain that tobacco contains a quantity of volatile parts that may be dissipated by long boiling in water; and that by such a practice its emetic, purgative, and narcotic qualities may be greatly diminished; and we are of opi¬ nion that the preparation in extract, as prescribed in the Wir- tenberg Dispensatory, is upon a good foundation, and may be employed in pectoral cases with more advantage and safety than the simple infusion or decoction made by a short boiling only. When we were restrained in employing the infusion of tobacco as a diuretic, as mentioned, we expected to succeed better with the decoction; and I have found that by long boiling this might be given in much larger doses than the infusion ; but we still found it retaining so much of the emetic quality, that we could not employ it as a diuretic without being interrupted in its use by the same emetic quality that had interrupted the use of the infusion. Besides the internal uses of tobacco mentioned, I must now remark, that it has likewise been commended for its virtues as o 194 TOBACCO. externally employed. I have known the infusion employed with advantage as a lotion for some obstinate ulcers : but the many instances of its being absorbed, and proving thereby a violent poison, dissuade from such a practice; especially as there are other medicines, of as much efficacy, that may be employed with much more safety. Bergius recommends it to be employed as a fomentation in the paraphymosis ; but we have had no oppor- tunity of employing it. Smoking , Sjiuff-taking, & c. — The following excellent observa¬ tions are extracted from Dr. Cullen ‘Tobacco is a well-known drug, of a narcotic quality, which it discovers in all persons, even in small quantity, when first applied to them. I have known a small quantity of it, snuffed up the nose, produce gid¬ diness, stupor, and vomiting ; and when applied in different ways, in larger quantity, there are many instances of its more violent effects, even of its proving a mortal poison. In all these instances it operates in the manner of other narcotics : but along with its narcotic qualities it possesses also a strongly sti¬ mulant power, perhaps with respect to the whole system, but especially with respect to the stomach and intestines ; so as rea¬ dily, even in no great doses, to prove emetic and purgative. By this combination of qualities all the effects of tobacco may be explained, but I shall begin w ith considering its effects as they appear in the use of it as an article of living. As such it has been employed by snuffing, smoking, and chewing; practices which, as having been for two hundred years past common to all Europe, need not be described here. Like other narcotics, the use of it may be introduced by degrees ; so that its peculiar effects, even from large quantities employed, may not, or may hardly at all appear : but this does not contradict the account I have given of its quality with respect to persons unaccustomed to it, and even of its tendency to show its power in those much accustomed to it; for even in these the power of habit has its limits ; so that in persons going but a little beyond the dose to which they have been accustomed, very vio¬ lent effects are sometimes produced. On this subject it is to be remarked, that the power of habit is often unequal ; so that in persons accustomed to the use of tobacco, a lesser quantity than what they had been accustomed to, will often have stronger effects than had before commonly appeared, I knew a lady who had been for more than twenty TOBACCO. 195 ■years accustomed to take snuff, and that at every time of day : but she caine at length to observe, that snuffing a good deal be¬ fore dinner took away her appetite ; and she came at length to find, that a single pinch, taken any time before dinner, took away almost entirely her appetite for that meal. When, however, she abstained entirely from snuff before dinner, her appetite conti¬ nued as usual ; and after dinner, for the rest of the day, she took snuff pretty freely without any inconvenience. This is an instance of the inequality of the power of habit in exerting its effects ; but in w hat cases this may take place we cannot determine, and must now go on in marking its usual and ordinary powrers. When snuff, that is, tobacco in powder, is first applied to the nose, it proves a stimulus, and excites sneezing ; but by repetition that effect entirely ceases. When snuff is first employed, if it be not both in small quan¬ tity, and be not thrown out immediately by sneezing, it occa¬ sions some giddiness and confusion of head ; but by repe¬ tition these effects cease to be produced, and no particular effect of it appears in the accustomed, when not taken beyond the usual quantity. But even in the accustomed, when it is taken beyond the usual quantity, it produces somew hat off the same giddiness and confusion of head that it did when first employed ; and in several cases these effects in the accustomed, depending on a larger dose, are not only more considerable, as they act on the sensorium, but as they appear also in other parts of the sy¬ stem, particularly in the stomach, occasioning a loss of appetite and other symptoms of a weakened tone in that organ. With respect to this, it is to be observed, that persons who take a great deal of snuff, though they seem, from the power of habit, to escape its narcotic effects, yet as they are often liable to go to excess in the quantity taken, so they are still in danger from these effects operating in an insensible manner; and I have observed several instances of their being affected in the same manner as persons are from the long-continued use of other nar¬ cotics, such as wine and opium ; that is, by a loss of memory, by a fatuity, and other symptoms of the weakened or senile state of the nervous system, induced before the usual period. Among other effects of excess in snuffing, I have found all the symptoms of dyspepsia produced by it, and particularly pains of the stomach, occurring every day. The dependence of these upon the use of snuff' became very evident from hence, that o 2 196 TOBACCO. upon an accidental interruption of snuffing for some days these pains did not occur, but upon a return to snuffing the pains also recurred ; and this alternation of pains of the stomach and of snuffing having occurred again, the snuff was entirely laid aside, and the pains did not occur for many months after, nor, so far as I know, for the rest of life. A special effect of snuffing is its exciting a considerable dis¬ charge of mucus from the nose; and there have been several in¬ stances of headachs, toothachs, and ophthalmias relieved by this means : and this is to be particularly remarked, that when this discharge of mucus is considerable, the ceasing or suppression of it, by abstaining from snuff, is ready to occasion the very disor¬ ders of headach, toothach, and ophthalmia, which it had for¬ merly relieved. Another effect of snuffing to be taken notice of is, that as a part of the snuff is often carried back into the fauces, so a part of this is often carried down into the stomach, and then more certainly produces the dyspeptic symptoms mentioned. These are the considerations that relate to snuffing, and some of them will readily apply to the other modes of using this drug. Smoking , when first practised, shows very strongly the nar¬ cotic, vomiting, and even purging powers of tobacco, and it is very often useful as an anodyne; but by repetition these effects disappear, or only show themselves when the quantity smoked is beyond what habit had before admitted of ; and even in per¬ sons much accustomed to it, it may be carried so far as to prove a mortal poison. From much smoking all the same effects may arise which we said might arise from excess in snuffing. With respect to the evacuation of mucus which is produced by snuffing, there are analogous effects produced by smoking, which commonly stimulates the mucous follicles of the mouth and fauces, and particularly the excretories of the salivary glands. By the evacuation from both sources, with the concur¬ rence of the narcotic power, the toothach is often greatly re¬ lieved by it ; but we have not found the smoking relieve head¬ achs and ophthalmias so much as snuffing often does. Some¬ times smoking dries the mouth and fauces, and occasions a de¬ mand for drink; but, as commonly the stimulus it applies to the mucous follicles and salivary glands draws forth their liquids, it occasions on the other hand a frequent spitting. So far as this is of the proper saliva, it occasions a waste of TOBACCO. 1 97 that liquid so necessary in the business of digestion ; and both by this waste and by the narcotic power at the same time applied, the tone of the stomach is often weakened, and every kind of dyspeptic symptoms is produced. Though in smoking a great part of the smoke is again blown out of the mouth, still a part of it must necessarily pass into the lungs, and its narcotic power ap¬ plied there often relieves spasmodic asthma : and by its stimulant power it there also sometimes promotes expectoration, and proves useful in the catarrhal or pituitous difficulty of breathing. Smoking has been frequently mentioned as a means of guard¬ ing men against contagion. In the case of the plague, the testi¬ mony of Diemerbroek is very strong ; but Rivinus and others give us many facts which contradict this : and Chenot gives a re¬ markable instance of its inutility. We cannot, indeed, suppose that tobacco contains an antidote of any contagion, or that in general it has any antiseptic power ; and therefore we cannot allow that it has any special use in this case : but it is very pro¬ bable that this and other narcotics, by diminishing sensibility, may render men less liable to contagion, and by rendering the mind less active and anxious it may also render men less liable to fear, which has so often the power of exciting the activity of the contagion. The antiloimic powers of tobacco are therefore on the same footing with those of wine, brandy, and opium. The third mode of using tobacco is that of chewing it, when it shows its narcotic qualities as strongly as in any other way of applying it ; though the nauseous taste of it commonly prevents its being carried far in the first practice. When the practice, however, is continued, as it is very difficult to avoid some part of it dissolved in the saliva from going down into the stomach, so this, with the nausea excited by the taste, makes vomiting more readily occasioned by this than the other modes of applying it. They are the strong, and even disagreeable impressions repeated, that give the most durable and tenacious habits, and therefore the chewing of tobacco is apt to become one of these ; and it is therefore in this way that it is ready to be carried to the greatest excess, and to show all the effects of the frequent and large use of narcotics. As it commonly produces a considerable evacua¬ tion from the mouth and fauces, so it is the most powerful in relieving the rheumatic affection of toothach. This practice is also the occasion of the greatest waste of saliva ; and the effects of this in weakening digestion, and perhaps from thence espe¬ cially, its noted effect of producing emaciation , may appear. COFFEE TREE. COFFEA ARABICA. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. pssRNT. Gen. Char. Corolla funnel-shaped: Stamina above the tube: Berry beneath, two-seeded: Seed with an aril. Spec. Char. Flowers five-cleft, two-seeded. DESCRIPTION. T. his tree rises to about twelve feet in height. The leaves are pointed, waved, opposite, three or four inches in length, on very short footstalks. Flowers white, axillary, sessile, two or three together. Calyx very small. Corolla funnel-shaped, cut into live segments. Tube long, narrow. Fruit a round fleshy red berry, containing two seeds, invested hy a carfilagir 4 nous arillus. HISTORY. The coffee tree is a native of Arabia, and was first noticed by Rauwolfius in 1573, but first regularly described by Alpinus COFFEE TREE. 199 in 1591. It was cultivated by bishop Compton in 1696, and is now common in the stoves of this country. The earliest account we have of coffee is taken from an Arabian manuscript in the king of France’s library, No. 944, and is as follows: — Schehabeddin Ben, an Arabian author of the ninth century of the Hegira, or fifteenth of the Christians, attributes to Ge- maleddin, mufti of Aden, a city of Arabia Felix, who was nearly his cotemporary, the first introduction into that country of drink¬ ing coffee. He tells us, that Gemaleddin, having occasion to travel into Persia, during his abode there saw some of his coun¬ trymen drinking coffee, which at that time he did not much at¬ tend to ; but on his return to Aden, finding himself indisposed, and remembering that he had seen his countrymen drinking cof¬ fee in Persia, in hopes of receiving some benefit from it, he de¬ termined to try it on himself ; and, after making the experiment, not only recovered his health, but perceived other useful quali¬ ties in that liquor ; such as relieving the head-ach, enlivening the spirits, and, Avithout prejudice to the constitution, preventing drowsiness. This last quality he resolved to turn to the advan¬ tage of his profession : he took it himself, and recommended it to the dervises, or religious Mahometans, to enable them to pass the night in prayer, and other exercises of their religion, with greater zeal and attention. The example and authority of the mufti gave reputation to coffee. Soon men of letters, and per¬ sons belonging to the law, adopted the use of ft. These were followed by the tradesmen and artisans that were under the necessity of working in the night, and such as were obliged to travel late after sun-set. At length the custom became general in Aden ; and it was not only drunk in the night by those who were desirous of being kept awake, but in the day for the sake of its other agreeable qualities. The Arabian author adds, that they found themselves so well by drinking coffee, that they entirely left off the use of an infu¬ sion of a herb called in their language cat , which possibly might be tea, though the Arabian author gives us no particular reason to think so. Before this time coffee was scarce known in Persia, and very little used in Arabia, Avhere the tree grew ; but, according to Schehabeddin, it had been drunk in ^Ethiopia from time imme¬ morial. Coffee being thus received at Aden, where it has continued 200 COFFEE TREE. in use ever since without interruption, passed by degrees to many neighbouring towns ; and not long after reached Mecca, where it was introduced, as at Aden, by the dervises, and for the same purposes of religion. The inhabitants of Mecca were at last so fond of this liquor, that, without regarding the intention of the religious and other studious persons, they at length drank it publicly in coffee¬ houses, where they assembled in crowds to pass the time agree¬ ably, making that the pretence : here they played at chess, and such other kind of games, and that even for money. In these houses they amused themselves likewise with singing, dancing, and music, contrary to the manners of the rigid Mahometans, which after¬ wards was the occasion of some disturbances. From hence the custom extended itself to many other towns of Arabia, and par¬ ticularly to Medina, and then to Grand Cairo in Egypt, where the dervises of the province of Yemen, who lived in a district by themselves, drank coffee the nights they intended to spend in devotion. They kept it in a large red earthen vessel, and re¬ ceived it respectfully from the hand of their superior, who poured it out into cups for them himself. He was soon imitated by many devout people of Cairo, and their example followed by the studious ; and afterwards by so many people, that coffee be¬ came as common a drink in that great city, as at Aden, Mecca, and Medina, and other cities of Arabia. But at length the rigid Mahometans began to disapprove the use of coffee, as occasioning frequent disorders, and too nearly resembling wine in its effects, the drinking of which is contrary to the tenets of their religion. Government was therefore obliged to interfere, and at times to restrain the use of it. However, it had become so universally liked, that it was found afterwards necessary to take off all restraint for the future. Coffee continued its progress through Syria, and was received at Damascus and Aleppo without opposition ; and in the year 1554, under the reign of the great Soliman, one hundred years after its introduction by the mufti of Aden, it became known to the inhabitants of Constantinople ; when two private persons, whose names were Schems and Hekin, the one coming from Damascus and the other from Aleppo, each opened a coffee¬ house in Constantinople, and sold coffee publicly in rooms fitted up in an elegant manner ; which were presently frequented by men of learning, and particularly poets and other persons, who COFFEE TREE. 201 came to amuse themselves with a game of chess or draughts, or to make acquaintance, and pass their time agreeably at a small expense. These houses and assemblies insensibly became so much in vogue, that they were frequented by people of all professions, and even by the officers of the seraglio, the pachas, and persons of the first rank about the court. However, when they seemed to be the most firmly established, the imans, or officers of the mosques, complained loudly of their being deserted, while the coffee-houses were full of company. The dervises and the reli¬ gious orders murmured, and the preachers declaimed against them, asserting that it was a less sin to go to a brothel than to a coffee-house. After much wrangling, the devotees united their interests to obtain an authentic condemnation of coffee, and deter¬ mined to present to the mufti a petition for that purpose ; in which they advanced, that roasted coffee was a kind of coal, and that what had any relation to coal was forbid by law. They desired him to determine on this matter according to the duty of his office. The chief of the law, withoutentering much into the question, gave such a decision as they wished for, and pronounced that the drinking of coffee was contrary to the law of Mahomet. So respectable is the authority of the mufti, that nobody dared to find fault with his sentence. Immediately all the coffee¬ houses were shut, and the officers of the police were commanded to prevent any one from drinking coffee. However, the habit was become so strong, and the use of it so generally agreeable, that the people continued, notwithstanding all prohibitions, to drink it in their own houses. The officers of the police, seeing they could not suppress the use of it, allowed of the selling it on paying a tax, and of the drinking it, provided it was not done openly ; so that it was drunk in particular places with the doors shut, or in the back room of some of the shopkeepers’ houses. Under colour of this, coffee-houses by little and little were re-established; and a new mufti, less scrupulous and more en¬ lightened than his predecessor, having declared publicly that coffee had no relation to coal, and that the infusion of it was not contrary to the law of Mahomet, the number of coffee¬ houses became greater than before. After this declaration, the 202 COFFEE TREE. religious orders, the preachers, the lawyers, and even the mufti himself, drank coffee ; and their example was followed univer¬ sally by the court and city. The grand viziers, having possessed themselves of a special authority over the houses in which it was permitted to be drunk publicly, took advantage of this opportunity of raising a con¬ siderable tax on the licenses they granted for that purpose, obliging each master of a coffee-house to pay a sequin per day, limiting, however, the price at an asper a dish Thus far the Arabian manuscript in the king of France’s li¬ brary, as translated by Mr. Galand; who proceeds to inform us of the occasion of a total suppression of public coffee-houses during the war in Candia, when the Ottoman affairs were in a critical situation. The liberty which the politicians who frequented these houses took, in speaking too freely of public affairs, was carried to that length, that the grand vizier Kupruli, father of the two famous brothers of the same name, who afterwards succeeded him, sup¬ pressed them all, during the minority of Mahomet the Fourth, with a resolution hereditary in his family, without regarding the loss of so considerable a revenue, of which he reaped the advantage himself. Before he came to that determination, he visited, incognito, the several coffee-houses, where he observed sensible grave persons discoursing seriously of the affairs of the empire, blaming administration, and deciding with confidence on the most important concerns. He had before been in the taverns, where he only met with gay young fellows, mostly soldiers, who were diverting themselves with singing, or talking of nothing but gallantry and feats of war. These he took no further no¬ tice of. After the shutting up of the coffee-houses no less coffee was drunk, for it w as carried about in large copper vessels, w ith fire under them, through the great streets and markets. This was only done at Constantinople ; for in all other towns of the cm- * The Turkish sequin (according to Chambers) is of the value of about nine shillings sterling; and the asper is a very small silver coin, of the value of something more than an English halfpenny. The present value is nearly seven shillings ; that is, two shillings and threepence three-farthings for a dollar, or eighty aspers ; consequently three aspers are worth something more than a penny sterling, but they are generally reckoned at a halfpenny each. Two hundred and forty-three aspers go to a sequin. COFFEE TREE. 503 pi re, and even in the smallest villages, the coffee-houses conti¬ nued open as before. Notwithstanding this precaution of suppressing the public meetings at coffee-houses, the consumption of coffee increased; for there was no house or family, rich or poor, Turk or Jew, Greek or Armenian, who are very numerous in that city, where it was not drunk at least twice a day, and many people drank it oftencr, for it became a custom in every house to offer it to all visitors, and it wras reckoned an incivility to refuse it; so that many people drank twenty dishes a day, and that without any inconvenience, which is supposed by this author an extraordi¬ nary advantage : and another great use of coffee, according to him, is its uniting men in society in stricter ties of amity than any other liquor ; and he observes, that such protestations of friendship as are made at such times, are far more to be depended upon than when the mind is intoxicated with inebriating liquors. He computes that as much is spent in private families in the ar¬ ticle of coffee at Constantinople as in wine at Paris ; and relates that it is customary there to ask for money to drink coffee, as in Europe for money to drink your health in wine or beer. Another curious particular we find mentioned here is, that the neglecting to supply a wife with coffee is reckoned among the legal causes of a divorce. The Turks drink their eofiee very hot and strong, and without sugar. Now and then they put in, when it is boiling, a clove or two bruised, according to the quantity ; or a little of the semen Indian , called starry aniseed, or some of the lesser car- damums, or a drop of essence of amber. It is not easy to determine at what time, or upon what occa¬ sion, the use of coffee passed from Constantinople to the western parts of Europe, it is however likely that the Venetians, upon account of the proximity of their dominions, and their great trade to the Levant, were the first acquainted with it; which appears from part of a letter written by Peter della Valle, a Venetian, in 1615, from Constantinople, in which he tells his friend, that upon his return he should bring with him some coffee, which he believed was a thing unknown in his country. Mr. Galand tells us he was informed by Mr. de la Croix, the king’s interpreter, that Mr. Thevenot, who had travelled through the East, at his return in 1657, brought with him to Paris some coffee for his own use, and often treated his friends with it, m COFFEE TREE. amongst which number Mr. de la Croix was one ; and that from that time he had continued to drink it, being supplied by some Armenians who settled at Paris, and by degrees brought it into reputation in that city. It was known some years sooner at Marseilles j for in 1644 some gentlemen, who accompanied Mr. de la Haye to Constan¬ tinople, brought back with them on their return, not only some coffee, but the proper vessels and apparatus for making and drinking it, which were particularly magnificent, and very dif¬ ferent from what are now used amongst us. However, until the year 1660 coffee was drunk only by such as had been accustomed to it in the Levant, and their friends : but that year some bales were imported from Egypt, which gave a great number of per¬ sons an opportunity of trying it, and contributed very much to bringing it into general use ; and in 1671 certain private persons at Marseilles determined for the first time to open a coffee-house in the neighbourhood of the Exchange, which succeeded extremely well : people met there to smoke, talk of business, and divert themselves with play ; it was soon crowded, particularly by the Turkey merchants, and traders to the Levant. These places were found very convenient for discoursing on, and settling mat* ters relative to, commerce ; and shortly after the number of cof¬ fee-houses increased amazingly : notwithstanding which there was not less drunk in private houses, but a much greater quantity, so that it became universally in use at Marseilles and in the neigh¬ bouring cities. Before the year 1669 coffee had not been seen at Paris, except at Mr. Thevenot’s, and some of his friends ; nor scarce heard of but from the account of travellers. That year was distin¬ guished by the arrival of Soliman Aga, ambassador from sultan Mahomet the Fourth. This must be looked upon as the true period of the introduction of coffee into Paris ; for that minister and his retinue brought a considerable quantity with them, which they presented to so many persons of the court and city, that many became accustomed to drink it, with the addition of a little sugar ; and some, who had found benefit by it, did not choose to be without it. The ambassador staid at Paris from July 1669 to May 1670, which was a sufficient time to establish the custom he had introduced. Two years afterwards an Armenian, of the name of Pascal, set up a coffee-house, but, meeting with little encouragement, COFFEE TREE. 205 left Paris and came to London ; he was succeeded by other Ar¬ menians and Persians, but not with much success, for want of address and proper places to dispose of it, genteel people not caring to be seen in those places where it was sold. However, not long after, when some Frenchmen had fitted up for the pur¬ pose spacious apartments in an elegant manner, ornamented with tapestry, large looking-glasses, pictures, and magnificent lustres, and began to sell coffee, with tea, chocolate, and other refresh¬ ments, they soon became frequented by people of fashion and men of letters, so that in a short time the number in Paris in¬ creased to three hundred. For this account of the introduction of the use of coffee into Paris, we are indebted to La Roque’s Voyage into Arabia Felix. We now come to trace its first appearance in London. It appears from Anderson’s Chronological History of Com¬ merce, that the use of coffee was introduced into London some years earlier than into Paris; for in 1652 one Mr. Edwards, a Turkey merchant, brought home with him a Greek servant, whose name was Pasqua, who understood the roasting and making of coffee, till then unknown in England. This servant was the Jirst who sold coffee, and kept a house for that purpose in George-yard, Lombard-street. The first mention of coffee in our statute books is anno 1660 (12 Car. II. cap. 24.), when a duty of fourpence was laid upon every gallon of coffee made and sold, to be paid by the maker. The statute of the 15 Car. II. cap. xi. § 15. ann. 1663, di¬ rects, that all coffee-houses should be licensed at the general quarter sessions of the peace for the county within which they are to be kept. In 1675 king Charles issued a proclamation to shut up the coffee-houses, but in a few days suspended that proclamation by a second. They were charged with being seminaries of sedition*. * “ This proclamation was issued about a month after the king had dined with the corporation of London, at Guildhall, on their lord mayor’s day, October 29, 16T5. At this feast the king afforded the citizens abundant matter for animadversion, in which they indulged themselves so much to his dissatisfaction, and that of his cabal ministry, that a proclamation was issued, December 20, for shutting up and suppressing all coffee¬ houses; ‘ because in such houses, and by occasion of the meeting of disaf¬ fected persons in them, divers false, malicious, and scandalous reports were devised and read abroad, to the defamation of his majesty’s government. £06 COFFEE TREE. The first European author who has made any mention of coffee is Rauwolfius, who was in the Levant in 1573; but the first who has particularly described it is Prosper Alpinus, in his History of the ./Egyptian Plants, published at Venice in 1591, whose description we have in Parkinson’s Theatre of Plants, p. 1G22, chap. Ixxix. as follows : — Arlor Bon, cum fructu suo Buna , the Turks berry drink. Alpinus, in his book of /Egyptian plants, gives us the descrip¬ tion of this tree* which he says he saw in the garden of a cap¬ tain of the janissaries, which was brought out of Arabia Felix, and there planted, as a rarity never seen growing in those places before. The tree, saith Alpinus, is somewhat like the euony- mus, or spindle-tree, but the leaves of it were thicker, harder, and greener, and always abiding on the tree. The fruit is called luna^ and is somewhat bigger than a hazel-nut, and longer; round also, and pointed at one end; furrowed likewise on both sides, yet on one side more conspicuous than the other, that it might be parted into two; in each side whereof lieth a small ob¬ long white kernel, fiat on that side they join together, covered with a yellowish skin, of an acid taste, and somewhat bitter, and contained in a thin shell* of a darkish ash colour. With these berries, in Arabia and /Egypt, and other parts of the Turkish dominions, they generally make a decoction or drink, which is in the stead of wine to them, and commonly sold in their tap-houses or taverns, called by the name of caova. Palu- and to the disturbance of the quiet and peace of the realm.’ The opinions of the judges were taken on this great point of stopping people’s tongues ; when they sagely resolved, ‘ that retailing of coffee and tea might be an in¬ nocent trade ; but as it was used to nourish sedition, spread lies, and scanda¬ lize great men, it might also be a common nuisance.’ On a petition of the merchants and retailers of coffee and tea, permission was granted to keep open the coffee-houses until the 24th of June following, under an admoni¬ tion that the masters of them should prevent all scandalous papers, books, and libels from being read in them, and hinder every person from declaring, uttering, or divulging all manner of false and scandalous reports against government, or the ministers thereof. Thus by a refinement of policy, adds Noorthouck in his History of London, the simple manufacturer of a dish of coffee or tea was constituted licenser of books, corrector of manners, and arbiter of the truth or falsehood of political intelligence, over every company he entertained !” * This description is evidently taken from a dried berry, and not from the ripe fruit. coffee Free. m damus says choava , and Rauwolfius chauke. This drink has many good physical properties : it strengthens a weak stomach, helping digestion, and the tumours and obstructions of the liver and spleen, being drunk fasting for some time together. It is held in great estimation among the ^Egyptian and Arabian wo¬ men, in common feminine cases, in which they find it does them eminent service. Lord chancellor Bacon likewise makes mention of it in 1624: He says, that the Turks have a drink called coffee, made with boiling water, of a berry reduced into powder, which makes the water as black as soot, and is of a pungent and aromatic smell, and is drunk warm. The celebrated John Ray, in his History of Plants, published in 1690, speaking of it as a drink very much in use, says, that this tree grows only within the tropics, and supposes that the Arabs destroy the vegetable quality of the seeds, in order to con¬ fine among themselves the great share of w7ealth, which is brought thither from the whole world for this commodity : from w hence he observes, that this part of Arabia might be truly styled the most happy, and that it was almost incredible how many millions of bushels were exported from thence into Turkey, Barbary, and Europe. He says, he was astonished that one particular nation should possess so great a treasure, and that within the narrow limits of one province ; and that he wondered that the neigh¬ bouring nations did not contrive to bring aw ay some of the sound seeds or living plants, in order to share in the advantages of so lucrative a trade. We now come to show by what means this valuable tree was first introduced into Europe, and from thence into America. The first account of this tree being brought into Europe we have from Boerhaave, in his Index of the Leyden Garden, part ii. p. 217, which is as follows: 46 Nicholas Witsen, burgo¬ master of Amsterdam, and governor of the East India company, by his letters often advised and desired Van Hoorn, governor of Batavia, to procure from Mocha, in Arabia Felix, some ber¬ ries of the coffee tree, to be sown at Batavia; which he having ' o> accordingly done, and by that means, about the year 1690, raised many plants from seeds, he sent one over to governor Witsen, who immediately presented it to the garden at Amster¬ dam, of which he was the founder and supporter: it there bore fruit, which in a short time produced many young plants from 208 COFFEE TREE. the seeds.” Boerhaavc then concludes, that the merit of intro¬ ducing this rare tree into Europe is due to the care and liberality of Witsen alone. In the year 1714 the magistrates of Amsterdam, in order to pay a particular compliment to Lewis XIV. king of France, presented to him an elegant plant of this rare tree, carefully and judiciously packed up to go by water, and defended from the weather by a curious machine covered with glass. The plant was about five feet high, and an inch in diameter in the stem, and was in full foliage, with both green and ripe fruit. It was viewed in the river, with great attention and curiosity, by se¬ veral members of the Academy of Sciences, and was afterwards conducted to the royal garden at Marly, under the care of M. de Jussieu, the king’s professor of botany, who had the year before written a memoir, printed in the History of the Academy of Sciences of Paris in the year 1713, describing the characters of this genus, together with an elegant figure of it, taken from a smaller plant, which he had received that year from M. Pancras, burgomaster of Amsterdam, and director of the botanical garden there. In 1718 the Dutch colony at Surinam began first to plant coffee; and in 1722 M. de la Motte Aigron, governor of Cay¬ enne, having business at Surinam, contrived, by an artifice, to bring away a plant from thence, which in the year 1725 had produced many thousands. In 1727 the French, perceiving that this acquisition might be of great advantage in their other colonies, conveyed to Martinico some of the plants ; from whence it most probably spread to the neighbouring islands ; for in the year 1732 it was cultivated in Jamaica, and an act passed to encourage its growth in that island. Thus was laid the foundation of a most extensive and beneficial trade to the European settlements in the West Indies. An Account of the Culture of the Coffee Tree in Arabia Felix : extracted from La Roque's Voyage. He relates, that the coffee tree is there raised from seed, which they sow in nurseries, and plant them out as they have occasion. They choose for their plantations a moist, shady situation, on some eminence, or at the foot of the mountains, and take great care to conduct from the mountains little rills of water, in small gutters or channels, to the roots of the trees; for it is absolutely COFFEE TREE. 209 necessary they should be constantly watered, in order to produce and ripen the fruit. For that purpose, when they remove or transplant the tree, they make a trench three feet wide, and five feet deep, which they line or cover with stones, that the water may the more readily sink deep into the earth with which the trench is filled, in order to preserve the moisture from evaporating. When they observe that there is a good deal of fruit upon the tree, and that it is nearly ripe, they turn off the water from the roots, to lessen that suceulency in the fruit which too much moisture would occasion. In places much exposed to the south they plant their coffee trees in regular lines, sheltered by a kind of poplar tree, which extends its branches on every side to a great distance, and affords a very thick shade. Without such precaution they suppose the excessive heat of the sun would parch and dry the blossoms so that they would not be succeeded by any fruit. In situations not so much exposed to the sun, this defence is not necessary. When they perceive the fruit come to maturity, they spread cloths under the trees, which they shake, and the ripe fruit drops readily*; they afterwards spread the berries upon mats, and expose them to the sun until they are perfectly dry ; after which they break the husk with large heavy rollers, made either of wood or stone. When the coffee is thus cleared of its husk it is again dried in the sun ; for, unless it is thoroughly dried, there is danger of its heating on board the ship. It is then winnowed with a large fan ; for if it is not well cleaned and dried it sells for a much lower price. The Manner of preparing and drinking Coffee among the Aralians . From the same Author. The Arabians, when they take their coffee off the fire, imme¬ diately wrap the vessel in a wet cloth, which fines the liquor in¬ stantly, makes it cream at top, and occasions a more pungent * This circumstance deserves the particular attention of the West India planter, who, I am told, is accustomed to gather his coffee as soon as it turns red, before it changes to a dark red colour, and begins to shrivel ; whereas the Arabians wait for those tokens which show the full maturity of the fruit. Mr. Miller in his Dictionary mentions, that in some stoves in Eng¬ land coffee is raised of a better quality than the best Mocha coffee that can be procured in this country ; which may likewise be owing to gathering the fruit only when it is thoroughly ripe. P 210 COFFEE TREE. steam, which they take great pleasure in snuffing up as the coffee is pouring into the cups. They, like all other nations of the East, drink their coffee without sugar. People of the first fashion use nothing but sultana coffee, which is prepared in the following manner : They bruise the outward husk, or dried pulp, and put it into an iron or earthen pan, which is placed upon a charcoal fire ; they then keep stir¬ ring it to and fro until it becomes a little brown, but not of so deep a colour as common coffee ; they then throw it into boiling water, adding at least the fourth part of the inward husks, which is then boiled all together in the manner of other coffee : the colour of this liquor has some resemblance to the best English beer. The husks must be kept in a very dry place, and packed up very close, for the least humidity spoils the flavour. They esteem the liquor prepared in this manner preferable to any other. The French, when they were at the court of the king of Yemen, saw no other coffee drunk, and they found the fla¬ vour of it very delicate and agreeable ; there was no occasion to use sugar, as it had no bitter taste to correct. In all probability this sultana coffee can only be made where the tree grows ; for as the husks have little substance, if they are too much dried, in order to send them to other countries, the agreeable flavour they had when fresh is greatly impaired. It may perhaps be worth while for our West India planters to make a trial of drying the outward and inner husk of coffee separately, in the manner the Chinese do their tea, upon abroad shallow iron pan, turned upwards at the brim, placed upon a stove. They should be kept continually turning, to prevent burning ; and when they are become too hot to be handled, they should be taken off with a kind of shovel, and laid upon a mat on a low table, and shifted about until they cool, fanning them at the same time to disperse the moisture. The pan must be frequently wiped, and kept clean from any clammy matter stick¬ ing to it, and the process repeated while any moisture is per¬ ceived. They must afterwards be packed close in dry jars, ca¬ nisters, or chests lined with lead, such as the tea is sent over in. It will be proper to turn out these husks, after they have lain some days, to examine whether they are thoroughly dry ; and if the least damp is felt, it will be necessary to dry them still more, otherwise they will become mouldy, and lose their flavour : for it appears from the Arabian account that they are not acquainted COFFEE TREE. 211 with a proper method of drying these husks, and packing them so as to be conveyed to any considerable distance, without preju¬ dicing this agreeable flavour. The Chinese are very careful not to leave their tea-leaves in heaps before they are dried, which would occasion them to heat and spoil : they likewise gather no more at a time than they can dry in less than twenty-four hours, as they find, when they have been kept longer, they turn black. These observations may possibly be of some use to those who may be induced to attempt drying the pulp of the berry for the purpose of making sultana coffee. If the duties and excise upon coffee were lessened, the con¬ sumption would be increased ; taste would grow more refined, the best would be sought for, and the price would be in propor¬ tion. The present duties are almost prohibitory. It may be worth one’s while to view the effects of these high duties in a political light — I mean in respect to this article. For a century to come, it is perhaps more than probable that the people of this country will, for one meal at least, make use of either tea, coffee, or chocolate ; 1 speak of the generality. Tea at present takes the lead; whence it comes, its history, pro¬ perties, and uses, will be so fully explained, that I shall say no¬ thing here upon the subject*. It is a question often proposed to physicians, Which is best, tea or coffee? The solution of this point would perhaps be a diffi¬ cult one. We neither find the Chinese or Turks subjected to any such discriminating effects, as enable the faculty to say, with preci¬ sion, that one is more injurious than the other. For my own part, I leave it to the experience of individuals. To some people cof¬ fee is disagreeable ; they charge it with producing nervous com¬ plaints. Tea is not without similar accusations. It seems as if the human frame was, however, so happily constructed, that it is less in the power of such things to affect it than might at first sight be imagined. The animal powers are apparently such as can convert almost opposite principles to its benefit, if used in any degree of moderation : some drink coffee almost to excess, and condemn tea as injurious; and so coffee is treated in its * See our account of the Tea Plant, p 2 212 COFFEE TREE. turn. These are proofs, however, how few people are capable of making proper inferences from experiment. I think neither coffee nor tea afford any very material support, that is, contain very little nutriment: they are rather the vehi¬ cles of nourishment than nutritious of themselves : the most that can be expected from them in general is, that they are grateful, and very little injurious. Custom has adopted them both; and it becomes us to make them as useful to ourselves, and as sub¬ servient to public good, as may be in our power. China, that supplies us with tea, is remote ; the navigation long and dan¬ gerous ; the climate not always favourable to our seamen: in¬ deed, all long voyages are injurious, and the hotter the climate the worse. As a nation, a commercial nation, whose accommo¬ dations depend on this useful race of people, we cannot, as friends to humanity, wish to promote the consumption of those articles which are introduced at so great an expense of useful lives. Coffee from our own plantations is in this respect much preferable to tea ; the voyage is shorter, the risk is less. Sup¬ posing, then, that tea and coffee are alike in respect to real use¬ fulness ; that one is not inferior to the other in respect to the health of the consumers : suppose, likewise, that the disadvan¬ tage with respect to the lives of the seamen were equal, which however is not the case, there is one material difference that ought to turn the scale in favour of the more general use of cof¬ fee — it is raised by our fellow-subjects, and paid for with our manufactures. Tea, on the contrary, is paid for principally with money. The quantity of British goods which the Chinese take from us is inconsiderable when compared with the quantity we pay for in bullion. The Chinese take from us every article which they can turn to national benefit, and whatever enables them to improve their manufactures. Besides raw silk, and a few other articles of some little use in our own manufactures, most other things im¬ ported from thence we can do without, especially if the con¬ sumption of our coffee was encouraged. Were the duties and excise upon coffee, for instance, reduced to a quarter part, more than double the quantity would be consumed : was the consump¬ tion greater, the planters would find it their interest to cultivate the trees with more attention : increased demand would increase the price ; and as more came to market, the best would sell dearer COFFEE TREE. 21 3 than an inferior kind. These must be the certain effects of in¬ creased demand. There is another consideration of some moment likewise ; which is, that the cultivation of coffee might be carried on in such manner as the lesser planters might subsist by it, and a few similar articles, cotton particularly, with little stock, and without much expense for negroes. No little planter can make sugar to advantage; the expense of negroes, cattle, mills, and other requisites of a sugar plantation, are beyond his reach : if he has any landed property, by one means or another he is often obliged to sell it to his richer neighbour, and to remove to some other country less unfavourable to contracted circum¬ stances. Thus the islands are gradually thinned of the white inhabitants ; they become less able to quell the insurrections of their negroes, or to oppose any hostile invasion. Lessening the duty would increase the consumption, prevent smuggling, enable many whites to gain a comfortable support, and to pay for our manufactures. As it is raised by our own people, imported with less risk of seamen’s health and lives, in a political light it must certainly deserve the deliberate attention of the legislature. How to make Coffee. Pour a pint of boiling water on an ounce of coffee ; let it boil five or six minutes, then pour out a cupful two or three times, and return it again ; put two or three isinglass chips into it, or a lump or two of fine sugar; boil it five minutes longer, set the pot by the fire to keep hot for ten minutes, and you will have your coffee of a beautiful clearness. Some like a small bit of vanilla. Cream should always be served with coffee, and either pounded sugar-candy or fine Lisbon sugar. For foreigners, or those who like it extremely strong, make only eight dishes from three ounces. If not fresh roasted, lay it before a fire till hot and dry; or put the smallest bit of fresh butter into a preserv¬ ing-pan ; when hot throw the coffee into it, and toss it about till it be freshened. MEDICAL USE. It may require a good deal of sagacity to determine how far the French custom of drinking coffee immediately after dinner is right; but I think it can admit of no dispute, whether a dish of coffee or a bottle of wine may then be less prejudicial to health. COFFEE TREE. I think, however, it is less injurious to drink coffee imme¬ diately after dinner than later in the evening ; and at least for one very obvious reason : Coffee most certainly promotes watchfulness ; or, in other words, it suspends the inclination to sleep. To those therefore who wish not to be too subject to this inclination, coffee is un¬ doubtedly preferable to wine, or perhaps to any other liquor we know. The instances of persons to whom coffee has this antisoporific effect are very numerous, and the instances are almost as nume¬ rous of such to whom wine has the opposite effect. To attribute the liveliness of the French, after their repasts, to this beverage, would be highly hypothetical : but I think it must be acknowledged, that after a full meal, perhaps of gross animal food, even a mere diluent is much preferable to wine ; which, whilst it gives a temporary flow of animal spirits, rather opposes that necessary assimilation which nature aims at in the offices of digestion. Was coffee substituted instead of the bottle immediately after dinner, it seems more than probable that many advantages would flow from it, both to the health of individuals, and general (eco¬ nomy ; and it seems not improbable that by deferring coffee or tea so late as is usually practised, we interrupt digestion, and add a new load of matter to that already in the stomach, which, after a full meal, is not a matter of indifference. Persons afflicted with asthma have found great relief, and even a cure, by drinking very strong coffee, and those of a phlegmatic habit would do well to take it for breakfast. It is rather of a drying nature, and with corpulent habits it would beadviseable to take it for breakfast. Coffee Milk. Boil a dessert-spoonful of ground coffee in about a pint of milk a quarter of an hour ; then put into it a shaving or two of isinglass, and clear it ; let it boil a few minutes, and set it on the side of the fire to fine. This is a very fine breakfast, and should be sweetened with real Lisbon sugar. Those of a spare habit, and disposed towards affections of the lungs, would do well to make this their breakfast. T E A. T H E A. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla six- or nine-petalled : Calyx five- or six¬ leaved : Capsule three- celled . Spec. Char. Leaves elliptic-oblong. DESCRIPTION. It is generally believed, although there are many varieties, that the tea is but of one species, and that the differences are the pro¬ duction of soil, climate, and a particular mode of preparation. The two obvious distinctions of green and black teas naturally suggested the idea that there were two distinct species of this plant; and I believe it was sir John Hill who first attempted at the distinction, remarking that the green tea ( Thea viridis ) had six petals, whereas the black tea ( Thea loliea ) has nine; and it must be allowed that the two plants differ greatly in the forma- 216 TEA TREE. tion of the leaves, obvious even to the most inattentive observed The green tea plant has leaves of a larger size than the other, eU liptic, sharp-pointed ; whereas the black is a perfect oval, rounder at the apex, and the first is of an apple-green colour, whereas the black is of a dark olive; the former has a very wrinkled leaf, the latter perfectly smooth : the textures also differ ; the green has a much looser texture, hence the one is somewhat transpa¬ rent, the other opake ; the green spreads out, waving like the leaves of corn, and distant, whereas the black are numerous, stiff, and pressed close to the stem : the edges also differ ; the green is unequally toothed, teeth large, it may be said to be jagged ; the black is simply serrated, the teeth even, and minute. No two plants, therefore, can be more readily discriminated than the black and green, although the fructification so greatly re¬ sembles in both that these are usually not to be distinguished ; for the number of petals in both kinds is very subject to vary. The leaf of the bohea tea, by the firmness of its texture, ap¬ proaches very near to the Japan rose ( Camellia Japonica ), only these are half the size ; and it seems closely allied to this plant, so that gardeners also notice this resemblance: and it is curious that the early plants imported to Europe as the true tree, sold by the Chinese, were actually the Camellia Japonica * ; and I think it more than probable that the leaves of this plant are used with the green tea, which may render that kind of tea so stimu¬ lating ; and it is allowed on all hands that this plant is inter¬ mixed with the green tea, and may produce much pernicious effect upon some peculiar habits. But I mention this only as my own imperfect conjecture ; for, swayed by the general, and now universally received, opinion f , I am not indeed allowed to * Linnaeus endeavoured for several years to procure the tea tree for the botanic garden at Upsal, but by a variety of accidents they were all destroyed on the passage. At length, in the year 1T55, Lagerstroem, a di¬ rector of the Swedish East India company, brought him two plants, which he himself obtained in China; but they proved to be the camellia, “ the crafty Chinese,” says professor Martyn, “ having plucked away the flowers.” In 1769 Linnaeus received another plant from France ; but that also proved to be the camellia, which is now common enough in our green-houses, as being a very ornamental plant. But in October 1763 Linnaeus first received the true tea plant from Gustavus Ekeberg, captain of a Swedish Indiaman, who raised it from seed on the voyage. The first that flowered in England was at Sion, the seat of the duke of Northumberland. — Martyn. + Professor Martyn, Dr. Letlsom, Des Fontaines, &c., w ith all the tra- 217 TEA TREE. consider the black and green tea (Thea nigra et viridis) as form* ing distinct teas of themselves. The following is the description usually given of the tea tree, without attending in the least to the two kinds discriminated by Li nnasus. Tea is a branchy evergreen shrub, which, according to Kempfer and Thunberg, grows to the height of four or five feet, though other travellers assert that it rises sometimes to thirty. Its leaves are alternate, hard, oval, or elliptic \ of a some¬ what shining green colour, entire near the base, but serrated in the rest of their length, and supported on a short and half- cylindric footstalk. The buds are acute, and accompanied with a husk, which detaches itself, and drops off at the period of its development. The flowers grow singly, or sometimes, but more rarely, two- and-two, in the eyes of the leaves, on short and somewhat thick pedicles. The calyx is small, persistent, and has five obtuse divisions. The corolla, for the most part, has six white petals, round and open : the two exterior ones are smaller and unequal. Its breadth is about the third of an inch. The stamina, which are more than two hundred in number, are shorter than the corolla, and attached under the germen. Each anther has two cells. The germen, which is of a rounded triangular form, and surmounted by a style divided into three filiform stigmata, be¬ comes a capsule with three round monospermous cells united at the base, and opening longitudinally on one side only. vellers into China, are agreed, that there is no just distinction into the two species here attempted to be formed ; yet, if anyone will take the pains to examine the green and black teas imported, the distinctions of the leaves of the two kinds here given may be noticed, and the greater thinness and length, &c. of the green leaf will be readily observed. Is is said that, the green tea being once in fashion in England, the East India company wished to have chiefly this sort, and it was returned in answ er by the Chinese, “that to extirpate their bohea tea trees, and plant in their room green tea trees, would take up several years to accomplish, nor had they, at that time, green tea enough to supply our market.” Hence persons were engaged to write dowrn the green tea, and turn the tide of public opinion in favour of the black tea, which is now almost universally drunk in England, or mixed with only a sprinkling of green. SIS TEA TREE. The seeds are spherical, internally angular, of a rather large size, covered with a thin shining pellicle, a little hard, and of a maroon colour. The kernel is oily, and of a bitter and dis¬ agreeable taste, which produces salivation, and even occasions nausea. It is cultivated every where, from Canton to Pekin ; where the winter, according to the observations of the missionaries, is more severe than at Paris. It would, no doubt, be possible, says the learned Des Fontaines, to propagate this valuable plant in France, if one could procure a sufficient number of individuals to make experiments, by cultivating it in different soils and under different climates. This object deserves the attention of government, as the consumption of tea is immense, and as the quantity imported every year amounts to a considerable sum, for which Europe is rendered tributary to China. The tea seeds brought to us from that country become rancid, and spoil at sea ; so that scarcely one of a thousand produces plants. It would therefore be ne¬ cessary that persons who go to China should procure them ex¬ ceedingly fresh, and take care to sow them, before they sail, in boxes filled with light earth : they would then spring up on the passage. Nothing would be necessary but to water them from time to time, and to preserve them from the sea water : the young plants might then arrive in safety. These are the chief distinctions of teas in Europe : Green Teas. 1. Bing? (so called from the man who first made that tea,) im¬ perial, or bloom tea, with a large loose leaf, of a light green colour, and a faint delicate smell. The leaves are not rolled*. 2. Hy-tiann, hikiong, hayssuen, or hee-chun — known to us by the name of hyson tea I, named from an Indian merchant, who * The bing grows four days’ journey from the hyson country. The leaves are long and thin, those of singlo short and thick. — Asiatic Researches. + Of hyson there are two gatherings, and each gathering is distinguished into two or more sorts; but as great care is taken in gathering it, 60 catties (a catty is 21 ounces and a third, or three catties are four pounds) from one pecul, when only 45 catties can be chosen from the singlo. Hyson-skin, as it is called, has its name from being compared to the skin or peel to the hyson tea, a sort of cover to it, and consequently not so good. It consists of the largest leaves, flat, unhandsome, bad coloured. This is called in London bloom tea. TEA TREE. 219 first sold tea to an European, his tea being asked for ever after. The leaves are closely curled and small, of a green colour verg¬ ing towards blue. Another hyson tea, with narrow short leaves, is called hyson-utchin. There is also a green tea named gole , with long narrow leaves, strongly rolled. 3. Song-lo or Single, which name it receives, like several others, from the place where it is cultivated* *-. Bohea Teas. 1. Soo-chuen , sut-chong, sou-chong, or su-chong , called by the Chinese saa-tyang, and sact-chaon or sy-tyann, is a superior kind of cong-fou tea. It imparts a yellowish green colour by infu¬ sion, and has its name from a place or province in China +, Gabe , gomi, and ootseen , are also leaves picked from the hyson leaves. Those called gomi are small, and very much twisted, so that they appear like bits of wire. The ootseen are more like little balls. — Asiatic Re¬ searches. * Tunkey singlo tea is the best, which is owing to the soil : it grows near the hyson countrjr. Ordinary singlo tea is neither so often tatched (tatch- ing is drying in a fiat iron pan heated), or picked, as the above. Singlo and hyson teas are cured in the following manner: When the leaves are gathered, they are directly tatched, and then very much rubbed by men’s hands to roll them, after which they are spread to divide them, for the leaves in rolling are apt to stick together ; they are then tatched very dry, and afterwards spread on tables to be picked ; this is done by girls or women, who, according to their skill, can pick from one to four catties each day. Then they are tatched again, and afterwards again, and after that tossed in flat baskets to clear them from dust ; they are then again spread on tables and picked, and then tatched for a fourth time, and laid in parcels, which parcels are again tatched by ten catties at a time, and when done put hot into baskets for the purpose, where they are kept till it suits the owner to pack them in chests or tubs, before which the tea is again tatched, and then put hot into the chests or tubs, and pressed in them by hand. When the tea is hot it does not break, which it is apt to do when it is cold. Singlo tea being more dusty than hyson tea, it is twice tossed in baskets, hyson only once. It appears that it is necessary to tatch these teas whenever they contract any moisture ; so that if the seller is obliged to keep his tea any time, espe¬ cially in damp weather, he must tatch it to give it a crispness before he can sell it. It is to be observed, that the quantity of leaves tatched increases with the times of tatching ; at first only half or three quarters of a catty of leaves are put into the tatches. — Asiatic Researches. t Souchong is made from the leaves of trees three years old, and where TEA TREE. £20 Padre- souchong , called so because the priests drink it, has a liner taste and smell. The leaves arc large and yellowish, not rolled up, and packed in papers of half a pound each. It is generally conveyed by caravans into Russia. Without much care it will be injured at sea. It is rarely to be met with in England. 2. Cam-ho or Soum-lo , called after the name of the place where it is gathered. A fragrant tea, with a violet smell. Its infusion is pale. 3. Congo-fou , covgo or longo-fo. This has a larger leaf than the following, and the infusion is a little deeper coloured. It resembles the common bohea in the colour of the leaf* *. There is a sort called lin-kisam , with narrow rough leaves. It is seldom used alone, but mixed with other kinds : by adding it to congo, the Chinese sometimes make a kind of pekoe teat. 4. Pekao, pecko, or pekoe , by the Chinese called lack-ho or pack-ho. It is known by having the appearance of small white flowers intermixed with it J. Ihe soil is very good: of older, when not so good, congo is made. The leaves of older trees make bohea. The tea trees last many years. When tea trees grow old and die, that is, when the bodies of the trees fail, the roots produce new sprouts, which make peko. — Asiatic Researches. * Congo , says Chow-qua, a Chinese, is tatched twice, as is souchong ; but Youngshawr says, souchong and congo are not tatched, but only fired two or three times. The latter is most probable, but yet the former may be true ; for as tatching seems to give the green colour to the leaves of the tea trees, so we may observe something of that greenness in the leaves of congo and souchong teas. Youngshaw further says, that the leaves of sou¬ chong, congo, hyson, and fine singlo trees, are beat with flat sticks or bam¬ boos, after they have been w ithered by the sun or air, and have acquired toughness enough to keep them from breaking, to force out of them a raw or harsh smell. — Asiatic Researches. + Lintsessin seems to be made from very young leaves rolled up, and stalks of the tree : the leaves are gathered before they are full blow n. This tea is never tatched, but only fired. Were the leaves suffered to remain on the trees until they were blown, they might be cured as peko ; if longer, as congo and bohea. This tea is in no esteem with the Chinese ; it is only cured to please the sight ; the leaves are gathered too young to have any flavour. — Asiatic Researches. f Peko, a tea which we import for Sweden and Denmark, is made from the leaves of trees three years old, and from the tenderest of them, gathered just after they have been in bloom, w hen the small leaves that grow be¬ tween the two first that have appeared, and which altogether make a sprig, 221 TEA TREE. 5. Common bohea, or black tea, called moji or mo-ee by the Chinese, consists of leaves of one colour, a brownish green *. are downy and white, and resemble young hair or down. Trees of four, five, and six years old may still make peko ; but after that they degenerate into bohea if they grow on the plains, and into congo if they grow on the hills. — Asiatic Researches. * Chow-qua says, that bohea may be cured as hyson, and hyson as bo¬ hea, and so of all other sorts; but that experience has shown, the teas are best cured as suits the qualities they have from the soils where they grow; so that bohea will make bad hyson, and hyson, though very dear in the country where it grows, bad bohea. However, in the province of Tokyen, which is called the Bohea province, there has lately been some tea made after the hyson manner, which has been sold at Canton as such. The bohea country, in the province of Tokyen, is very hilly, and since some years greatly enlarged ; the length of it is four or five days’ journey, or as much again as it formerly was. The extent of the soil that produces the best bohea tea is not more than 40 li, or about 12 miles ; in circum¬ ference it is from 100 to 120 li. Not only the hills in this country are planted w ith tea trees, but the valleys also ; the hills, however, are reckoned to produce the best tea ; on them grow congo, peko, and souchong; in the valleys or flat parts of the country, bohea. As to the true souchong, the whole place does not yield three peculs ; Youngshaw says not more than three catties. The value of it on the spot is 1§ or two tales the catty, about ten or twelve shillings the pound. What is sold to Europeans for souchong is only the first sort of congo, and the congo they buy is only the first sort of bohea. Upon a hill planted with tea trees, one only shall produce leaves good enough to be called souchong, and of those only the best and youngest are taken ; the others make congo of the several sorts, and bohea. There are four or five gatherings of bohea tea in the year, according to the demand there is for it ; but three, or at most four gatherings are reckoned proper; the others only hurt the next year’s crop. Of souchong there can be but one gathering, viz. of the first and youngest leaves ; all others make inferior tea. The first gathering is called tow-lchuue , the second earl, or gee-lchnue , the third san-lchuue . If the first leaves are not gathered they grow lar^e and rank, and are not supplied by the second leaves, w hich only come in their room or place, and so on. The first gathering is reckoned fat or oilv, the second less so, the third hardly at all so, yet the leaves look young. The first gathering is from about the middle of April to the end of May ; the second from about the middle of June to the middle of July ; the third from about the beginning of August to the latter end of September. Tea is never gathered in winter. The first gathering or leaf, Avhen brought to Canton, commonly stands the merchants in 11§ tales (a tale is six shillings and eightpence) the pecul. the 2d 11 or less, the 3d 9 - TEA TREE. The best is named tao-kyonn. An inferior kind is called An-kai} from a place of that name. Besides these, tea, both bohea and green, is sometimes im¬ ported in balls, from two ounces to the size of a nutmeg and of peas. The Chinese call it pencul-tclia. The smallest in this form is well known under the name of gunpowder tea* *. The method of curing bohea tea of these three growths is, according to Chow-qua, thus: When the leaves are gathered they are put into large flat baskets to dry, and these are put on shelves or planks, in the air or wind, or in the sun, if not too intense, from morning until noon, at which time the leaves begin to throw out a smell; then they are tatched. This is done by throwing each time about half a catty of leaves into the tatclie, and stirring them quick with the hand twice, the tatche being very hot, and then taking them out with a small short broom, if the hand is not sufficient. When taken out, the leaves are again put into the large flat baskets, and there rubbed by men’s hands to roll them; after which they are tatched in larger quantities, and over a cooler or slower fire, and then put into baskets over a charcoal fire, as is practised on some occasions at Canton. W hen the tea is fired enough, which a person of skill directs, it is spread on a table, and picked and separated from the too large leaves, yellow leaves, unrolled, broken, or bad leaves. Youngshaw says bohea tea is gathered, sunned in baskets, rolled with the hand, and then tatched ; w hich completes it. Another says it is gathered, then put in sieves or baskets, about a catty in each, and these are put in the air till the leaves wither or give, after which they are put into a close place out of the air, to prevent their grow ing red, until the evening, or for some hours : the smell then comes out of them. They are after this tatched a little, then rolled, and then tatched again ; and about half a catty is tatched at one time. — Asiatic Researches. * There are also other teas. Ho-ping tea is so called from the country w here it grows, which is twrelve easy days’ journey from Canton. This tea is cured after the manner of bo¬ hea, only in a more careless or slovenly way, on account of its little value, and with wood instead of charcoal fire, which is not so proper, and adds to the naturally bad smell the tea has from the soil where it grows. Leoo-ching or ( Lootsia ), the name of a place eight days’ journey from Canton : it may produce about 1000 peculs of tea in a year. This tea is cured as bohea, or as green, as the market requires, but is most commonly made to imitate singlo, which suits it best. Honan tea grows opposite to Canton ; it is cured in April or May for the Canton market, that is, for the use of the inhabitants of Canton, especially the women, and not for foreigners. There is but little of it, about 200 peculs. The worst sort of it remains flat, and looks yellow : it is tatched once to dry it, but not rolled, and is worth three candarines the catty. The best sort is tatched once, arid rolled with the hand, and tatched again ; it is TEA TREE. 223 The manner of gathering and preparing the leaves, as practised in Japan, is fully described by Kempfer, an author on whom we may safely depend ; and, as far as our information reaches, his account is in great measure the method used by the Chinese. The leaves are gathered carefully one by one, and each person is able thus to collect from four to ten or fifteen pounds in one day. The first gathering commences about the end of our Fe¬ bruary or beginning of March, when the leaves are young and tender: they are called jicki tsjaa , or powdered tea, because they are pulverised and sipped in hot water : they are disposed of to princes and rich people only ; and hence this kind is called imperial tea. A similar sort is called udsi tsjaa , and tacke sacki tsjaa , from the place where it grows. Peculiar care and nicety are observed in gathering these leaves. The second collection is made at the end of March or begin¬ ning of April. This is called tootsjaa , or Chinese tea, because it is infused and drunk after the Chinese manner. The third gathering is made in June, when the leaves are full worth twelve candarines the catty. These teas are not, like the bohea, after they are tatched put over a charcoal fire. The water of Honan tea is reddish. Ankoy tea is so called from the country that produces it, which is about twenty-four days’ journey from Canton. When gathered the leaves are put into flat baskets to dry like the bohea ; they are then tatched, and after¬ wards rubbed with hands and feet to roll them, then put in the sun to dry, and sold for three or four candarines the catty. If this tea is intended for Europeans it is packed in large baskets, like bohea baskets, and those are heated by a charcoal fire in a hot-house, as is often practised in Canton. Bohea tea is sometimes sent to Ankoy, to be there mixed w ith that country tea, and then forwarded to Canton. The worst sort of Ankoy is not tatched ; but Ankoy congo, as it is called, is cured with care, like good bohea or congo: this sort is generally packed in small chests. There is also Ankoy-peka ; but the smell of all these teas is much inferior to those of the Bohea country. However, Ankoy-congo of the first sort is generally dearer at Canto.i than the inferior growths of bohea. As tatching the tea makes it sweat, as the Chinese term it, or throw out an oil, the tatche in time becomes dirty, and must be washed. If bohea is tatched only twice, it will be reckoned slovenly cured, and the water of the tea will not be green, but yellow ; so that fine bohea tea must be cured as congo ; the coarse is not so much regarded. — Asiatic Re¬ searches. 224 TEA TREE. grown. This is called ban tsjaa ; it is the coarsest, and is chiefly consumed by the lower class of people. By sorting these, se¬ veral other varieties are produced. The most esteemed tea of Japan, according to Kempfer, grows in the environs of the small town of Udsi, situated in the neigh¬ bourhood of the sea. In that district is a celebrated mountain, which is entirely employed for the cultivation of that used by the emperor. This mountain, which has a beautiful and pic¬ turesque appearance, is surrounded by a broad ditch, to prevent men and animals from having any access to it. The plantations are laid out by the line, arranged in a manner exceedingly agreea¬ ble to the eye, and the shrubs are washed and cleaned every day. While the leaves are collecting, the men employed in that opera¬ tion bathe two or three times every day, and wear gloves when they pick the leaves, to prevent them from being dirtied. When the leaves have been torrified and properly prepared, they are shut up in vessels of great value, and conveyed with much pomp to the emperor’s palace. The Japanese ascribe to tea a miraculous origin. Darma, a very religious prince, and third son of an Indian king, named Kosjusvo, landed in China, they say, in the year 510 of the Christian aera. He employed all his care and thought to diffuse throughout the country a knowledge of God and religion ; and, being desirous to excite men by his example, imposed on himself privations and mortifications of every kind ; living in the open air, and devoting the days and nights to prayer and contempla¬ tion. After several years, however, being worn out with fa¬ tigue, he fell asleep against his will ; and that he might faith¬ fully observe his oath, which he thought he had violated, he cut off his eye-lids and threw them on the ground. Next day, hav¬ ing returned to the same spot, he found them changed into a shrub which the earth had never before produced. Having eaten some of the leaves of it, he found his spirits exhilarated, and his former vigour restored. He recommended this aliment to his disciples and followers. The reputation of tea increased, and after that time it continued to be generally used. Kempfer, in his Amos- nitates exoticce) gives the life with a portrait of this saint, so ce¬ lebrated in China and Japan. There is seen, at the feet of Dar¬ ma, a reed, which indicates that he had traversed the seas and rivers. Whether the Chinese collect the tea precisely at the same sea- TEA TREE. 225 Sons as in Japan, we are not well informed ; but most probably the tea harvest is nearly at the same periods, the natives having frequent intercourse, and their commercial concerns with each other being very extensive. The tea leaves should be dried as soon as possible after they are gathered. For this purpose public buildings are erected, containing from live to ten, and even twenty, small furnaces, about three feet high, each having at the top a large iron pan. There is also a long table covered With mats, on which the leaves are laid, and rolled by women who sit round it. The iron pan being heated to a certain degree by a fire made in the furnace beneath, a few pounds of the leaves are put upon the pan, and frequently turned and shifted by the hands till they become too hot to be endured ; they are then thrown upon the mats to be rolled between the palms of the hands ; after which they are cooled as speedily as possible. In order that all the moisture of the leaves may be completely dissipated, and their twisted form be better preserved, the above process is repeated several times with the same leaves, but less heat is employed than at first. The tea thus manufactured is afterwards sorted according to its kind or goodness. Some of the young tender leaves are never rolled, and these are immersed in hot water before they are dried. After the tea has been kept for some months, it is taken out of the vessels in which it was stored, and dried again over a very gentle fire, that it may be deprived of any humidity which re¬ mained, or it might have since contracted. The common tea is kept in earthen pots with narrow mouths ; but the best sort, used by the emperor and nobility, is put into porcclane or china vessels. The coarsest tea is kept by the country people in straw baskets, made in the shape of barrels, which they place under the roofs of their houses, near the hole that lets out the smoke*'. Thunbcrg declares, that the older the leaves are, and the later in the season they are gathered, the greater is the abundance ; but then the tea is so much the worse : the smaller leaves, and those which have just shot forth, furnish the finest and most va¬ luable. Young shrubs always yield better tea than old ones ; * Kempf. amoen. & Jap. Thunb. Jap. Woodv. Letts. 29 — 35. Q TEA TREE. 226 and some places produce it in greater perfection and more de« licious than others*. According to the accurate account of sir George Staunton, the largest and oldest leaves, which are the least esteemed, and destined for the use of the lowest classes of the people, are often exposed to sale with little previous manipulation, and still re¬ taining that kind of vegetable taste which is common to most fresh plants, but which vanishes in a little time, whilst the more essential flavour, characteristic of each particular vegetable, re¬ mains long without diminution. But the young leaves undergo no inconsiderable preparation before they are delivered to the purchaser : every leaf passes through the fingers of a female, who rolls it up almost to the form it had assumed before it be- came expanded in the progress of its growth. It is afterwards placed upon thin plates of earthen-ware or iron, made much thinner than is executed by artists out of China. It is confi¬ dently said in the country, that no plates of copper f are ever employed for that purpose. Indeed, scarcely any utensil used in China is of that metal, the chief application of which is for coin. The earthen or iron plates are placed over a charcoal fire, which draws all remaining moisture from the leaves, ren¬ dering them dry and crisp. The colour and astringency of green tea is derived from the early period at which the leaves are plucked, and wThich, like unripe fruit, are generally green and acrid. For exportation, the tea, as is well known, is packed * Travels, vol. iv. p. 42,43, Engl. edit. + This is a prevailing prejudice ; and green tea is vulgarly supposed to acquire its colour by means of verdigris, as some pickles have their colour heightened by putting into the vinegar a copper halfpenny. But Kempfer positively says, that the tea is torrified on plates of iron. The writer of Lord Macartney’s V oyage asserts the same thing ; nor could I discover the smallest quantity of copper, which is easily detected by means of chemistry. Pigou, who writes on the tea tree in the Asiatic Annual Register, says, the Chi¬ nese all agree there is but one sort or species of the tea tree ; and that the difference in tea arises from the soil and manner of curing. As the malt is either brown, producing our porter, or pale, forming our amber-coloured ale, from the manner of drying, so the tea is supposed to be made brown by a quick heat, and the green is produced by a slack heat, and more careful drying, which in consequence is obliged to be oftener repeated, thfe black teas being dried but twice, and the green as often as six or seven times. Some doubts about the two kinds of shrubs, or tea trees, making the distinctions, likewise are detailed in other places of this long article. TEA TREE* m In large chests lined with very thin plates of lead ; and it is pressed down into these chests by the naked feet of Chinese la¬ bourers *. Chinese drawings, though somewhat rudely executed, exhibit a faithful picture of what they are intended to represent. From a set of these, giving the whole process of gathering and manu¬ facturing the tree, we learn that the tree, or rather shrub, grows for the most part in hilly countries, often on their rocky sum¬ mits and steep declivities. Accordingly, sir George Staunton informs us, that vast tracts of hilly land are planted with It, particularly in the province of Fo-chen: and chevalier Thun- berg says, that he met with it frequently in Japan, both on the borders of cultivated lands, and upon such mountains and downs as did not well answer the trouble of cultivation. It appears also from these drawings that the shrubs are not much taller than a man’s middle : the gatherers are never represented climb¬ ing, they sometimes make use of hooked sticks, but these seem rather intended to draw the branches towards them, when they hang over places difficult of access. They pick the leaves first in a basket, which are soon after gathered into different sorts* and cured by drying them in iron kettles placed upon a range of stoves, like those in a chemist’s laboratory, after which the women chiefly work, and curl the leaves one by one. They likewise dry it by spreading it abroad in shallow baskets in the sun ; and, by means of sieves, separate the larger from the smaller leaves, and these again from the dust. The tea is then packed up in chests for the market. The Chinese put the finer kinds of tea into conic vessels, like sugar loaves, made of tutanag, tin, or lead, covering them with a neat packing of bamboo. The common tea is put into bas¬ kets, out of which it is emptied, and packed in boxes or chests, as soon as it is sold to the Europeans +. It is not known what arts are used in China to give a variety of colour and flavour to their teas, which cannot all be satis¬ factorily accounted for from soil, situation, and the different seasons at which the leaves are gathered. In Japan the produce * Embassy, vol. ii. p. 465. The practice of employing iron or earthen plates to dry the tea upon is, perhaps, a mistake, as the process is called latching, and a tatche exactly resembles our pitch kettle, f Lettsom, p. 36. Q 2 228 TEA TREE. is chiefly consumed within the country ; whereas in China, the exportation we know is very considerable, and the temptation great to exercise the arts of sophistication, in which it is noto¬ rious the Chinese are not deficient. In the Chinese drawings above mentioned, there are figures of several persons apparently separating the different kinds of tea, and drying it in the sun, with several baskets standing near them filled with a white substance, and in considerable quantity. To what use this may be applied is uncertain, as well as what the substance is ; yet there is little doubt that it is used in the manufacture of tea, because the Chinese do not introduce any thing into their pieces, but what relates in some respect to the subject. We are better acquainted with a vegetable substance which is employed in giving a flavour to tea. This is the Olea fra - grans , the flowers of which are frequently to be met with in teas exported from China. The plant itself is now not unfrequent in our stoves*. The flowers also of the Camellia Sesanqua and of the Arabian Jasmin are sometimes mixed among the teas, for the same purpose of increasing their fragrance. The Chinese call the former Cha- whaw, or flower of tea. It is cultivated in vast abundance in China, not so much for this purpose, as for its nut, which yields an esculent oil, equal to the best which comes from Florence. The tea plant is particularly valuable from the facility of its culture on the sides and very tops of mountains, in situations fit for little else f . We are not certain what motive induced the natives of China and Japan first to use an infusion of tea ; but it is highly pro¬ bable that it was in order to correct the water, which is said to be brackish and ill-tasted in many parts of those countries + . Sir George Staunton says, that persons of rank in China are so careful about the quality of the water intended for their own consumption, that they seldom drink any without its being di¬ stilled ; and every Chinese infuses tea or some other vegetable supposed to be salubrious, in the water which he uses. Like beer in England, tea is sold in public-houses in every town ; also by the side of public roads, and on the banks of rivers and ca- * Lettsom, p. 43. + Staunton’s Embassy, vol. ii. p. 467. X Lettsom, p. 19. TEA TREE. 229 \ nals, both in China and Japan ; nor is it unusual for the bur. thened and wearied traveller to lay down his load, refresh him¬ self with a cup of warm tea, and then pursue his journey*. These qualities of taking otf the ill taste of water, and refresh¬ ing after fatigue, have been experienced in other countries besides China and Japan. Thus Kalm says, u If tea be useful, it must be so in travelling through a desert country, where wine or other liquors cannot conveniently be carried, and where the water is generally unfit for use, as being full of insects. In such cases it is very pleasant when boiled, and tea is infused in it ; nay, I cannot sufficiently describe the fine taste it has in such circum¬ stances. It relieves a weary traveller more than can be imagined, as I have experienced with many others who have travelled through the forests of America: on such journeys tea is found to be almost as necessary as victuals. ” Forster, the translator, adds, that on his travels through the desert plains beyond the river Volga, he has had several opportunities of making the same observations on tea, and that every traveller in the same circumstances will readily allow them to be very just +. Captain Forrest, in his Voyage to New Guinea, relates several instances, wherein the sailors experienced the exhilarating effects of this in¬ fusion ■{. Other travellers have borne testimony to this pleasant and salutary effect of tea. And persons, after violent exercise, or coming off a journey much fatigued, and affected with a sense of general uneasiness, attended with thirst and great heat, by drinking a few cups of warm tea commonly experience imme¬ diate refreshment. Neither the Chinese, nor the natives of Japan, ever use tea before it has been kept at least a year ; because w hen fresh it is said to prove narcotic, and to disorder the senses. The Chinese pour hot water on the tea, and draw off the infusion in the same manner as is now practised in Europe ; but they drink it with¬ out sugar or milk. The Japanese reduce the tea to a fine pow'- der, by grinding the leaves in a hand-mill ; the cups are filled with hot water, and as much of this powder as might lie on the point of a moderate- sized knife is put into each cup, and stirred about till the liquor foams, and it is sipped while warm. Ac- * Embassy, vol. ii. p. 66, 69. + Travels in North America, vol. ii, p. 304, Engl, ed. ^ Lettsom, p. 20. TEA THEE. 230 cording to Du Halde, this method is also used in some provinces of China. The common people, who have a coarser tea, boil it for some time in water, and use the liquor for common drink. Early in the morning, the kettle filled with water is hung over the fire, and the tea is either put in enclosed in a bag, or by means of a basket pressed to the bottom of the vessel. The coarsest tea only is used in this manner, the qualities of which being more fixed, would probably not be so fully extracted by infusion. VIRTUES. Tea is indeed the common beverage of all the labouring people in China; and they are scarcely ever represented at work of any kind, but the tea-pot and tea-cup appear as their accompani¬ ments ; reapers, threshers, and all who work out of doors, as well as within, have these attendants^. With respect to the qualities of tea, it appears that an infusion of green tea has the etfcct of raising the sensibility of the nerves, and the irritability of the muscles ; and that it gives out in di¬ stillation an odorous water, which is powerfully narcotic. That the recent plant contains such an odorous narcotic power, we might presume from the necessity which the Chinese find of drying it with much heat before it can be brought into use; and that even after such preparation they must abstain from the use of it for a year or more, that is, till its volatile parts are still further dissipated : and it is said, that unless they use this pre¬ caution, the tea in a more recent state manifestly shows strong narcotic powers. Even in this country the more odorous teas often show their powers in affecting the nerves of the stomach, and indeed of the whole system. From these considerations it may fairly be concluded, that tea is to be considered as a narcotic and active substance : and that «/ it is especially such in its most odorous state, and therefore less in the boiica than in the green tea, and the most so in the finer kinds of the latter. Its effects however seem to be very different in different per¬ sons ; and hence the contradictory accounts that are given of them. But if we consider the difference of constitution, which occasions some variation in the operating of the same medicine, * Leltsom, p. 48. TEA TREE* 231 and of which we have a remarkable proof in the operation of opium, we shall not be surprised at the different operations of tea. It is not at the same time to be denied, that green tea may sometimes have good effects. It is very possible, that in certain persons, taken in moderate quantities, it may, like other nar¬ cotics, prove exhilarating, or, like them, have some effect in taking off irritability, or in quieting some irregularities of the nervous system. As its bad effects* have been often imputed to the warm water * Cullen, Mat. Med. vol, ii. 309. Woodville, vol. iv. 120. See Lettsom, p. 59, to the end.— The latter physician has scared the credulous respecting tea by the following very frightful narrative : — “ An eminent tea-broker” (Mr. Nash he means), “ after having examined in one day upwards of one hundred chests of tea, only by smelling at them forcibly, in order to distinguish their respective qualities, w as the next day seized with giddiness, head-ache, universal spasms, and loss of speech and memory. By proper assistance the symptoms abated, but he did not re¬ cover: for though his speech returned, and his memory in some degree, yet he continued, with unequal steps, gradually losing strength, till a paralysis ensued, then a more general one, and at length he died. Whether this wras ow ing to effluvia of the tea may, perhaps, be doubted. Future accidents may possibly confirm the suspicion to be just, or otherwise.” Dr. Lettsom then relates : “ An assistant to a tea-broker had frequently, for some w eeks, complained of pain and giddiness of his head after examining and mixing different kinds of tea. The giddiness w as sometimes so consi¬ derable as to render it necessary for a person to attend him, in order to pre¬ vent any injury he might suffer from falling, or other accident. He w as bled in the arm freely, but without permanent relief; his complaint re¬ turned as soon as he was exposed to his usual employment. At length he was advised to be electrified, and the shocks were directed through his head. The next day his pain was diminished, but the day after closed the tragical scene. I saw7 him a few hours before he died ; he was insensible ; the use of his limbs almost lost, and he sunk very suddenly into a fatal apoplexy. Whether the effluvia of the tea, or electricity, was the cause of this event is doubtful. In either view the case is w orthy of attention.” Anxious to ascertain this point as far as possible (for my grandmother, Mrs. Winstanley, at the age of near one hundred, was in the habit of taking very strong green tea, and would not allow any bad effects from tea, often being told it was a slow poison, of which slowness she was a tolerably good proof), I enquired of a gentleman who is smeller and taster to the East India Company of the teas at Canton, from whom I obtained the follow ing information. •“ My dear Sir London , Sept. 7, 1808. “ I had the pleasure to receive your letter of the 5th instant, and it al¬ ways will afford me much satisfaction to be of the least service to you. Y ou 232 TEA TREE. that accompanies the tea, so there is no doubt that sqme of its good effects may also be ascribed to the same cause, and parti¬ cularly its being so often grateful after a full meal. After all, the infusion of tea, as it is commonly taken in England, with a competent quantity of cream or milk and sugar, cannot be very narcotic or sedative, especially as after a long voyage it know the confined state we are in during our stay either at Canton or Macao, and the difficulty there is to obtain any information relating to the manu¬ factures and customs of the Chinese, which we can only get from the Hong merchants, none of whom I believe were ever in the tea country themselves, but derive all their information from their pursers, whom they annually send there to buy them tea. From what I could collect from them, I understand that the tree which produces the black and green tea is of the same species, but is cultivated and manufactured in different provinces. The manner of curing the black differs from that of the green; the former is not fired (or tatch’d, as the Chinese call it) so often as the latter, and I am pretty certain that the fine light green or blueish colour we observe the hyson, and other fine sorts of the green tea, to possess, is not natural, but a given colour, either by Prussian blue, or by some other article introduced among the leaves, at the time it is fired or tached, which is always with the hyson three times, and the common twankays and hyson skins twice, sometimes thrice. The blacks (bohea tea excepted) are also fired twice : besides both kinds, viz. blacks and greens, are a good deal exposed to the sun before and after their undergoing this process. The black teas are produced in the province of Fokein, and about twenty-four days journey from Canton ; the greens are cultivated further off, from thirty to thirty-three days from Canton ; the former I should think about 700 miles distant, and the latter near 1000 from Canton. The Chinese merchants call the former the Bohea Country, and the latter the Hyson Country, I understand the finest sorts of the blacks, viz. the Padra Scudry and Souchong and Pekoe, are produced from those trees that are cultivated on the higher land and hills ; the trees that grow on the low grounds do not produce good tea. The first gathering of the leaves, which always comprises the finest tea, is in the month of April, or early in May; the second in June, or the beginning of July ; and the third, w hich is the last gathering, is in August or the beginning of Septem¬ ber. The curing of the green tea is a more expensive and longer process than the black, and it is always much later in the season before w e get them at Canton than we do the black teas. The quantity fired at one time does not exceed two catties, which is put in a vessel made of iron, something in the form of pitch kettles on board of ships, or our saucepans ; and these are called taches by the Chinese, and are fixed like our coppers in brick work in our kitchens; the person employed in firing keeps turning the tea with his hand for a certain time, a few minutes only, and then takes it out of the tach for a fresh supply; it is done very quick; I have seen this part of the process myself in the neighbourhood of Canton. The hyson and fine hyson t>kin and twrankay leaves are tw isted or rolled in the palm of the hand pre- TEA TREE. 233 is kept some time in the East India company’s warehouses : and the finer sorts of it are not so much in request as formerly. Nor can it be an unwholesome beverage for sedentary persons and such as live freely, provided it be not taken too hot, or in immode¬ rate quantities, or without any solid food accompanying it. For the lower class of people, who generally live poorly, and procure little animal food, tea, conveying little or no nourishment. vious to their being fired ; the blacks, I believe, do not undergo that process. In general, I think the leaves of the green teas are larger than the blacks. There are several sorts of tea in China, which have never been seen in Europe, and of such superlative quality, as to fetch amongst themselves the high prices of from eight to sixteen tales the catty. This account I had from a missionary, who was at Pekin sixteen years, and whom I saw about twelve months before I quitted China, I have seen one kind of this tea, the leaf of which is nearly white, but very different from the pekoe, which you know has a whitish appearance. — Notwithstanding so much has been said by various people of the unwholesome and very prejudicial effects arising from the use of tea, I am of opinion it is quite erroneous. I have now been in the habit of smelling and tasting teas for the last eighteen years, the last four of which I passed in China, and you know howT much my time was employed for days, weeks, and months, examining teas in this manner every day ; besides which I always breakfast on it, and drink it in the af¬ ternoon ; and if the article possessed any pernicious qualities I should cer¬ tainly have felt it long before this. It is, I think, the drinking it too hot which makes it prejudicial, if it be so at all. I ahvays drink it warm, but not hot. The green tea is a stronger astringent than the black, but I think it quite as wholesome ; as a proof of it, the Chinese themselves in the northern provinces of China and at Pekin drink nothing else but green tea. In the southern they drink w holly black. — If there are any other questions relating to the above subject you wish to know and I can answer,! shall have much pleasure in communicating it. “ E. LARKEN.” In addition to the above let me add the testimonies of Mr. Venn and Mr. Wright, who are smellers and tasters to the East India company of the teas w hich have been imported, and place marks on each chest of tea as good, very good, superlatively good, best, very best, extraordinary, fine, incomparable, the bloom, and so on in degrees of comparison, which we grammarians are unacquainted with, but which direct the purchase ; and these gentlemen have been employed upwards of 40 years, sometimes in a morning tasting seventy cups, of all sorts, and after that smelling often from seven to eight hundred chests of tea, and these gentlemen never found any thing in teas at all prejudicial to their healths : the former asserts, that I)r. Lettsom’s account of Mr. Nash’s losing his life by smelling of teas is founded upon mistake ; and Dr. L. promised him to alter the mis-statement. TEA TREE. is a bad succedaneum for beer; and a meal on it, including su¬ gar and butter, is so expensive, they must forgo what is more necessary for their support, in order to enjoy it. When the Chinese first began to make use of tea as a beverage, we are not able to say ; but it is probable that the ill taste of the water in many parts of the empire would induce them to look out for some vegetable to correct it, soon after they arrived at a state of civilization. The earliest account that we have of it is from two Arabian travellers, who visited China about the year 850, and relate that the inhabitants of that empire had a medi¬ cinal beverage, named chah or sahy which was prepared by pour¬ ing boiling water on the dried leaves of a certain herb, which infusion was reckoned an efficacious remedy in various diseases *. From the great revenue which these travellers inform us was le¬ vied from the consumption of tea, it seems then to have been as universally the favourite beverage of the Chinese in the ninth century, as it is at present -f. Giovanni Botaro, an eminent Italian author, observes, that the Chinese have a herb, out of which they press a delicate juice, which serves them for drink instead of wine: it also pre¬ serves their health, and frees them from all those evils that the immoderate use of wine doth breed in us +. About the year 1600, Texeia, a Spaniard, saw the dried leaves in Malacca, where he was informed that the Chinese pre¬ pared a drink from this vegetable: and in 1633 Olearius found this practice prevalent amongst the Persians, who procured the plant under the name of cha orchia , from China, by means of the Usbeck Tartars. In 1639, Stirkaw, the Russian ambassa¬ dor at the court of the Mogul Chau Altyn, partook of the in¬ fusion of tea; and at his departure was offered a quantity of it, as a present for the Czar Michael Romanoff, which the ambassa¬ dor refused, as being an article for which they had no use in Russia §. Tea wras not know n in Europe as a beverage, before the com¬ mencement of the seventeenth century. Some Dutch adventurers * Renamlot Anciennes Relations, Par. 1718, p. 31. Haller, Bibb hot. i. 176. Lettsom, p. 21. + Robertson’s India, p. 96. J Engl. Trans. 1530. Anderson’s Commerce. ^ Lettsom, p. 20. TEA TREE. 235 seeking, about that time, for such objects as might fetch a price in China, and hearing of the general usage there of a beverage from a plant of the country, bethought themselves of trying how far an European plant, of supposed great virtues, might also be relished by the Chinese, and thereby become a saleable commodity amongst them ; and accordingly introduced to them the herb Sage, so much once extolled by the Salernian school of physic, as a powerful preservative of health ; the Dutch accept¬ ing in return the Chinese Tea, which they brought to Europe. The European herb did not continue, long at least, in use in China ; but the consumption of tea has been gradually increasing in Europe ever since *. In 1641, Tulpius, a celebrated physician, and consul at Am¬ sterdam, wrote in praise of the good qualities of tea. It is asserted that he did so by desire of the Dutch East India Com¬ pany, who rewarded him with a considerable sum of money. In 1667, Jonquet, a French physician, extolled its virtues. In 1678, Bontetre, physician to the elector of Brandenburgh, who had acquired great reputation, bestowed high encomiums on its qualities, in a dissertation which he published on tea, coffee, and chocolate. This work was attended with great success, and con¬ tributed not a little to render the use of it more general ; and before the end of the century the consumption of it was con¬ siderable. The introduction of tea into England was about the year 1660, when the first mention of it was made in the statute-book, and a duty of fourpence a gallon laid on the liquor made and sold in coffee-houses. A quantity of it being brought over from Holland in the year 1666 by lord Arlington and lord Ossory, tea soon came into re¬ quest among people of fashion, and its use by degrees since that period has become general +. Hanway informs us, that at this time it sold for sixty shillings a pound J. From these small beginnings we have seen the infusion of a leaf from the furthest extremity of the earth become in a manner a necessary of life, in several parts of Europe, and the passion for it descend from the most elevated to the lowest orders in so¬ ciety. In 1785 it was computed that the whole quantity of tea * Staunton’s Embassy, vol. i. p. 21. f Journal, vol. ii. p. 21. + Ibid. 236 TEA TREE. imported into Europe was about nineteen millions of pounds, of which it is conjectured that twelve millions were consumed in Great Britain and its dependencies*. Sir George Staunton informs us, that the annual publie sales of tea by our East India Company did not, in the beginning of the eighteenth century, much exceed fifty thousand pounds weight, independently of what little might be then perhaps clandestinely imported. The Company’s annual sales now (the year 1797) approach to twenty millions of pounds ; being an increase of four hundred fold in less than one hundred years, and answers to the rate of more than a pound each, in the course of the year, for the individuals of all ranks, sexes and ages, throughout the British dominions in Europe and America. Since the year 1797, it is probable that the importation of tea has much increased, and that at least thirty millions of pounds are annually imported into Europe alone +. Since the free use of tea, the stone has become a very rare disease in England J. * Robertson’s India, p. 252. + Embassy, vol. i. p. 22. J In this one instance I have deviated from the regularity of system by making our account of Tea follow Coffee. GREAT BROAD-LEAVED MULLEIN, VERBASCUM THAPSUS. Class V. Pentandria. Order I. Monogynia. Eessnt. Gen. Char. Corolla rotate, somewhat unequal: Capsule three celled, two-valved. Spec. Char. Leaves decurrent, on each side tomentose : Stem simple. DESCRIPTION. Tiie stem rises two or three feet in height, and is irregularly adorned with leaves, which are large, without footstalks, at the base decurrent, oblong, pointed, indented at the margin, and covered on both sides with fine down, or hair. The flowers are GREAT BROAD-LEAVED MULLEIN* yellow, and clothe the extremity of the stem, and are produced in succession from the bottom. The calyx is cut into five acute segments, and is covered with down. The corolla is also cut into five segments, which are blunt, and somewhat unequal. HISTORY. It is a native of England, and usually grows on the declivity of ditches, producing a very grand appearance. Its remarkable woolliness is very attractive. The leaves have a bitterish sub- astringent taste, and a mucilaginous quality. MEDICAL USE. Catarrhs and diarrhoeas are the complaints for which the Ver- bascum has been used. Dr. Home tried it in both diseases, but allows its virtue only in the latter disorder. He relates four cases in which the verbascum was given ; and from which he concludes, u that it is useful in diminishing or stopping diarrhoeas of an old standing, and often in easing the pains of the intes¬ tines. This arises from the emollient and gently astringent qua¬ lities of the plant. The decoction is made by boiling two ounces of the leaves in a quart of water for twenty minutes, and four ounces of this decoction is to be given every three hours. STINKING GOOSE-FOOT, OR ORACH. CIIENOPODIUM FCETIDUM. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-leaved, five-angled : Corolla none : Seed one, lenticular above. Spec. Char. Leaves entire, rhomboideo-ovate : Flowers axillary, assem¬ bled. DESCRIPTION. Tiie plant reaches near a foot. Leaves numerous, mealy, al¬ ternate, upon short footstalks. Flowers small, of a light green, and placed in clusters, like the flowers of spinach in the alee of the leaves, terminal, inconspicuous. No seed-vessel. HISTORY. It is usually found about ruins ; and flowers in August. In its recent state it has the offensive smell of putrid saltfish, which long remains on the hands. UW STINKING GOOSE-FOOT, OR ORACH. MEDICAL USE. Dr. Cullen says “that it has been frequently employed in hys¬ terics and spasmodic complaints with advantage ; not, however, so frequently as might be expected, as it is a plant, in its fresh state, not always ready at hand, and in its dry state it loses all its sensible qualities. It can only be employed therefore in its recent state, and the most convenient formula is that of a con¬ serve ; and as it is not always easy to reconcile our patients to it even in that state, it is not employed so often as I could wish.” —Mat. Med. vol. ii. p. 365. Boerhaave gives a like commendation of the plant, and adds, that the leaves applied externally hasten suppuration : “ Folia emolliunt, dolores sopiunt, et suppurationem maturescunt.” COMMON ELM. ULMUS CAMPESTRIS. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Geiv. Char. Calyx five-cleft: Corolla none : Berry dry, com- presso- membranaceous. Spec. Char. Leaves twice-serrate, unequal at the base. DESCRIPTION. It becomes a large tree, covered with a rough crinkled bark. The leaves are ovate, rough, doubly serrate, and alternate upon short peduncles. The flower precedes the leaves. The seed is round, but somewhat compressed. HISTORY. This tree is common in Middlesex, but is said not to be found north of Stamford. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The inner tough bark abounds with a slimy juice, of a bit¬ terish taste, and was employed by Fallopius to unite wounds by the first intention. But it is now chiefly employed as a ptisan for R a 242 COMMON ELM. scorbutic affections, and for the cure of herpes and lepra. Dr. Lysons mentions five cases of inveterate eruptions, both dry and humid, or those forming incrustations, which were successfully treated by a decoction of this bark, prepared from four ounces of it taken fresh, and boiled in two quarts of water to one : of this the patients were directed to drink a pint twice a day. The body was kept open, and a few grains of nitre were added to the ptisan. It is admitted by the authors of the Edinburgh Phar¬ macopoeia, who do not deny its efficacy in leprosy ; but, as they observe, such a remedy requires a very patient trial ! To receive benefit from the elm bark it must be continued for some months ; and Dr. Lettsom has favoured us with a very striking case of leprosy (in Med. Trans, vol. ii. p. 203), where a cure was effected after every other remedy had failed. A yet more remarkable instance of its efficacy in leprosy is related by Banace (in Journ. de Paris 1783, n. 255), who proposes the use of this remedy in old ulcers, cancerous and scrophulous affections, scald head, scurvy, & c. These recommendations merit attention. It has been found of use in some nephritic cases. Coffins are composed of this wood, as being very difficult to corrupt. These will be kept at a distance, in proportion to our proper knowledge of plants. YELLOW GENTIAN. GENTIANA LUTEA. Class V. Pentandria. Order IT. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla monopetalous : Capsule two-valved, one” celled : Receptacles two, longitudinal. Spec. Char. Corolla deeply five-cleft, rotate, verticillate : Calyx a spatha. DESCRIPTION, The plant rises two or three feet in height. The stem is strong, smooth, erect. The leaves which arise from the lower part of the stem are spear-shaped, large, ribbed, those from the upper part more ovate, smooth, sessile. The flowers are large, yel¬ low, produced in whorls, and stand on a footstalk. The calyx is a spatha, which drops. The corolla is divided into five or six segments. The pistil has no style, but two reflexed stigmata. The capsule is conical. HISTORY. Gentian is a perennial plant, which grows upon the Alps, Pyrennees, Appenines, and other mountainous situations in the temperate parts of Europe. r 2 244 YELLOW GENTIAN. The roots are long, thick, externally of a brown colour, and wrinkled : internally spongy, and of a yellow colour, without any remarkable smell, but surpassing in bitterness all other Eu¬ ropean vegetables. Alcohol dissolves only the bitter extractive, water both the extractive and mucilage. Neumann got from 960 grains 390 alcoholic, and afterwards 210 insipid watery extract; and inversely, 540 watery, and only 20 alcoholic. MEDICAL USE. Gentian possesses the general virtues of bitters in an eminent degree, and it is totally devoid of astringency. On dead animal matter it acts as an antiseptic. Taken into the stomach it proves a powerful tonic, and in large doses it evacuates the intestines. It is useful in debility of the stomach, in general debility, and in gout. Combined with astringents it cures intermittents. Ex¬ ternally it is applied to putrid ulcers. The root, which is the only medicinal part in use, has little or no smell, and to the taste manifests great bitterness, a quality which is extracted by aqueous and spirituous menstrua, though not in so great a degree by water as by spirit. As an intense bitter it is admitted to be not only a tonic, but a fine stomachic, and when joined with equal parts of tormentil root, or galls, says Cullen, it never fails curing an intermittent equally with the Peruvian bark. It was given before the discovery of this bark in that disease. u Ilaec cortice Peruviana uondum inventa habebatur pro ultimo remedio in quartana.” — Boerhaave. Again : a Radix ad unciam semes in vino decocta vase clauso conducit ad omnes febres intermittentes.” It is strongly recommended in the green sickness : — u Infusum hujus plants in chlorosi vir- ginibus pallidis, et stomacho confortando conducit.” In hys¬ terics : u In passionibus hystericis est planta optima.” Stop¬ page of the months : u In mensibus obstructs est optima planta.” In obstructions of every kind : u In obstructionibus pcrtinacis- simis conducit, uti lienis et hepatis.” A want of bile : u Succus in hac planta est amarior quam absynthio, et ulla alia amara herba, hinc bilis defectui supplet.” Against worms : “ Lum- bricos necat, quibus amarore suo adversa sunt et ratione virtutis alcalinae, contrariantur acidis putridisque, in quibus vermes ni- dulantur.” In dropsy: u Optima in hydrope.” In gout: a Est planta primaria contra podagram.” In hydrophobia : u In hy- YELLOW GENTIAN. 24 5 drophobia specifice laudatur.” Against the bites of venomous animals: “Morsibus venenaforum animalium succurrit.” Against gangrene : u Garigrmn® resistit.” Sordid ulcers : u Chirurgi radicein lente siccatam et in scrobem rasam ulceribus sordidis aspergunt et depurant.” In the fistula: u Vel sub specie tu- rundae fistulis intrudunt ad fistulas dilatandas, quod fit, quia laxior radicis substantia a susceptis ex fistula humoribus intumescens earn sensim dilatat, et quia sal acre ulceris fistulosi callum exedit vel absurait.’, So far the great Boerhaave ; and the famous Haller recommends it also in asthma. It is more antiseptic than bark, or keeps meat longer from corruption, yet it does not turn of a black colour with iron. As far as regards my own experience I have found it a most useful remedy, and until the time arrives that we shall have found out a specific for each disease, or specifics, we must follow what has been denominated the Brunonian practice, namely, acting on the constitution, which of herself removes a long catalogue of disease, thus acting on disease through her powers, which often require to be assisted. The nicety in physic is to know the nature of each disease, attend to the constitution, and not to do too much or too little. PREPARATIONS. Extract of Gentian. (Extractum Gentian® Lute®. E.) Take of gentian root, any quantity : Having cut and bruised it, pour upon it eight times its quantity of distilled water. Boil to the consumption of one half of the liquor, and strain it by strong expression. Evaporate the de¬ coction immediately, to the consistence of thick honey, in a bath of water saturated with muriate of soda. Of the extract from ten grains to two scruples arc given. Compound Infusion of Gentian, or Bitter Infusion. (In- fusum Gentian® compositum, vulgo Infusum Amarum. E.) Take of gentian root, cut into pieces, half an ounce; - dried peel of Seville oranges, bruised, one drachm ; - coriander seeds, bruised, half a drachm ; - diluted alcohol, four ounces ; • - water, one pound: First pour on the alcohol, and three hours thereafter add the water; then macerate without heat for twelve hours, and strain. 246 YELLOW GENTIAN. The dose is two or three drachms, at twelve o’clock, seven in the evening, and bed-time, every day, to improve digestion. Compound Infusion of Gentian. (Infusum Gentianae com- positum. L.) Take of the root of gentian, cut into pieces, one drachm ; — — — * dried orange peel, a drachm and a half ; — ■— fresh outer rind of lemons, half an ounce ; — — — boiling water, twelve ounces, by measure : Macerate for an hour, and strain. Dub. Take of bruised gentian root, two drachms ; — - - fresh outer rind of lemons, half an ounce ; — — — dried peel of Seville oranges, a drachm and a half ; — - — proof spirit, four ounces by measure ; — — • boiling water, twelve ounces by measure : First pour on the spirit, and after three hours the water: lastly, after macerating two hours, filter. These formulae are all essentially the same. The Edinburgh college employ the largest proportion of gentian ; but they in¬ fuse it in cold water, which does not extract the bitter principle so quickly or so fully as boiling water, although it dissipates less of the flavour of the aromatics. The alcohol is a useful addi¬ tion, both in promoting the extraction of the virtues of all the ingredients, and in preserving the infusion longer from spoiling. Gentian is the strongest and purest of the European bitters, and readily imparts its virtues to water. These infusions are in very common use as stomachic and tonic. The dose is from two to three drachms in simple peppermint, or any other vehicle. Compound Wine of Gentian, commonly called Bitter Wine. (Yinum Gentianae compositum ; vulgo Vinum Ama- rum. E.) Take of gentian root, half an ounce ; - - cinchona bark, one ounce ; - Seville orange-peel, dried, two drachms ; - canella alba, one drachm ; - - diluted alcohol, four ounces ; • - Spanish white wine, two pounds and a half : First pour the diluted alcohol on the root and barks, sliced and YELLOW GENTIAN* 247 bruised, and, after twenty-four hours, add the wine ; then ma¬ cerate for seven days, and strain. This wine, which is a pleasant bitter, is intended as a substi¬ tute for the old tinctura ad stomachicos. Wines of this kind are sometimes introduced at the tables of epicures in Italy, to assist the stomach in digestion. The quantity given is from two to three drachms, in water, three or four times a day, or an hour before dinner, to create an appetite and assist digestion. It properly enters into the composition of the bitter tincture of rhubarb of the Edinburgh college, which see under the article Rhubarb. PREPARATIONS, ]J. 1. Take of the compound infusion of gentian, drachms 3, - - — prepared kali - - - - - * grains 2, "• spirit of pimento - - - - - drachms 2, - - cinnamon water - - - - - drachms 7 : Make into a draught, to be taken an hour before dinner to create an appetite, or with some people four times a day. 1^.2. Take of the compound tincture of gentian, drachms 2, - - — tincture of Colombo - - - - drachms 2, - - — cinnamon water, — - - peppermint water, equal quantities, drachms 4 : Form into a draught, of which take one four times a day, as a fine tonic. PURPLE GENTIAN. GENTIANA PURPUREA. ■J mrnm I Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent, Gen. Char. Corolla monopetalous : Capsule two-valved, one- celled: the Receptacles two, longitudinal. Spec. Char. Corollas somewhat five-cleft, campanulate, verticillate : Calyxes truncate. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises to a foot in height. Stem erect. Upper leaves in pairs, sheathing the stem, inclosing the flowers. Flowers large, purple, bell-shaped, standing in whorls. Anthers coni¬ cal. Stigmas two reflexed. Capsule ovate, containing numerous small seeds. HISTORY. It is a native of the Alps, and was introduced in this country in the year 1768. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The same as with the preceding, and it may be remarked that our English gentians have most probably the same virtues as the foreign, as far as my experience has reached ; yet we often seek at a distance what lies at the very threshold of our doors ! PRICKLY SALTWORT. SALSOLA KALI. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five leaves: Corolla none: Capsule one. seed % Seed snailform. Spec. Char. Stem herbaceous, decumbent: Leaves subulate, spiny, rough : Calyx marginate, axillary. DESCRIPTION. This rises to about a foot. The leaves stand in threes. The flowers are sessile, of a rose colour, obscurely five-cleft; border round, indented. HISTORY. It is a native of Britain, common on the sea shores, and flowers in July and August. The barilla or soda is chiefly prepared from this plant : pot¬ ash, from other kinds of vegetables. Natural History of Potash. If wood or vegetables be burnt in the open air, and the ashes repeatedly washed with water till it passes tasteless, and if this liquid be evaporated to dryness, the substance which remains is 250 PRICKLY SALTWORT. called potash ; far, however, from being in a state of purity. In this state it occurs in commerce. It is seldom found in an uncombined state, except in wells in towns, as at Douay, &c. It is said to exist in the aluminous ore of La Tolfa. In combination with the sulphuric, nitric, and muriatic acids, it is found in Spain, and in the East Indies. Potash was formerly denominated the vegetable alkali, but improperly, because it is met with abundantly in mineral bodies, more especially in volcanic products. Dr. Kennedy has lately discovered it in the pumice stone. Vauquelin has found it in the zeolite from the Ferro islands. Klaproth has likewise dis¬ covered it in the leucite, an earth of the siliceous genus. Vegetable physiologists are not agreed whether potash be de¬ rived from the soil in which vegetables grow; whether it exists uncombined with any acid in plants ; whether it be a product of vegetation ; or whether it be generated during the process of burning. Potash was for a long time unknown in its pure state, be¬ cause it was difficult to obtain it. We shall examine its proper¬ ties in that state, and then point out the methods of obtaining it. Properties of Potash. Potash, in a crystallized form, consists of soft quadrangular compressed prisms, which are extremely caustic and deliquescent. It dissolves all soft animal matters when brought into contact with it. It liquefies by a gentle heat, and rises in fumes at high temperatures. It does not unite in a direct manner with phos¬ phorus. It easily combines with sulphur and metallic oxides. It dissolves alumine in the humid way, and even a small quantity of silex ; but it does not act on glucine or zircon, nor on mag¬ nesia or lime. It contracts no union with barytes. It absorbs water and carbonic acid rapidly. It fuses into glass with silex by the aid of fire. It forms salts which in general do not yield their acid unless to barytes. It changes blue vegetable colours green, and possesses all the general properties of alkalies. Methods of obt4ining Potash. It has long been a desideratum with chemists to possess a me¬ thod of preparing potash in a state of absolute purity ; the strong tendency which it has to combination renders this extremely dif¬ ficult. The following are the methods now made use of:— PRICKLY SALTWORT. 251 1. Bouillon la Grange’s apparatus* consists of several boxes of common deal. At the bottom put river sand, which must be well washed, and over it add another stratum, but of a finer kind, and Cover the whole with a cloth, besprinkled with wood ashes. In the bottom of each box a hole is made, into which is fitted a glass tube, for the purpose of affording a passage to the liquor as it filters through the sand. Having arranged the apparatus in this manner, take equal parts of quicklime and potash of commerce, if the lime is very caustic ; but in the contrary case, it requires twenty parts of lime to fifteen of potash : put water into an iron kettle, bring it nearly to a state of ebullition, and then add lime, which by its slaking will bring the water to that state completely. When it is slaked mix the potash, and form of the whole a thick li. quid, which must be suffered to cool a little. Then pour the mixture into the boxes, and immediately throw water over it; but to prevent the water from making holes, when added, place over it a small board, which will rise with the water. Care must be taken to place earthen pans, or other vessels, to receive the liquor which runs through the tubes ; and, that the ley may not absorb carbonic acid from the atmosphere, the vessels must be closed w’ith care, in such a manner as to exclude the external air. It will be necessary also to keep water always over the mixture, which must be collected till it passes tasteless from the tubes. The liquors obtained are nearly of the same degree of strength till towards the end of the process, when they grow weak sud» denly. To evaporate the water, use should be made of cast iron pots, beginning with the last portion, which are a little weaker ; and to prevent the necessity of keeping the strongest a long time in contact with the air when boiling, a strong ebullition is requi¬ site. When the fluid is concentrated to a certain degree, any sulphate of potash that may be present will crystallize, and be precipitated. To obtain dry potash pour the concentrated liquor into a small bason, and proceed with the evaporation, till a little of it poured on an iron plate, or a marble slab, becomes solid. * La Grange’s Manual of Chemistry, vol. i. p. 172. 252 PRICKLY SALTWORT. Then put the concrete potash into a jar, and pour over it very strong alcohol; the potash alone dissolves in it; the sul¬ phate and muriate of potash, with the portions of earth and even of carbonic acid, which it obstinately retains, or which it may have acquired from the air during the evaporation, remain at the bottom of the solution. Afterwards decant the pure li¬ quor, and distil it in a retort till it becomes colourless. It must then be evaporated in a silver bason. On cooling, it crystallizes in white laminas, which are sometimes three-tenths of an inch in length : or, instead of suffering it to crystallize, it may be eva¬ porated to dryness. 2. Lowitz has given another method*. According to this chemist, the whole of the operation for obtaining potash of the greatest purity, and without the least colour, consists in this : A lixivium of potash, freed from carbonic acid in the usual man¬ ner, is evaporated to a thick pellicle. After the cooling, the foreign salt which has crystallized is to be separated, and the evaporation of the lixivium continued in an iron pot. During this second evaporation the pellicle of foreign salts, particularly of carbonate of potash, which continues to be formed, must be carefully taken off with an iron skimmer. When no more pel¬ licle is formed, and the matter ceases to boil up, it is removed from the fire and suffered to cool, continually stirred with an iron spatula. It is then to be dissolved in double the quantity of cold water, and the solution filtered, and evaporated in a glass retort, till it begins to deposit regular crystals. If the mass should consolidate ever so little by cooling, a small quantity of water is to be added, and it must be heated again to render it fluid. After the formation of a sufficient quantity of regular crystals, the fluid, which is very brown, is to be decanted, and the salt, after being suffered to drain, must be redissolved in the same quantity of water. The decanted fluid must be kept in a well-closed bottle, and suffered to become clear by subsiding during several days. It must then be decanted for a second eva¬ poration and crystallization. The process must be repeated as long as the crystals afford, with the least possible quantity of wa¬ ter, solutions perfectly limpid. These solutions are to be pre¬ served in well-closed bottles, to defend them from the access of air. * Nicholson’s Journal, vol. i. p. 14. PRICKLY SALTWORT. 253 The greatest difficulty of this process arises from the facility with which the fluid assumes a solid form. To obviate this in- convenience a small portion of it may be concentrated to the point at which it becomes converted into a solid mass by cool¬ ing. The saturation of a lixivium considerably evaporated may¬ be ascertained by throwing small pieces of this mass into it during its cooling. When these are no longer dissolved, it is a proof that it is at the required point. With regard to the foreign salts which are mixed with the pot¬ ash, the greatest portion separates by crystallization after the first evaporation. The rest is separated during the second con¬ centration by the continual skimming of the pellicle. The little which may remain with the potash must precipitate for want of water of solution, in a lixivium, wherein the alkali itself is no longer dissolved but by its ow n water of crystallization. Potash, and Silex ( Flint ), form Glass. If potash and silex are fused together, a combination is ob¬ tained known under the name of glass. This product differs ac¬ cording to the quantities of silex and potash of which it is com¬ posed. If three or four parts of potash be fused with one of silex, the result will be a soft brittle kind of glass, which is soluble in water. This solution is called liquid siliceous potash, or impro¬ perly liquid of flints. To prepare this liquid, take one part of silex, reduced to a fine powder (or pure sand), and three or four parts of potash ; put these two substances into a crucible, which must be only half filled, and place the crucible in the fire. As soon as the matter enters into fusion it puffs up considerably, and continues to swell till the alkali has dissolved the silex. The crucible is to be kept uncovered as long as the effervescence lasts; but when it is over cover the crucible, and augment the heat till the whole fuses quietly. The contents are then poured out on a dry iron plate or stone ; the matter as it cools becomes hard, and assumes the appearance of glass. Natural History of Soda. The name of soda is given to the next alkali, which greatly resembles potash. Hitherto we are not better acquainted with the nature of soda than with that of potash, being equally uncer- 254 PRICKLY SALTWORT. tain whether it previously existed ready formed in the vegetable, or if it be a combination of certain radicals effected during the process for obtaining it. Soda frequently occurs in the mineral kingdom united with sulphuric, muriatic, and boracic acids ; it is also found in large quantities in Egypt combined with carbonic acid. It appears to be deposited in large impure masses, under the surface of the earth, in various countries, from which it is extracted by run¬ ning water. Thus it is found after the spontaneous evaporation of the water, mixed with sand in the bottom of lakes in Hun¬ gary, in the neighbourhood of Bilin in Bohemia, and in Swit¬ zerland. It occurs also in China, and near Tripoli in Syria, Egypt, Persia, and India. It frequently oozes out of walls, and crystallizes on their surface. Properties of Soda. Soda differs particularly from potash by the following pro. perties. In the fire it is rather more fusible. When exposed to the contact of the air it attracts water and carbonic acid ; but it does not liquefy like potash, it merely acquires a pasty con¬ sistence, and at last crumbles into powder. It is not altered by light. It attracts sulphur and sulphurated hydrogen more feebly. It adheres less strongly to the acids. It fuses and dissolves alu- mine more easily. All its other properties, its volatilization by a very high degree of heat, its acrid causticity, its solubility, its combinations with sulphur, &c., resemble those of potash. Method of obtaining Soda. Soda, like potash, is procured by lixiviation from the ashes of burnt plants, but only from those which grow upon the sea shores. The variety of plants employed for this purpose is very considerable. In Spain soda is procured from the different spe¬ cies of the Salsola salicornia and Batis maritima. The Zostera maritima is burnt in some places on the borders of the Baltic. In this country we burn the various species of Fuci, and in France they burn the Chenopodium maritimum. The soda thus procured is more or less pure according to the nature of the particular plant from which it is obtained. The greatest part, however, is a true carbonate of soda. In order to obtain it in a state of purity the carbonate must PRICKLY SALTWORT. 255 be treated like potash of commerce with lime and ardent spirit, as described before. Remark. — It is curious that some plants, which in their native soil yield only potash, afford also soda if they are cultivated in the neighbourhood of the sea, or on land occasionally inundated by it. Experimental Proofs of tiie Properties of Soda. Experiment I. Method of distinguishing Soda from Potash. Let fall into a solution of the alkali to be investigated a few grains of oxalic acid ; for this acid forms with potash oxalate of potash, which is very soluble, and on the contrary with soda it produces oxalate of soda, which is of a very difficult solubility. Experiment II. Formation of Soap. The combination of soda or potash w ith oils, or fat in gene¬ ral, forms the compound called soap. The union of oil, &c. with potash affords those called soft soap ; the combination of soda with the same substances affords those called hard soap. It seems to be an established truth, that potash combined with any kind of fat can only afford a soap, to which no cooling can give a hard consistency. The addition, however, of a certain quantity of soda, or even of muriate of soda, will produce the effect of consolidating it. The formation of white soap may be shown in the following manner: — Let one part of lime (previously slaked) and tw o of soda be boiled in twelve parts of water for half an hour, filter the lixi¬ vium through a linen cloth (pouring back the fluid upon the cloth till it passes clear), and evaporate it till its specific gravity be about 1*375, or, which is the same thing, till a phial which would contain one ounce of water will hold an ounce and three- eighths of the fluid : this having been done, soap may be made by mere mixture of this ley with olive oil, in the proportion of one part of the former with two of the latter, in a glass or stone-ware vessel. This mixture being beat up from time to time with a wooden spatula, soon becomes consistent, and if left to stand for four or five days it forms a white hard soap. Remark. — In large manufactories the ley for making soap is 256 PRICKLY SALTWORT. made no stronger than to float a new-laid egg, when the work¬ men begin to form the mixture. The oil, or tallow, is first boiled with a weak ley until the whole is formed into a sapo¬ naceous compound. It is then kept boiling with a stronger ley until it acquires a considerable consistence, and seems to be se¬ parating from the fluid below. This separation is a very ma¬ terial part of the operation ; and to effect it completely a quan¬ tity of common salt is added, the materials are continually boiled for three or four hours, and then the fire is withdrawn. The soap will now be found united at the top of the liquor, or what is called the waste ley, which is of no further use, and is there¬ fore drawn off. The soap is now melted for the last time with a ley, or even with water ; it is then allowed to cool for a short time, and afterwards cast into wooden frames. The last melting is of considerable importance, as it gives the soap a compact ap¬ pearance. The tallow for making soap is reckoned good if 13 cwt. yield a ton of white soap. Mottled soap is made in a similar manner as the last; the mottled appearance is given towards the end of the operation of boiling by dispersing the ley through the soap, or by adding to it a quantity of a solution of sulphate of iron, which by its de¬ composition deposits its oxide through the soap, and gives it an appearance of blue marble. In some manufactures the black oxide of manganese is made use of for the same purpose. Yellow soap is made with tallow and resin ; and these are reckoned good, if 10 cwt. of tallow and 3^ cwt. of resin, with the proper quantity of soda, afford a ton of soap. PREPARATIONS. Water of Potash, commonly called Caustic Ley. (Aqua Potassce, vulgo Lixivium Causticum. E.) Take of newly prepared lime, eight ounces ; - carbonate of potash, six ounces : Put the lime into an iron or earthen vessel, with twenty-eight ounces of warm water. After the ebullition is finished, instantly add the salt; and, having thoroughly mixed them, cover the vessel till they cool. When the mixture has cooled, agitate it wrell, and pour it into a glass funnel, whose throat must be ob¬ structed with a piece of clean linen. Cover the upper orifice of the funnel, and insert its tube into another glass vessel, so that PRICKLY SALTWORT. 257 the Water of potash may gradually drop through the rag into the lower vessel. As soon as it ceases to drop, pour into the funnel some ounces of water ; but cautiously, so that it may swim above the matter. The water of potash will again begin to drop, and the affusion of wafer is to be repeated in the same manner, until three pounds have dropped, which will happen in the space of two or three days ; then mix the superior and inferior parts of the liquof together by agitation, and keep it in a well-stopt phial. Water of Pure Kali. (Aqua Kali Puri. L.) Take of prepared kali, four pounds ; - - lime, six pounds ; - distilled water, four gallons: Put four pints of water to the lime, and let them stand together for an hour ; after which add the kali and the rest of the water ; then boil for a quarter of an hour ; suffer the liquor to cool, and strain it. A pint of this liquor ought to weigh sixteen ounces. If the liquor effervesce with any acid, add more lime, and boil the liquor and lime in a covered vessel for five minutes. Lastly, let it cool again, and strain it. These processes do not differ materially. They are founded upon the affinity of lime being stronger than that of potash for carbonic acid. Of course, when lime comes in contact with car¬ bonate of potash, the carbonic add quits the potash to unite with the lime, and the results of the mixture are potash and carbonate of lime. Now, as the carbonate of lime is insoluble in water, and the potash is very soluble, they may be separated by filtra¬ tion. In doing this, however, we must take care to employ instruments on which the solution of potash does not act, and to prevent the free access of air, from which it would attract carbonic acid, and thus frustrate the whole operation. The latter object is attained by covering the upper or broad end of the funnel with a plate of glass, and inserting the lower end into the neck of a phial, which it fits pretty closely. The former object is attended with greater difficulties, and indeed scarcely to be effected, so powerful and general is the agency of potash. All animal substances are immediately attacked and destroyed by it ; therefore our filters cannot be made of silk, woollen, or paper, which contains glue ; and although neither vegetable matters nor silica entirely escape its action, linen and sand are, on the whole, the least objectionable. A filter of sand was used s 258 PRICKLY SALTWORT. by Dr. Black : he first dropped a rugged pebble into the tube of the funnel, in some part of which it formed itself a firm bed, while the inequalities on its surface afforded interstices of suf¬ ficient size for the passage of the filtering liquor. On the upper surface of this stone he put a thin layer of lint or clean tow ; immediately above this, but not in contact with it, he dropped a stone similar to the former, and of a size proportioned to the swell in the upper part of the tube of the funnel. The inter¬ stices between this second stone and the funnel were filled up with stones of a less dimension, and the gradation uniformly continued till pretty small sand was employed. Finally, this was covered with a layer of coarser sand, and small stones, to sustain the weight of the fluid. A filter of sand being thus constructed in the funnel, it was washed perfectly clean by making fresh water pass through it till it dropped from the lower extremity of the funnel perfectly clear and transparent ; and before using it, it was allowed to stand for some days, that no water might re¬ main among the interstices of the sand. From the spongy nature of the residuum which remains upon the filter, and especially if we use that of sand, a considerable quantity of the solution of potash will be retained. It is, how¬ ever, easily obtained by pouring gently over it, so as to disturb it as little as possible, a quantity of water ; the ley immediately begins again to drop from the funnel; and as, from the differ¬ ence of their specific gravity, the water does not mix with it, but swims above it, the whole ley passes through before any of the water. By means of the taste we easily learn when the whole ley has passed. As it is natural to suppose that the strongest solution will pass first, and the weakest last, we are directed to agitate the whole together to render their strength uniform. If the solution of potash be pure it will be colourless, and it will neither effervesce with acids, nor form a precipitate with Carbonate of potash. If it effervesces, carbonic acid is present, and must be separated by again boiling the solution with a little lime, or by dropping into it lime water as long as it produces any precipitate. If, on the contrary, it contain lime, from too much of it having been employed in the preparation, it may be separated by dropping into the ley a solution of the caibonate of potash. When we have thus purified our solution of potash, it must be agaiu filtered. PRICKLY SALTWORT. 250 MEDICAL USE. The solution of caustic potash, under various names, has at different times been celebrated as a lithontriptic, and as often fallen again into disuse. The very contradictory accounts of its effects as a solvent are now, in some degree, explicable, since it has been discovered that urinary calculi are very different in their natures, so that some of them are only soluble in acids, and others only in alkalies. Of the last description are the calculi of uric acid, which are very frequent, and those of urate of am¬ monia. On these, therefore, alkalies may be supposed to make some impression ; and that alkalies, or alkaline carbonates, taken by the mouth, have occasionally relieved calculous complaints, is certain. It is, however, said that their continued use debilitates the stomach; and M. Fourcroy has proposed applying the re¬ medy immediately to the disease, by injecting into the bladder a tepid solution of potash or soda, so dilute that it can be held in the mouth. Before the alkaline solution be injected, the bladder is to be completely evacuated of urine, and washed out with an injection of tepid water. After the alkaline injection has re¬ mained in the bladder half an hour or more, it is to be evacu¬ ated, and allowed to settle. If, on the addition of a little mu¬ riatic acid, a precipitate be formed, we shall have reason to con¬ clude that the calculus contains uric acid, and that the alkali has acted on it. Very diluted alkaline solutions may also be taken into the stomach as antacids, but we possess others which are preferable. Externally alkaline solutions have been more frequently used, either very dilute, simply as a stimulus, in rickets, gouty swell¬ ings, and spasmodic diseases, or concentrated as a caustic, to destroy the poison of the viper and of rabid animals. Potash, formerly Strongest Common Caustic. (Potassa, oliin Causticum Commune Accrrimum. E.) Take of the solution of potash, any quantity: Evaporate it in a covered very clean iron vessel, till, on the ebullition ceasing, the saline matter flows gently like oil, which happens before the vessel becomes red. Then pour it out on a smooth iron plate ; let it be divided into small pieces before it hardens, and immediately deposited in a well-stopt phial. C O 260 PRICKLY SALTWORT. Pure Kali. (Kali Purum. E.) Take of water of pure kali, one gallon : Evaporate it to dryness ; after which let the salt melt on the fire, and pour it out. The principal thing to be attended to in this operation, is to conduct the evaporation so rapidly that the ley shall not absorb any carbonic acid from the atmosphere. As long as any water of solution remains, the ebullition is evident, and the evapora¬ tion is to be continued until it cease. The heat is then to be increased a little, which renders the potash perfectly fluid, and gives it the appearance of an oil, when it is ready to be poured out, either on a slab, as directed by the colleges, or into iron moulds, such as are used for the melted nitrate of silver. The potash prepared according to these directions is sufficiently pure for medical use, but is not fit for chemical experiments. We can, however, obtain it perfectly white and crystallized, ac¬ cording to Berthollet, by adding to the ley, when evaporated so far that it would assume the consistence of honey, if permitted to cool, a quantity of alcohol, equal to one-third of the carbo¬ nate of potash operated on, mixing them together, and letting them boil a minute or two. The mixture is then to be poured into a glass vessel, and corked up, when the impurities will gra¬ dually subside, partly in a solid form, and partly dissolved in water. The supernatant alcoholic solution is then to be evapo¬ rated rapidly, till its surface become covered with a black crust, which is to be removed, and the liquid below is to be poured into a porcelain vessel, when it will concrete into a white sub¬ stance, which is to be broken in pieces, and immediately ex¬ cluded from the action of the air. A less expensive way of obtaining potash perfectly pure is that of Lowitz before mentioned. MEDICAL USE. Potash is only used as a caustic, or to form solutions of a known strength; and even its use as a caustic is inconvenient, from its being so quickly affected by the air, and from its rapid deliquescence, which renders it apt to spread. Potash with Lime, formerly Milder Common Caustic. (Potassa cum Calce, olim Causticum Commune Mitius. E.) Take of solution of potash, any quantity ; PRICKLY SALTWORT. 261 Evaporate in a covered iron vessel till one third remains ; then mix with it as much new-slaked lime as will bring it to the con¬ sistence of pretty solid pap, which is to be kept in a vessel closely stopt. Lime with Pure Kali. (Calx cum Kali Puro. L.) Take of quicklime, five pounds and four ounces ; - - water of pure kali, sixteen pounds : Boil away the water of pure kali to a fourth part ; then sprinkle in the lime, reduced to powder by the affusion of water. Keep it in a vessel closely stopt. Caustic Kali with Lime. (Kali Causticum cum Calce.) Evaporate caustic ley to one-third ; then add powdered burnt lime till it form a sufficiently thick mass, which is to be kept in well-closed vessels. The addition of the lime in these preparations renders them less apt to deliquesce, more easily managed, and milder in their operation. Carbonate of Potash. ( Carbon as Potassae. E.) Let impure carbonate of potash, called in English pearlashes, be put into a crucible, and brought to a low red heat, that the oily impurities, if there be any, may be burnt out : then tritu¬ rate it with an equal weight of water, and mix them thoroughly by agitation. After the faeces have subsided, pour the liquor into a very clean iron pot, and boil to dryness, stirring the salt towards the end of the process, to prevent its sticking to the vessel. Prepared Kali. (Kali Praeparatum. L.) Take of potashes, two pounds ; - boiling distilled water, three pints : Dissolve and filter through paper ; evaporate the liquor till a pellicle appears on the surface ; then set it aside for twelve hours, that the neutral salts may crystallize: after which pour out the liquor, and boil away, with a slow fire, the whole of the water, constantly stirring, lest the salt should adhere to the pot. In like manner is purified impure kali from the ashes of any kind of vegetable. The same salt may be prepared from tartar, which should be burnt till it becomes of an ash colour. 262 PRICKLY SALTWORT. Pure Carbonate of Potash, formerly Salt of Tartar. (Carbonas Potassae Purissimus, olim Sal Tartari. E.) Take of impure super-tartrate of potash, any quantity : Wrap it up in a moist bibulous paper, or put it into a crucible, and burn it into a black mass, by placing it among live coals. Having reduced this mass to powder, expose it in an open cru¬ cible to the action of a moderate fire till it become white, or at least of an ash-gray colour, taking care that it do not melt. Then dissolve it in warm water; strain the liquor through a linen cloth, and evaporate it in a clean iron vessel, diligently stirring it, to¬ wards the end of the process, with an iron spatula, to prevent it from sticking to the bottom of the vessel. A very white salt will remain, which is to be left a little longer on the fire, till the bottom of the vessel becomes almost red. Lastly, when the salt is grown cold, keep it in glass vessels wTell stopped. The potash of commerce we have already shown to contain a considerable proportion of foreign salts. By the process directed by the colleges it is purified from those which are crystallizable ; and, although it still contains muriate of potash and silica, it is sufficiently pure for the purposes of medicine. The purest carbonate of potash in common use is that ob¬ tained by incinerating the impure super- tartrate of potash, as all the substances it contains, except the potash, are decomposed by the heat. The tartaric acid and colouring matter are destroyed, and part of the carbonic acid, which is formed, unites with the potash. But this salt, in whatever way obtained, is not strictly en¬ titled to the appellation of carbonate ; for it is not saturated with the acid, or rather it is a mixture of carbonate of potash and potash, in variable proportions. It is owing to the uncom¬ bined potash that it is still deliquescent, and in some degree caustic. It may be easily saturated, however, with carbonic acid, by exposing it, in solution, to the contact of the air for a considerable time, or by making a stream of carbonic acid gas pass through a solution of it, or by distilling it with carbonate of ammonia. M. Curadau has proposed a cheaper mode of sa¬ turating potash with carbonic acid. He dissolves the potash in a sufficient quantity of boiling water, mixes it with as much dried tanners’ bark as to make it pretty dry, and then exposes the mixture, in a covered crucible, to the heat of a reverberatory PRICKLY SALTWORT. 263 furnace for half an hour. By lixiviation and crystallization the mixture affords beautiful permanent crystals of carbonate of pot¬ ash. In this state it consists of about 43 acid, 40 potash, and 17 water. The saturation with carbonic acid is one of the best means of purifying the sub-carbonate of potash, for it always separates silica from the uncombined alkali. MEDICAL USE. Carbonate of potash is frequently employed in medicine, in conjunction with other articles, particularly for the formation of saline neutral draughts and mixtures : but it is used also by itself, in doses from three or four grains to fifteen or twenty ; and it frequently operates as a powerful diuretic, particularly when aided by proper dilution. Water of Prepared Kali. (Aqua Kali Praeparati. L.) Take of prepared kali, one pound ; Set it in a moist place till it deliquesce, and then strain it. Water of Sub-carbonate of Kali. (Aqua Sub-carbonatis Kali. D.) Take of sub-carbonate of kali, any quantity ; Place it in a wide glass funnel, whose throat is obstructed with a rag. Set this in a cellar, that the salt may deliquesce in the moist air. Let the solution be caught in a vessel placed under it. This is the old oleum tartari per deliquium, and is a solution of carbonate of potash in a variable quantity of water ; for, by exposure to the air, the sub-carbonate attracts not only water, but carbonic acid. Solution of Super-carbonate of Potash. (Aqua Super. carbonatis Potassae. E.) Take of water, ten pounds ; - pure carbonate of potash, one ounce : Dissolve, and expose the solution to a stream of carbonic acid, arising from Carbonate of lime in powder, Sulphuric acid, each three ounces; Water, three pounds, gradually and cautiously mixed. The chemical apparatus invented by Dr. Nooth is well adapted for this preparation. But, if a larger quantity of the liquor be required, the apparatus of Dr. Woulfe is preferable. 264 PRICKLY SALTWORT. As soon as the preparation is finished, the liquor should be drawn off into pint bottles, which are to be well corked, and kept in a cool situation, with the head down, or laid on one side. It should be perfectly transparent, and have an acidulous, not at all alkaline, taste; and, when poured out of the bottles, it should have a sparkling appearance. MEDICAL USE. In this solution carbonate of potash is combined with excess of carbonic acid, by which means it is better adapted for infernal use, as it is rendered not only more pleasant to the taste, but is less apt to offend the stomach. Indeed it is the only form in which we can exhibit potash in sufficient doses, and for a suf¬ ficient length of time, to derive much benefit from its use in cal¬ culous complaints. It has certainly been frequently of advan¬ tage in these affections, but probably only in those instances in which, the stone consists of uric acid, or urate of ammonia; for, although super-saturated with carbonic acid, yet the affinity of that acid for potash is so weak, that it really operates as an alkali. Six or eight ounces may be taken two or three times a day. It in general proves powerfully diuretic, and sometimes pro¬ duces inebriation. This last effect is ascribed to the carbonic acid. A common method is to drink some milk after each dose, or mixed with it, to lessen its violence. Acetated Kali. (Kali Acetatum. L.) Take of prepared kali, one pound ; Boil it, with a slow fire, in four or five times its quantity of di¬ stilled vinegar ; and, when the effervescence ceases, add, at dif¬ ferent times, more distilled vinegar, until, one portion of vinegar being nearly evaporated, the addition of another will excite no effervescence, which will happen when about twenty pounds of distilled vinegar are consumed; afterwards let it be dried slowly. An impure salt will be left, which is to be melted for a little while with a slow fire, then dissolved in water, and filtered • , . . 1 i through paper. If the fusion has been rightly performed, the strained liquor will be colourless ; if otherwise, of a brown colour. Lastly, evaporate this liquor with a slow fire, in a very shallow glass vessel, frequently stirring the mass, that the salt may be PRICKLY SALTWORT. 265 jmore completely dried, which should be kept in a vessel closely stopped. The salt ought to be very white, and dissolve wholly, both in water and spirit of wine, without leaving any faeces. If the salt, although white, should deposit any faeces in spirit of wine, the solution should be filtered through paper, and the salt again dried. This is both a troublesome and expensive preparation ; for, when attempted to be made by simply evaporating to dryness, the salt has always a dark unpleasant colour, which can neither be removed by repeated solution and crystallization, nor even by solution in alcohol. It is doubtful to what the colour is owing. It has been ascribed by some to part of the acetic acid being decomposed by heat during the exsiccation of the salt: they accordingly recommend the evaporation to be conducted very gently, and the pellicles to be skimmed from the surface of the liquor as fast as they are formed ; and in this way, they say, they have procured, at once, a very white salt. Others ascribe it to some foreign matter, which rises in distillation with the last portions of the acetous acid, and therefore direct, that only the first portions which come over should be used, or that the acetous acid should be distilled with charcoal ; while others again ascribe it to accidental impurities contracted during the opera¬ tion, and recommend the utmost attention to cleanliness, and the use of earthen vessels. To whatever cause it may be owing, and the second appears to us the most probable, the colour is most effectually destroyed by fusing the salt. The heat neces¬ sary to do this decomposes the colouring matter ; and, on dis¬ solving the fused mass in water, and filtering the solution, we find a fine light charcoal on the filter. But this fusion is at¬ tended with considerable loss, for part of the acetic acid itself is decomposed. The operator must be particularly careful, in melting it, not to use a greater heat, nor keep it longer liquefied, than what is absolutely necessary; a little should be occasionally taken out, and put into water, and, as soon as it begins to part freely with its black colour, the whole is to be removed from the fire. The exsiccation of the solution of the salt, after it has been fused, must be conducted very carefully, as it is exceedingly apt to be decomposed, which would render a newr solution and ex¬ siccation necessary. The test of its purity, by dissolving it in 966 PRICKLY SALTWORT. alcohol, as directed by the London college, is to discover if any of the acetic acid itself has beeu decomposed in the operation ; for the carbonate of potash, which is in that case formed, is in¬ soluble in alcohol. To spare trouble and expense, attempts have been made to prepare acetate of potash with undistilled vinegar, and even with the residuum of the distillation of acetic acid ; and they have been, to a certain degree, successful : but, as repeated fusion and crystallization are necessary to bring the salt to a certain degree of purity, it does not appear that they were more ceco- nornical. But if to acetate of potash, prepared with impure vi¬ negar, we add a sufficient quantity of sulphuric acid, by distilla¬ tion we obtain an acetic acid of great strength, which forms a beautiful acetate of potash without fusion. Lastly, this salt may be prepared by the decomposition of acetates ; for example, of the acetate of lime by tartrate of potash. Acetate of potash has a sharp, somewhat pungent, taste. It is soluble at 60° in about its own weight of water. It is also so¬ luble in alcohol. It is deliquescent. It is decomposed by the stronger acids ; by a decoction of tamarinds ; by the sulphates of soda and of magnesia ; by muriate of ammonia $ by the tar¬ trate of soda and potash ; and by some metalline salts. Its acid is destroyed by a high temperature. MEDICAL USE. Acetate of potash, however prepared, provided it be properly made, is a medicine of great efficacy, and may be so dosed and managed, as to prove either mildly cathartic, or powerfully diu¬ retic : few of the saline deobstruents equal it in virtue. The dose is from half a scruple to a drachm or two. A simple so¬ lution, however, of carbonate of potash in vinegar, without ex¬ siccation, is perhaps not inferior, as a medicine, to the more expensive salt. Two drachms of the alkali, saturated with vi¬ negar, have produced, in hydropic cases, ten or twelve stools, and a plentiful discharge of urine, without any inconvenience. Sulphate of Potash, formerly Vitriolated Tartar. (Sulphas Potassm, olim Tartarum Vitriolatum. E.) Take of sulphuric acid, diluted with six times its weight of water, any quantity ; Put it into a capacious glass vessel, and gradually drop into it PRICKLY SALTWORT. 267 pure carbonate of potash, dissolved in six times its weight of water, as much as is sufficient thoroughly to neutralize the acid. The effervescence being finished, strain the liquor through paper, and, after evaporation, set it aside to crystallize. Sulphate of potash maybe also conveniently prepared from the residuum of the distillation of nitrous acid, by dissolving it in. warm water, and saturating it with carbonate of potash. Vitriolated Kali. (Kali Vitriolatum. L.) Take of the salt which remains after the distillation of the nitrous acid, two pounds ; - distilled water, two gallons : Burn out the superfluous acid with a strong fire in an open ves¬ sel ; then boil it a little while in water ; strain, and set the li¬ quor aside to crystallize. This salt is very seldom prepared on purpose, as it may be obtained from the residuum of many other preparations, by simple solution and crystallization ; for so strong is the affinity between sulphuric acid and potash, that they scarcely ever meet without combining to form this salt. All the sulphates, except that of baryta, are decomposed by potash and most of its com¬ binations ; and reciprocally, all the compounds of potash are decomposed by sulphuric acid and most of its combinations ; and in all these decompositions sulphate of potash is one of the pro¬ ducts. The greatest part of the sulphate of potash of commerce is obtained from the residuum of the distillation of sulphate of iron with nitrate of potash by lixiviating it, super-saturating the so¬ lution with carbonate of potash, filtering it boiling hot, and al¬ lowing it to crystallize. The liquor remaining after the precipi¬ tation of magnesia is also a solution of sulphate of potash. It is also got in considerable quantities from the residuum remaining in the retort after the distillation of nitrous acid; and all the colleges have given directions for obtaining it in this w7ay. This residuum generally contains an excess of acid, which converts part of the sulphate into super-sulphate of potash. The London college expel the excess of acid by intense heat, and thus get the whole of the sulphate; but, at the same time, convert it into a very difficultly soluble mass, while the Edinburgh and Dublin colleges derive advantage from the excess of acid, by simply sa¬ turating it with carbonate of pofash. 268 PRICKLY SALTWORT. As the residuum of the distillation of nitrous acid may not always be at hand, the Edinburgh college also give a receipt for making this salt, by directly combining its constituents. It would have been more (Economical to have used a solution of sulphate of iron in place of sulphuric acid, by which means not only an equally pure sulphate of potash would have been pro¬ cured at less expense, but also a very pure carbonate of iron. Sulphate of potash forms small, transparent, very hard cry¬ stals, generally aggregated in crusts, and permanent in the air. Jt has a bitter taste, is slowly soluble in water, requiring 16 parts at 60°, and 4 at 212°. It is not soluble in alcohol. It decrepitates when thrown on live coals, and melts in a red heat. It consists of 45-2 acid, and 54*8 potash. It is decomposed by the barytic salts ; by the nitrates and muriates of lime and of strontia ; by the tartrates partially ; and by the salts of mercury, silver, and lead. / MEDICAL USE. Sulphate of potash, in small doses, as a scruple, or half a drachm, is an useful aperient; in larger ones, as four or five drachms, a mild cathartic, which does not pass off so hastily as the sulphate of soda, and seems to extend its action further. It is a charming medicine conjoined with rhubarb ; thus a scru¬ ple of the powder, a drachm of the tincture, with a scruple and a half of sulphurated kali, which quickens the action of the latter, mixed with six drachms of cinnamon and peppermint water, forms a mild and pleasant opening draught. Sulphas Potassae cum Sulphure, olim Sal Polychrestus. E. Take of nitrate of potash in powder, - sublimed sulphur, of each equal parts : Mingle them well together, and inject the mixture, by little and little at a time, into a red-hot crucible: the deflagration being over, let the salt cool, after which it is to be put up in a glass vessel well stopped. In this process the nitric acid of the nitrate of potash is decom¬ posed by the sulphur, which is in part acidified. But the quan¬ tity of oxygen contained in the nitric acid is not always sufficient to acidify the whole sulphur employed ; therefore, part of it re¬ mains in the state of sulphureous acid, which is probably che¬ mically combined with part of the potash in the state of sulphite; for the whole saline mass formed is more soluble iu water than PRICKLY SALTWORT. 269 sulphate of potash. It is crystallizable, and, by exposure to the air, gradually attracts oxygen, and is converted into sulphate of potash. 44 In some experiments,” says the learned and inge¬ nious Dr. Duncan, 44 which I made to determine the state in which the sulphur existed in this salt, carefully prepared, it seemed to be sulphuric acid ; for it neither gave out a sulphu¬ reous smell on the addition of sulphuric acid, nor was a solution of it precipitated by acids. In its medical effects and exhibition it agrees with sulphate of potash. Oxymuriatic Alkaline Water. (Aqua Alcalina Oxy- muriatica. D.) Take of dried muriate of soda, two pounds ; - manganese, in powder, one pound ; - - water, - - - sulphuric acid, of each two pounds : Put into a matrass the muriate of soda and manganese, mixed, and pour on the water; then, by means of a proper apparatus, add gradually, and at different times, the sulphuric acid, and let the gas evolved pass through a liquor consisting of Carbonate of kali, four ounces ; Water, twenty-nine ounces, by measure. Towards the end of the operation heat the matrass moderately. The specific gravity of this liquor is 1087. This is a solution of the oxymuriate of potash ; for the car¬ bonate of potash in the receiver is decomposed by the oxymu¬ riatic gas disengaged in the matrass by the action of the sulphuric acid on the oxide of manganese and muriate of soda. A mixed sulphate of soda and manganese remains in the retort, while the oxygen and the muriatic acid, disengaged, unite in their nascent state, and form oxymuriatic acid, which escapes in the form of gas. MEDICAL USE. The oxymuriate of potash was, for a time, much extolled in the cure of syphilis, especially in the early stage ; yet it is now rarely, if at all, used. It was also recommended as an oxygen¬ izing remedy in typhus, scurvy, and other diseases supposed to depend on a deficiency of oxygen in the system. It was given in doses of from five to fifteen grams, three times a day ; and it merits a full and impartial trial. 270 PRICKLY SALTWORT. Tartar] zed Kali. (Kali Tartarizatum. L.) Take of prepared kali, one pound ; ■ - crystals of tartar, three pounds ; - - distilled water, boiling, one gallon : To the salt, dissolved in the water, throw in, gradually, the crystals of tartar powdered : filter the liquor, when cold, through paper; and, after due evaporation, by a gentle heat, set it apart to crystallize. The tartaric acid is capable of uniting with potash in two pro¬ portions, forming in the one instance a neutral, and in the other ail acidulous salt. The latter is an abundant production of na¬ ture ; but it is easily converted into the former by saturating it with potash, or by depriving it of its excess of acid. It is by the former method that the colleges direct tartrate of potash to be prepared; and the process is so simple that it requires little comment. For the sake of ceconomy we should come as near the point of saturation as possible, but any slight deviation from it will, not be attended with much inconvenience. Indeed, it is, perhaps, advisable to leave a slight excess of acid, which, form¬ ing a small quantity of very insoluble salt, leaves the remainder perfectly neutral. The evaporation must be conducted in an earthen vessel, for iron discolours the salt. It is easily crystal¬ lized, and the crystals become moist in the air. It has an un¬ pleasant bitter taste. It is soluble in four parts of cold water, and still more soluble in boiling water, and it is also soluble in alcohol. It is totally or partially decomposed by all acids. On this account it is improper to join it with tamarinds, or other acid fruits, which is too often done in the extemporaneous prac¬ tice of those physicians w ho are fond of mixing different cathar¬ tics together, and know little of chemistry ! It is also totally decomposed by lime, baryta, strontia, and magnesia, and par¬ tially by the sulphates of potash, soda, and magnesia, and by the muriate of ammonia. MEDICAL USE. In doses of a scruple, half a drachm, or a drachm, this salt is a mild, cooling aperient : tw o or three drachms commonly loosen the belly, and an ounce proves pretty strongly purgative. It has been particularly recommended as a purgative for maniacal and melancholic patients. It is an useful addition to the purga- PRICKLY SALTWORT. 271 tives of the resinous kind, as it promotes their operation, and at the same time tends to correct their griping quality. Dried Carbonate of Soda. (Carbonas Sod® Siccatum. D.) Liquefy, over the fire, crystals of carbonate of soda in a silver crucible, and then, increasing the heat, stir the liquefied salt until, by the consumption of the water, it become dry. Reduce it to fine powder, and keep it in close vessels. Carbonate of soda, deprived of its water of crystallization, is a very excellent remedy, for which we are indebted to Dr. Beddoes : he desires it to be prepared by simply exposing the pounded crystals before the fire ; w hich appears to be preferable to the process directed by the Dublin college, in which much of the carbonic acid may be expelled. By simple efflorescence cry¬ stallized carbonate of soda loses more than half its weight, and falls dow n into a fine permanent powder. Whenever soda is prescribed in the form of pills, the effloresced carbonate is to be used, as, when made of the crystallized salt, they crack and fall to pieces by the action of the air upon them. MEDICAL USE. Dr. Beddoes first recommended the powder of effloresced soda, in calculous complaints, as a substitute for the super-carbonated alkaline waters, when these produced giddiness, or were too ex¬ pensive; but its use has since been extended much further; and it is found to be not only an excellent antacid, but seems almost to possess specific virtues in affections of the urinary organs. One or two scruples may be given, in the course of the day, in the form of powder, or in pills, made up w ith soap and some aromatic. Phosphate of Soda. (Phosphas Sodas. E.) Take of bones burnt to whiteness, and powdered, ten pounds; - - sulphuric acid, six pounds ; • - water, nine pounds : Mix the powder with the sulphuric acid in an earthen vessel ; then add the water, and mix again : then place the vessel in a vapour bath, and digest for three days ; after which dilute the mass with nine pounds more of boiling water, and strain the liquor through a strong linen cloth, pouring over it boiling- water, in small quantities at a time, until the whole acid be washed out. Set by the strained liquor, that the impurities may 272 PRICKLY SALTWORT. subside; decant the clear solution, and evaporate it to nine pounds. To this liquor, poured from the impurities, add car¬ bonate of soda, dissolved in warm water, until the effervescence cease. Filter the neutralized liquor, and set it aside to crystal¬ lize. To the liquor that remains after the crystals are taken out, add a little carbonate of soda, if necessary, so as to satu¬ rate exactly the phosphoric acid ; and dispose the liquor, by eva¬ poration, to form crystals. Lastly, the crystals are to be kept in a well closed vessel. Dub. Take of burnt bones, in powder, five pounds ; — - sulphuric acid, three pounds and a half, by weight: Mix the powder, in an earthen vessel, with the sulphuric acid ; gradually add five pints of water, and agitate the mixture; digest for three days, adding, from time to time, more water, to pre¬ vent the mass from becoming dry, and continuing the agitation ; then add five pints of boiling water, and strain through linen, pouring on boiling water repeatedly, until all the acid be washed out. Set aside the strained liquor until the faeces subside, from which pour it off, and reduce, by evaporation, to one half ; then add of carbonate of soda, dissolved in a sufficient quantity of warm water, three pounds ten ounces. Filter, and, by alternate eva¬ poration and cooling, let it form crystals, which are to be kept in a well-closed vessel. If the salt be not sufficiently pure, dissolve and crystallize it again. The first part of this process consists in destroying the gela- tiue of the bones by the action of heat. When burnt to perfect whiteness, they retain their form, but become friable, and con¬ sist of phosphate of lime, mixed with a very little carbonate of lime and carbonate of soda. In performing this part of the pro¬ cess, we must take care not to heat the bones to a bright red, as by it they undergo a kind of semi-fusion, and become less solu¬ ble. The complete combustion of the charcoal is facilitated by the free contact of the air ; we must therefore bring every part, in succession, to the surface, and break the larger pieces. In the second part of the process the phosphate of lime is decomposed by the sulphuric acid. This decomposition is, how¬ ever, only partial. The sulphuric add combines with part of the lime, and forms insoluble sulphate of lime. The phosphoric acid separated from that portion of lime, immediately combines PRICKLY SALTWORT. 27 3 with the rest of the phosphate of lime, and forms super-phos¬ phate of lime, which is not further decomposable by sulphuric acid. The super- phosphate of lime, thus formed, is soluble in water; but, as the sulphate of lime, with which it is mixed, concretes into a very solid mass, it is, in some measure, defended from the action of water. On this account the whole mass is directed to be digested for three days in vapour, by which means it is thoroughly penetrated, and prepared for solution, in the boiling water, which is afterwards poured on it. It is probably to render the subsequent solution easier, that Thenard directs the bone-ashes to be made into a thin paste ( louillie ) with water before the sulphuric acid is added to them. Having thus got a solution of super-phosphate of lime, it is next decomposed by carbonate of soda dissolved in water. This decomposition, likewise, is only partial, as it deprives the super¬ phosphate of lime of its excess of acid only, and reduces it to the state of phosphate. The phosphate of lime, being insoluble, is easily separated by filtration, and the phosphate of soda re¬ mains in solution. Mr. F uncke, of Linz, has discovered a still more ceconomical and expeditious method. It consists in saturating the excess of lime in calcined bones with diluted sulphuric acid, and then dis¬ solving the remaining phosphate of lime in nitric acid. To this solution he adds an equal quantity of sulphate of soda, and then recovers the nitric acid by distillation. The phosphate of soda is then separated from the sulphate of lime by the affusion of water and crystallization. Phosphate of soda crystallizes in rhomboidal prisms, termi¬ nated by three-sided pyramids. Its taste resembles that of com¬ mon salt. At 60° it is soluble in four parts of water, and at 212° in two. It effloresces in the air. By heat it undergoes the watery fusion, and at last melts into a white mass. It consists, according to Thenard, of 15 phosphoric acid, 19 soda, and 66 water of crystallization. It is decomposed by most of the salts having an earthy base. MEDICAL USE. Phosphate of soda was introduced into the practice of physic by the ingenious Dr. George Pearson of London. It possesses the same medical qualities as sulphate of soda, and the tartrate of potash and soda, being an excellent purgative, in the quantity T 274 PRICKLY SALTWORT. of an ounce or ten drachms ; and has the peculiar advantage over these two salts, of being much less nauseous than they are. Its taste is extremely similar to that of common salt; and, when given in a bason of water-gruel, or veal broth, made without salt, it is scarcely perceptible by the palate ; and consequently it is well adapted for patients whose stomachs are delicate, and who have an antipathy against the other salts. The only objec¬ tion to its general use is the very great difference between its price and that of sulphate of soda ; a difference which might cer¬ tainly be diminished. Sulphate of Soda, formerly Glauber’s Salt. (Sulphas Soda?, olim Sal Glauberi. E.) Dissolve the acidulous salt which remains after the distillation of muriatic acid in water ; and having mixed chalk with it, to re¬ move the superfluous acid, set it aside until the sediment sub¬ sides ; then evaporate the liquor decanted from them, and strain through paper, so that it may crystallize. Vitriolated Natron. (Natron Vitriolatum. L.) Take of the salt which remains after the distillation of mu¬ riatic acid, two pounds ; - - — distilled water, two pints and a half : Burn out the superfluous acid with a strong fire in an open ves¬ sel ; then boil it for a little in water : strain the solution, and set it by to crystallize. Sulphate of Soda. (Sulphas Sodae. D.) Dissolve the salt, which remains after the distillation of muriatic acid, in a sufficient quantity of boiling water. Evaporate the filtered solution, and crystallize the salt by slow refrigeration. The observations we made respecting the different methods followed by the colleges for extracting sulphate of potash from the residuum of the distillation of nitrous acid, apply in the pre¬ sent instance, except that the Edinburgh college do not preserve the superabundant acid, when present, by saturating it with carbonate of soda, but get rid of it by saturating it wdth car¬ bonate of lime, with which it forms an insoluble sulphate of lime. In fact, the price of sulphate of soda is so very small, that it would be no oeconomy to use carbonate of soda to satu¬ rate the superabundant acid. By far the greatest part of the sulphate of soda is obtained from manufacturers as a result of processes performed for the PRICKLY SALTWORT. 275 sake of other substances, as in the preparation of muriate of ammonia, oxygenized muriatic acid, &c. It may be (economi¬ cally obtained by making into a paste, with a sufficient quantity of water, eight parts of burnt gypsum, five of clay$ and five of muriate of soda. This mixture is burnt in a kiln or oven, then ground to powder, diffused in a sufficient quantity of water, and, after being strained, is evaporated and crystallized. Sulphate of soda crystallizes in six-sided prisms, terminated by dihedral summits. The crystals are often irregular, and their sides are usually channelled. Their taste is at first salt, and afterwards disagreeably bitter. They are soluble in 2*67 parts of water at 60°, and in 08 at 212°. In the air they efflo¬ resce. They undergo the watery fusion, and, in a red heat, melt. They consist of 23*52 sulphuric acid, 18*48 soda, and 58 water ; when dried at 700®, of 56 acid, and 44 soda. It is decomposed by baryta and potash, and salts containing these^ bases, and by the salts of silver, mercury, and lead. MEDICAL USE. Taken from half an ounce to an ounce, or more, it proves a mild and useful purgative ; and, in smaller doses, largely diluted, a serviceable aperient and diuretic. It is commonly given in solution, but it may also be given in powder after it has efflo¬ resced. In this form the dose must be reduced to one half. Tartrite of Potash and Soda, formerly Rochelle Salt. -** ■ (Tartris Potassas et Sodae, olim Sal Rupellensis. E.) It is prepared from the carbonate of soda and super-tartrate of potash, in the same manner as the tartrate of potash. Tartarized Natron. (Natron Tartarizatum. L.) Tartrate of Soda and Kali. (Tartaras Sodae et Kali. E.) Take of carbonate of soda, twenty ounces ; - crystals of tartar, in very fine powder, two pounds ; - - distilled water, boiling, ten pints : Dissolve the carbonate of soda in the water, and gradually add the crystals of tartar: filter the liquor through paper; evaporate, and set aside to crystallize (by slow cooling, D.). The tartaric acid, in several instances, is capable of entering into combination, at the same time, with two bases. In the present example, the superabundant acid of the super-tartrate of potash is neutralized with soda, and, in place of a mixture of T 2 276 PRICKLY SALTWORT. tartrate of potash and tartrate of soda, each possessing their own properties, there results a triple salt having peculiar properties. The tartrate of potash and soda forms large and very regular crystals, in the form of prisms with eight sides, nearly equal, which are often divided longitudinally, almost through their axis. It has a bitter taste. It is soluble in about five parts of water, and effloresces in the air. It is decomposed by the strong acids, which combine with the soda, and separate super- tartrate of potash, and by baryta and lime. By heat its acid is destroyed. It consists of 54 tartrate of potash, and 46 tartrate of soda. MEDICAL USE. It was introduced into medical practice by M. Seignette, an apothecary at Rochelle, whose name it long bore. It is still frequently employed ; and though less agreeable than the phos¬ phate of soda, it is much more so thau the sulphate of soda. It is less purgative than these, and must be given in larger doses. OFFICINAL SWALLOW-WORT. ASCLEPIAS VINCETOXICUM. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Nectaries five, ovate, concave from the bottom, horn -shaped, and bent inwards. Spec. Char. Leaves ovate, barbed at the base ; Stem erect; Umbels pro- liferous. DESCRIPTION. Stalks about a foot in height, erect, above green, below pur¬ plish. Flowers white, arising in clusters at the axillae of the leaves. Corolla divided into five segments. Follicles two, ob¬ long, one-celled, one-valved. Seeds numerous, crowned with pappus. HISTORY. A native of Britain in the north, and cultivated in the gardens. MEDICAL VIRTUE. It is called Asclepian, from ’AcncAijtfioV, iEsculapius, and Yin- cetoxicum, from vincere to conquer, and 7'o£iko£, a Greek word signifying poison. Hence its high reputation when poisons 278 OFFICINAL SWALLOW-WOUT. were so commonly administered; so that Hume mentions in his Essays, that in one province of Rome 3000 in one year were tried for this horrid crime ; and the great were yery lavish in rewarding physicians who were supposed to be in possession of any antidote to poison : — so dreadful is man to man! Hence the great Boerhaave in recording its virtues says : (i Haec radix dicitur vino infusa ut hausta venenum expellere, et cavere, ne assumption venenum multum noceat. Folia in peste, rabie ca- nina, et omnibus contagiosis morbis susceptis conducit.” In re¬ mote practice it was employed in the cure of dropsy, and comes recommended by Paracelsus and Van Helmont; and in modern times by Hoffman, Stahl, and Bergius ; but it is suspected by Haller as a dangerous remedy. WILD ANGELICA. ANGELICA SYLVESTRIS. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Fruit somewhat round, angular, solid: Styles re¬ flexed : Corolla equal : Petals incurved. Spec. Char. Leaves equal, ovate-lanceolate, serrate, DESCRIPTION. Stalk several feet in height. Stem hollow. Leaves pinnated ; pinnae serrate, several, ending in an odd one. Flowers in large umbels. General involucre wanting. HISTORY. Grows in marshy woods and hedges, flowers in June and J uly. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The same as the former, but in rather a less degree. ERYNGIUM MARITIMUM. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Flowers capitate : Receptacle paleaceous. Spec. Char. Leaves radical, somewhat round, plicate, spinous: Heads pedunculate : Palece tricuspidate. DESCRIPTION. It rises from one to two feet in height. The leaves are roundish, plaited, firm, spiny like those of holly, marked with white re¬ ticulated veins, of a pale blueish green colour. The flowers are of a blue colour, and terminate the branches in round heads. The calyx consists of five erect sharp-pointed leaves. The co¬ rolla is composed of five petals, which turn inwards. The ger- men is beset with short hairs. HISTORY. It grows abundantly on the sea coasts, and flowers from July till October. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The root is mild and mucilaginous, and aromatic in a small degree. It is a mild balsamic pectoral, and enters as an ingre- SEA ERYNGO OR HOLLY. 281 dient into what is commonly called mild artificial asses’ milk, which is made thus : — - Mock Asses’ Milk. Take an ounce of hartshorn shavings, put it into a quart of boiling barley water, boil it down to a pint, add two ounces of candied eryngo root, and a pint of new milk ; boil it for a quarter of an hour, and strain it for use. Another Method. — Boil in three pints of water, till half wasted, one ounce each, of eryngo root, pearl barley, sago, and rice ; strain it off, put a table-spoonful of the mixture into a coffee- cup of boiling milk, so as to render it of the consistence of cream, and sweeten with loaf or Lisbon sugar to the taste. WILD CARROT. CAUCUS CAROTA. Class Vo Pentandria. Order IT. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla subradiate, all bisexual : Corolla rough with hairs. Spec. Char. Seeds hispid : Petals nerved underneath. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises about two feet. Leaves many times pinnate towards the root, hairy. Umbel composed of several radii, forming a flat surface on the top, but when the fruit ripens be¬ comes concave, and drawn together. The general involucre consists of several leaves, which are cut into long narrow seg¬ ments. The partial is more simple, consisting of strap-shaped leaflets. The seeds are two, assembled, convex, and covered with strong hairs. HISTORY. It grows wild in meadows and pastures, and flowers from June till August. VIRTUES. The seeds of this sort of carrot have a warm and not disagree¬ able taste, and are esteemed as stomachic and diuretic. GARDEN CARROT. DAUCUS SATIVA. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. HISTORY. This is only a variety of the last, and is the product of culti¬ vation. It is too well known to need description. MEDICAL USE. It was not used for any medicinal purpose in this country, till about twenty years ago, when it was discovered that poultices made of this root grated, and applied to cancerous and old angry sores, removed their very offensive smell, and mended the dis¬ charge. The remarkable effects which these poultices at first produced, made practitioners for some time believe that they had discovered a remedy which would cure the cancer : further experiments, however, taught them, that although such poultices were of great service in promoting the cure of some foul sores, yet that they had not sufficient efficacy to cure the cancer ; and that they only corrected the bad offensive smell, mended a little 284 GARDEN CARROT. the nature of the discharge, and procured ease, but had not power to stop its progress. By the account given by Mr. Gibson, in the fourth volume of Medical Observations and Inquiries, it should seem that the efficacy of these poultices, when applied to old sores, is greatly increased by the patient using freely for drink an infusion of malt, or wort. The seeds of this sort of carrot are carminative and diuretic. GIGANTIC FENNEL. FERULA ASSAFCETIDA. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Ess ent. Gen. Char. Fruit oval, compresso-plane, three striae on each side. Spec. Char. Leaves alternate, sinuate, obtuse. — — — nTipg^aa»iii - - DESCRIPTION. This rises two feet. It abounds with a milky juice. Stem is erect, simple, straight. Leaves near two feet long, bipinnate, pinulae alternate. Umbels plano-convex, terminal, composed of many radii. Seeds oval, flat, marked with three longitudinal lines. HISTORY. The plant which furnishes assafoetida is perennial, and a native of Persia. It has, however, borne fertile seeds in the open air in the botanical garden of Edinburgh. The gum-resin is pro¬ cured from the roots of plants which are at least four years old. When the leaves begin to decay, the stalk is twisted off, and the earth removed from about their large tapering roots. The top of the root is some time afterwards cut off transversely, and forty- eight hours afterwards the juice which was exuded is scraped off? 2S6 Gigantic fennel. and a second transverse Section is made. This operation is re¬ peated until the root be entirely exhausted of juice. After being scraped off, the juice is exposed to the sun to harden. It is brought to us in large irregular masses, composed of va¬ rious little shining lumps or grains, which are partly of a whitish colour, partly reddish, and partly of a violet hue. Those masses are accounted the best which are clear, of a pale reddish colour, and variegated with a great number of elegant white tears. This drug has a strong foetid smell, somewhat like that of gar¬ lic ; and a bitter, acrid, biting taste. It loses some of its smell and strength by keeping, a circumstance to be particularly re¬ garded in its exhibition. Neumann got from 1920 parts, 1350 alcoholic extract, and afterwards 190 watery ; and inversely, 550 watery. The smell resides entirely in an essential oil, which rises in distillation both with alcohol and water. Neumann got more than 60 from 1920 grains. MED 1 CA h USE. It is the most powerful of all the foetid gums, and is a most valuable remedy. It acts as a stimulant, antispasmodic, expec¬ torant, emmenagogue, and anthelmintic. Its action is quick and penetrating. It is often serviceable, 1. In croup. 2. In dyspepsia, amenorrhoea, and chlorosis. 3. In asthma, dyspnoea, and hysteria. 4. In tympanites and worms. It is exhibited, 1. In substance, in the form of pills, in doses of from five to twenty grains, either alone, or combined with bitter extracts or purgatives. 2. Dissolved in some simple distilled water. 3. Dissolved in alcohol. 4. In the form of clyster, to the extent of about two drachms. PREPARATIONS. Emulsion of Gum Ammoniac. (Lac Ammoniaci. L. D.) Take of gum ammoniac, two drachms (one drachm, D.); • - distilled water, half a pint (pennyroyal water, eight ounces, D.): GIGANTIC FENNEL. 287 Rub the gum resin with the water, gradually poured on, until it becomes an emulsion. Emulsion of AssAfcetida. (Lac Assaefcetidse. L. D.) In the same manner may be made an emulsion of assafoetida, and the rest of the gum resins. The lac ammoniaci is employed for attenuating tough phlegm, and promoting expectoration in humoral asthmas, coughs, and obstructions of the viscera. It may be given to the quantity of two spoonfuls twice a day. It answers the same purpose as assafoetida in substance, and on some occasions is a more convenient, though a very disagreea¬ ble mode of exhibiting it. Tincture of Assafoetida. (Tinctura Ferulae Asssefcetidas. E. Tinctura Assaefoetidae. D. L.) Take of assafoetida, four ounces ; - alcohol, two pounds and a half, E. (two pints, L.); Digest for seven days (six days, L.), and strain through paper. Dub. Take of assafoetida, four ounces; - - rectified spirit of wine, two pints ; - water, eight ounces : Add the spirit to the assafoetida, triturated with the water, and digest for eight days ; then strain. This tincture possesses the virtues of the assafoetida itself, and may be given in doses of from ten drops to fifty or sixty. Purging Clyster. (Enema Catharticum. D.) Take of manna, one ounce; Dissolve in ten ounces, by measure, of Compound decoction of chamomile ; then add of 01 ive oil, one ounce; Sulphate of magnesia, half an ounce : Mix them. Fietid Enema (Enema Foetidum. D.) Is made by adding to the former two drachms of the tincture of assafoetida. These are very useful extemporaneous preparations. In cases of hysterics and convulsions the latter is of singular use. 288 GIGANTIC FENNEL. Opiate Enema. Take of milk of assafoetida, eight ounces ; - - tincture of opium, one drachm : To be injected at bed-time. This is useful in disorders of the rectum, which induce insufferable pain. Fcetid Spirit of Volatile Alkali. (Alcohol Ammoniatum Foetidum. E.) Take of spirit of ammonia, eight ounces ; • - assafoetida, half an ounce : Digest, in a close vessel, twelve hours ; then distil off, with the heat of boiling water, eight ounces. Fcetid Spirit of Ammonia. (Spiritus Ammoni® Foetidus. L.) Take of proof spirit, six pints ; - — — - sal ammoniac, one pound ; - - assafoetida, four ounces ; - potash, one pound and a half : Mix them, and draw off, by distillation, five pints, with a slow fire. Volatile spirits, impregnated with different foetids, have been usually kept in the shops as anti-hysterics : the ingredient here chosen is the best calculated of any for general use. The spirit is pale when newly distilled, but acquires a considerable tinge by keeping. The dose is a tea-spoonful in some water during hysterics, and the same to be taken occasionally. Plaster of Assafcetida. (Emplastrum As see foetid®. E.) Take of plaster of semi-vitrified oxide of lead, — - assafoetida, each two parts ; — — — galbanum, - — - yellow wax, each one part : This plaster is applied to the umbilical region, or over the whole abdomen, in hysteric cases, and sometimes with good effect. Pills of Aloes and Assafcetida. (Pilul® Aloes et Assa- foetid®. E.) Take of socotrine aloes, in powder, - assafoetida, - soap, equal parts : Form them into a mass with mucilage of gum arabic. GIGANTIC FENNEL. 289 Th ese pills, in doses of about ten grains, twice a day, pro* duce the most salutary effects m cases of dyspepsia, attended with hysteria, flatulence, and costiveness. Compound Pills of Assafoetjda. (Pilulm Asssefcetidae Com. positse. E.) Compound Pills of Myrrh. (Pilulae Myrrhae Composite. D.) Take of a>ssafcetida, - galbanum, - — myrrh, each eight parts (one ounce, D.); - rectified oil of amber, one part (half a drachm, D.): Beat them into a mass with simple syrup. The dose is ten grains twice a day in hysteria and asthma. > , PRESCRIPTION. J^. Take of milk of assafoetida, five ounces and a half ; ■ - compound spirit of lavender, half an ounce; - compound spirit of ammonia, two drachms : The dose is two large table spoonfuls in a little water four timeg a day in asthma. u LOVAGE-LEAVED BUBON. BUBON GALBANUM. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Emext. Gen. Char. Fruit ovate, striate, villous. Spec. Char. Leaves sharply-serrate, rhomboidal, subtrilobed. DESCRIPTION. A shrub rising several fee t. Leaves compound, rising from the sheaths of the stem, subtripinnated. Simple leaves rhomboi¬ dal, acute, of a sea-green colour, veined, irregularly serrate, at the base entire ; some of the leaves upon the upper branches are somewhat wedge-shaped. The principal umbel terminates the stem, composed of numerous radii ; the lateral are few, and grow upon slender branches. Leaflets of the general involucre about twelve, narrow, lanceolate, of the partial six, of the same shape, and spreading. Seeds two, oval, with smooth uneven surfaces, and marked with three elevated lines. LOVAGE-LEAVED BUBON. m HISTORY. This plant is perennial, and grows in Africa. It abounds with a milky juice, which sometimes exudes from the joints of the old plants, but is more frequently obtained by cutting them across some inches above the root. The juice which flows from the wound soon hardens, and is the galbanum which is brought to us from Syria and the Levant. The best sort of galbanum consists of pale-coloured pieces, about the size of a hazel-nut, which, on being broken, appear to be composed of clear white tears, of a bitterish acrid taste, and a strong peculiar smell. But it most commonly occurs in agglutinated masses, composed of yellowish or reddish and clear white tears, which may be easily torn asunder, of the consist¬ ence of firm wax, softening by heat, and becoming brittle by cold, and mixed with seeds and leaves. What is mixed with sand, earth, and other impurities, and is of a brown or blackish colour, interspersed with no white grains, of a weak smell, and of a consistence always soft, is bad. Galbanum is almost entirely soluble in water, but the solution is milky ; but neither wine nor vinegar dissolves it perfectly. Al¬ cohol, according to Hagen, has very little action upon it. It is not fusible; but furnishes a considerable proportion of essen¬ tial oil when distilled with water. Neumann obtained by di¬ stillation with water six drachms of oil, besides what remained dissolved in the water. The watery extract amounted to about three ounces. It was somewhat nauseous, but could not have been recognised as a preparation of galbanum. From the same quantity alcohol extracted upwards of nine ounces and a half of a hard brittle insipid inodorous substance (resin?). MEDICAL VIRTUES. Galbanum, medicinally considered, may be said to hold a middle rank between assafoetida and ammoniacum ; but its fce- tidness is very inconsiderable, especially when compared with the former ; it is therefore accounted less antispasmodic, nor is it supposed to affect the bronchial glands so much as to have ex¬ pectorant powers equal to those of the latter : it has the credit, however, of being more useful in hysterical disorders, and of promoting and correcting various secretions and uterine dis¬ ci 2 292 LOVAGE-LEAVED BUBON. charges. Externally galbanum has been applied to expedite the suppuration of indolent tumours, and as a warm plaster. PREPARATIONS. Compound Pills of Galbanum. (Pilulae Galbani Com¬ posite. L.) Take of galbanum, . . opoponax, — - ■ myrrh, - - - sagapenum, of each one ounce ; - — — - assafoetida, half an ounce ; - - — syrup of saffron, as much as is sufficient : Beat them together. These pills are designed for anti-hysterics and emmenagogues, and are very well calculated for answering those intentions : half a scruple, a scruple, or more, may be taken every night, or oftener. Tincture of Galbanum. (Tinctura Galbani. L. D.) Take of galbanum, cut into small pieces, two ounces ; — — — proof spirit of wine, two pints : Digest with a gentle heat for seven days, and strain. This tincture, though not so powerful, is less nauseous than that of assafoetida, and therefore in some cases may be prefera¬ ble. The dose is from forty to fifty drops in some cold water, occasionally, to prevent hysteria. Gum Plaster. (Emplastrum Gummosum. E.) Take of plaster of semi-vitrified oxide of lead, eight parts ; — — - gum ammoniacum, • — - - - galbanum, - - — yellow wax, each one part. Plaster of Galbanum. (Emplastrum Galbani. D.) Take of plaster of litharge, two pounds ; - - galbanum, half a pound ; - yellow wax, sliced, four ounces : Add the plaster and wax ta the galbanum, melted, and then melt the whole together, with a moderate heat. These plasters, either of themselves, or mixed with Burgundy pitch, are spread on leather, and applied over the chest. LOYAGE-LEAVED BUBON. 293 Of the same kind is the Cummin Plaster. (Emplastrum Cumini. L.) Take of cummin seeds, - — caraway seeds, - - — bay berries, of each three ounces ; - - - Burgundy pitch, three pounds ; — — — yellow wax, three ounces : Melt the pitch and wax together, and mix with them the rest of the ingredients, powdered, and make a plaster. This plaster has been recommended as a moderately warm discutient, and is directed by some to be applied to the hypo¬ gastric region, for strengthening the viscera, and expelling fla¬ tulencies. PRESCRIPTION. R. 1. Take of the compound pills of galbanum, two drachms ; - - — rust of iron, four scruples ; - — — — syrup of ginger, as much as is sufficient : Form a mass, which is to be made into forty pills, of which take four at twelve at noon, and at seven in the evening, every day, drinking after them half a wine-glass of Port wine. Ex¬ cellent in hysteric affections. CORIANDER. CORIANDRUM. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Co rolla radiate : Petals inflexo-emarginate : Invo¬ lucre universal, monophyllous, partial, occupying one half : Fruit sphe¬ rical. Spec. Char. Fruit globular. DESCRIPTION. Phis plant rises to two feet high. Leaves variously pinnated. The flpwers are white or reddish, and placed on terminal um¬ bels. The partial are composed of more radii than the general, and each one is furnished with an involucre of three narrow leaves, but the general is composed of a single leaflet. The fruit is globular, and divides into two hemi-spherical concave leaves. HISTORY. It is a native of the south of Europe, where it is often a troublesome weed. From being cultivated here, it is often found wild in the fields. CORIANDER. 295 MEDICAL VIRTUES. Coriander is a warm aromatic seed, and of the same nature, and used for the same purposes, as caraways.. They are di¬ rected in the infusum amarum (bitter infusion), and infusum sennce tartarizatum (tartarized infusion of senna), with the view, as Cullen observes, of adding warmth to the medicine. u The seeds,” says this professor, u infused along with senna more powerfully correct the odour and taste of the medicine than any other aromatic I have employed ; and are equally successful in obviating costiveness, which senna is very apt to produce.” CREEPING WATER-PARSNIP. SIUM NODIFLORUM. Class V* Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Fruit subovate, striate : Involucre polyphyllous : Petals cordate. Spec. Char. Leaves pinnate : Umbels axillary, sessile. DESCRIPTION. Ir rises near a foot in height. Leaves pinnate, ending in an odd one, pinnm sawed at the edge, and sessile. Flowers stand in axillary umbels, composed of six to nine rays, and an equal number of partial radii. No general involucre, the partial con¬ sists of five, six, or seven pointed leaflets. Fruit divisible into two seeds, flat on one side, convex on the other. HISTORY. This plant is perennial, and grows wild in rivers, ditches, and marshes in England. It flowers in July and August. CREEPING WATER-PARSNIP. 297 MEDICAL VIRTUES. The Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia says of (he sium only, u It was formerly alleged to be not only diuretic, but also emmenagogue and lithontriptic. It is now scarcely employed.” Let us not, however, hastily discard any one remedy. Our countryman Ray (Synop. p. 213), and Beirie (Diet, de la Mat. Med.), re¬ commend strongly the sium in cutaneous eruptions : and the late learned and ingenious Dr. Withering relates the case of a young lady, six years old, who was cured of an obstinate cu¬ taneous disease by taking three large spoonfuls of the juice twice a day; and I have repeatedly given to adults three or four ounces every morning in similar complaints with the greatest advantage. It is not nauseous, and children take it readily if mixed with milk. In such quantities it neither affects the head, the stomach, or the bowels. COMMON MASTERWORT. IMPERATORIA OSTRUTH1UM. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Fruit subrotund, compressed, gibbous in the middle, bound at the margin : Petals inflexo»marginate. Spec. Char. None, as this is at present the only species. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises to two feet. The root is perennial, large, succulent, tapering. The stalk is striated, and round. The leaves are three together, and the terminal leaf is often cut into three lobes. These are placed on a long footstalk, which ter¬ minates in a sheathing covering to the stalk. There is no general involucre, the partial is composed of one or two leaves. HISTORY. Masterwort may be considered as a native of Scotland, being found there by Mr. Lightfoot. It is frequently cultivated in gardens, but the root so produced is greatly inferior to that growing in the south of Europe, especially in mountainous COMMON MASTER WORT, 299 situations ; hence the shops are supplied with it from the Alps and Pyrenees. VIRTUES. This plant is omitted in our Pharmacopoeias, notwithstanding its boastful name, — 66 Imperatoria ob raras et praestantes facul- tates nominata fuit,” — (Bauhin. Pin. 1. c.) and although Hoff¬ mann calls it a divine remedy, 64 remedium divinum,” — Officin. b. ii. c. 116. Having so few plants accepted, we should be un¬ willing to part with this without further inquiry. Alston says its root is aromatic, and leaves a pungency in the mouth for more than an hour. Haller relates, that it is beneficial in diseases of the chest arising from a load of mucus, and of course in the pituitous asthma; and in those diseases arising from defective circulation, as chlorosis and dropsy ; and it has succeeded in a quartan ague even after the cinchona had failed. What is more extraordi¬ nary, he adds, employed in the form of a clyster it facilitates parturition; the same also when taken inwardly. It expels worms. A drachm of the root in substance, and a drachm in infusion, is the quantity directed to be taken four times a day. ROUGH PARSNIP. O P O P O N A X. PASTINACA OPOPONAX. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gex. Char. Fruit elliptic, compresso-plane : Petals involute, entire. Spec. Char. Leaves pinnate: Leaflets on the upper part at the base, as if cut out. DESCRIPTION. It rises seven or eight feet. The leaves are pinnated, consisting of several pairs of pinnae, which are oblong, serrated, veined, and as if unformed at the base. The flowers are small, of a yel¬ lowish colour, and terminate the stem and branches in umbels. No involucres, either general or partial. HISTORY. This plant is perennial, and grows wild in the south of Eu- ROUGH PARSNIP. 301 rope; but the gum resin, which is said to be obtained by wound¬ ing the stalk or root, is brought from the Levant and East In¬ dies, sometimes in round drops or tears, but more commonly in irregular lumps, of a reddish yellow colour on the outside, with specks of white, inwardly of a paler colour, and frequently va¬ riegated with large white pieces. It has a peculiar strong smell, and a bitter, acrid, somewhat nauseous, taste. Neumann got from 480 parts, 166 alcoholic, and afterwards 180 watery extract; and inversely, 226 watery, and 60 alco¬ holic. Both the water and alcohol distilled from it were im¬ pregnated with its flavour. It forms a milky solution with wa¬ ter, and yields a little essential oil on distillation. Opoponax has been long employed by physicians, and esteemed for its attenuating, deobstruent, and aperient virtues ; but as it is commonly prescribed in combination with other medicines, these qualities are by no means ascertained, nor do its sensible qualities indicate it to be a medicine of much power. Dr. Cullen classes it with the antispasmodics ; it is, however, less foetid than galbanum, though more so than ammoniacum, and therefore may be supposed to have some affinity to an union of these two. It has commonly been given in hypochondriacal affections, vis¬ ceral obstructions, menstrual suppressions, and asthmas, espe¬ cially when connected with a phlegmatic habit of body. It en¬ ters into the following composition, Compound Pills of Gal¬ banum. (Piiulae Galbani Composite. L.) — Vide p. 292. CARUM CARUI. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Fruit ovato-oblong, striate : Involucre monophyl- lous : Petals keeled, inftexo-emarginate. DESCRIPTION. It rises to two or three feet. The leaves are long, and sub¬ divide into numerous pinnulae or segments, which are narrow, pointed, of a dark green colour. The flowers grow in terminal umbels. It has a terminal and partial umbel. The seeds are two, naked, brown, striated, and of an oblong shape. HISTORY. This plant is a native of Britain, and grows in meadows and low grounds ; but the seeds of the cultivated plant are said to be larger, more oily, and of a more agreeable flavour than those of the wild plant, which are hot and acrid. It flowers in May and June. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The caraway is a pleasant, hot, aromatic seed, abounding with an essential oil, and containing gummy and resinous parts. CARAWAYS. 303 Spirits draw a tincture that has the taste, hut not a very strong flavour; and water extracts a tincture that has a strong flavour, and but a weak taste. They are principally used as stomachic and carminative ; and are frequently mixed with infusions of senna, to correct its griping quality. There is an essential oil ordered to be drawn from them, which is given from three or four to ten drops. And we have an aq. seminum Carui drawn with spirits, which may be used from a drachm to half an ounce, as a cordial spi¬ rituous water. PREPARATION. Spirit of Caraway. (Spiritus Cari Carui. E.) Take of caraway seeds, bruised, half a pound ; — 1 diluted alcohol, nine pounds : Macerate for two days in a close vessel ; then pour on as much water as will prevent empyreuma, and draw off*, by distillation, nine pounds. SMALL BURNET SAXIFRAGE. PIMPINELLA. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Fruit ovate-oblong: Petals indexed : .Stomata sub- globose. Spec. Char. Leaves pinnate : Leaflets radical subrotund, upper narrower. DESCRIPTION. It rises a foot in height. The leaves are variously shaped, pin¬ nated. The flowers stand upon terminal umbels. There is no involucre. The seeds are naked, furrowed, egg-shaped. HISTORY. It is a native of this country, and grows in dry meadows and pastures. The flowers appear in August and September. MEDICAL VIRTUES. Bergius states the virtues of this root to be resolvent, diapho¬ retic, stomachic, anff diuretic. It is recommended by several w riters as a stomachic, and in all cases where pituitous humours are thought to prevail, as asthmas, dropsies, catarrhal coughs, hoarsenesses, and what has been called angina serosa; and by Hoffmann it is said to be an excellent emmenagogue. In the way of gargle it has been employed for dissolving viscid mucus, and to stimulate the tongue when that organ becomes paralytic. Chewing the root, by drawing off the saliva from the gums, im¬ mediately relieves the tooth-ach. The dose inwardly is a scruple in substance, and in infusion two drachms. ANISE. PIMPINELLA ANISUM. Class I. Pentandria. Order II. Digvnia. Essent. Gen. Char. Fruit ovate-oblong : Petals indexed : Stigmata sub=* globular. Spec. Char. Leaves pinnated, leaflets radical subrotund, above linear* DESCRIPTION. This plant rises to a foot in height. The leaves are on the upper part of the stem divided into narrow pinnated segments, but at the bottom roundish, separated into three lobes, some¬ times fives, standing on long footstalks. The flowers are small, white, and placed in terminal umbels. No involucres. III STORY. Anise is an annual umbelliferous plant, growing wild in Crete, Syria, and other places of the east. It is cultivated in some parts of France, Germany, and Spain, and may be raised also in England; the seeds brought from Spain, which are smaller than the others, are preferred. Aniseeds have an aromatic smell, and a pleasant warm taste, accompanied with a degree of sweetness. Water extracts very little of their flavour ; rectified spirit the whole. x 306 ANISE. PREPARATIONS. Essential Oil of Anise. (Oleum Volatile Pimpinellaj Anisi.) This, like other essential oils, is obtained by distillation with an alembic, and a large refrigeratory. Water must be added to the materials in sufficient quantity to prevent their burning, and to macerate them before the distillation. The water which comes over with the oil during the distilla¬ tion ought to be kept for use. Anise is a seed which has an aromatic smell and a pleasant, warm, sweetish taste ; it has been used as a carminative, a cor¬ dial, and stomachic, and for strengthening the viscera : the es¬ sential oil is amongst the mildest of this kind we have, and may be given from three to twenty drops, though common practice seldom goes beyond eight or ten. Compound Spirit of Aniseed. (Spiritus Anisi Com- positus. L. D.) Take of aniseed, — - angelica seed, of each, bruised, half a pound ; - - - proof spirit, one gallon ; - - water, sufficient to prevent empyreuma : Draw off one gallon by distillation. This compound spirit, like the simple ones, is an agreeable cordial ; indeed they are too agreeable, for by some they are so often resorted to, on the slightest sensation of flatulence in the stomach, that their use is attended with all the pernicious con¬ sequences of dram-drinking. It may be added to purgatives, to hinder their producing colicy pains in the bowels, in the dose of from one to two drachms, or taken alone in some water to expel flatulency. Hence Hoffman calls these seeds Solamen intesti - num. Aniseed Water. (Aqua Anethi.) Take of bruised dill-seeds, a pound ; - of water, as much as is sufficient to prevent burning: Distil off a gallon. This is given to infants to expel wind, and often mixed with their food: but such cordials begun early often induce an en¬ largement of the liver, and dreadful atrophy. The common cause of wind is a diseased state of the bile, to be obviated by a little magnesia, with a very small quantity of rhubarb, to be taken night and morning. This is said to augment in w omen the quantity of milk, and restore it when it has disappeared. COMMON PARSLEY. APIUM PETROSELINUM. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Ess ent. Gen. Char. Fruit ovate, striate: General Involucre monophyl- lous: Petals equal. Spec. Char. Leaves cauline linear : Partial Involucre six or eight leaflets. - —aiani - DESCRIPTION. It rises two feet in height. The radical leaves are without footstalks, compound, pinnated in threes. The leaflets are smooth, veined, divided into three lobes, and notched at the margin. The flowers are small, of a yellow colour, placed on terminal umbels. The leaves of the general involucre vary from culture. Of the partial usually six or eight. It is best distin¬ guished from all other umbelliferous plants by means of the smell. It may be discriminated from the fool’s parsley by the latter having a partial involucre consisting of three long leaflets. II I STORY. It is a native of the south of Europe, and is naturalized to this climate, and very generally cultivated for culinary purposes. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The root is said to be diuretic, and decoctions of it are often used in cases of gravel, and w here there is a scarcity or difficulty in passing water. The seeds are slightly aromatic, and hence carminative ; but the whole plant merits rather to be mentioned as a culinary than a medicinal plant. x 2 SWEET FENNEL. ANETHUM GHAVEOLENS. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Fruit subovate, compressed, striate : Petals invo¬ lute, entire. Spec. Char. Fruit ovate. DESCRIPTION. It rises four feet. The leaves stand upon sheathy footstalks, and are doubly pinnate, pinnae linear pointed. Flowers on ter¬ minal umbels, of a pale yellow. No general or partial invo¬ lucre. Seeds two, ovate, flat, striated, and surrounded with a membranous margin. HISTORY. This plant is a native of Spain and Portugal, and is perfectly naturalized to this climate. It flowers in June and July. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The seeds and the plant itself were formerly much used in medicine, and from the time of Dioscorides have been esteemed SWEET FENNEL. 309 for their carminative and hypnotic powers, and therefore have been recommended in flatulent colics, and certain dyspeptic symptoms proceeding from a laxity of the stomach. They are also said to be more effectual than the other seeds of this class in promoting the secretion of milk. At this time, however, the seeds of dill are seldom employed, though a simple distilled water prepared from them is directed both by the London and Edin¬ burgh Pharmacopoeias. FINE-LEAYED WATER-HEMLOCK. PHELLANDRIUM AQUATICUM. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Floscules of the disk less: Fruit ovate, smooth, crowned by a perianth and pistillum. Spec. Char, Ramifications of the leaves diverging. DESCRIPTION. It rises two feet in height. The leaves are triply pinnated, ra¬ mifying at right angles. Leaflets irregularly pinnatifid. Leaves under the water filiform. Flowers on terminal umbels. Ge¬ neral umbel none. Partial of seven leaves. Flowers in the centre of each umbel smaller than the outer ones. Fruit ovate, smooth, divisible into two parts or seeds. HISTORY. This plant grows in rivers, ditches, and pools, and flowers in June or July. It is generally supposed to possess deleterious qualities. Horses, on eating it, are said to become paralytic ; but this effect should not be ascribed to the phellandrium, but to an insect which resides within its stalks, viz. the Curculio paraplecticus , FINE-LEAVED WATER-HEMLOCK. 311 MEDICAL VIRTUES. The seeds of the plant, however, according to Dr. Lange, when taken in large doses, produce a remarkable sensation of weight iu the head, accompanied with giddiness, intoxication, &c., and therefore may be deemed capable of proving an active medicine. They are oblong, striated, of a greenish yellow, about the size of those of dill, and manifesting an aromatic acrid taste, approaching nearly to that of the seeds of lovage. Distilled with water they yield an essential oil, of a pale yellow colour, and of a strong penetrating smell. One pound of the seeds affords an ounce of watery extract, but nearly double this quantity of spirituous extract, of which more than three drachms consists of resin. Pliny states the seeds of phellandrium to be an efficacious me¬ dicine in calculous complaints, and disorders of the bladder; and in this opinion he is followed by Dodonaeus, who mentions them also as possessing diuretic and emmenagogue powers. But on these authorities little reliance is to be placed ; so that the efficacy of this plant rests chiefly on the testimonies of Ernstin- gius and Lange, by whom various cases of its successful use are published, especially in wounds and inveterate ulcers of different kinds, and even in cancers ; also in phthisis pulmonalis, asthma, dyspepsia, intermittent fevers, &c. About two scruples of the seed, two or three times a day, was the ordinary dose given. Though the disorders here noticed are so multifarious and dis¬ similar as to afford no satisfactory evidence of the medicinal qua¬ lities of these seeds, yet they appear to us well deserving of further investigation, according to the maxim— u Ubi virus ibi virtus.” > HEMLOCK WATER-DROPWORT. (ENANTHE CROCATA. Class V. Pentqndria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Floscules unequal: those in the disk sessile, sterile: Fruit crowned by the calyx and pistillum. Spec, Char. Leaves all iqultifid, obtuse, nearly equal. DESCRIPTION. It rises two or three feet in height. Leaves are simple, and doubly pinnate. Smaller pinnae wedge-shaped, jagged at the edges, larger pinnae three-lobed, indented. Flowers in umbels spreading, somewhat globular. No general involucre. Partial composed of many leaves. Fruit oblong, striated, divisible into two parts, which are convex on one side and flat on the other. HISTORY. It is a native of England, and grows on the banks of rivers anti in ditches; flowers in June and July. HEMLOCK WATER-DROP WORT. 313 MEDICAL VIRTUES. We are sorry we have to record it rather as a powerful poison than as medicine. Its root, which is not unpleasant to the taste, is, by Dr. Poultney, esteemed to be the most deleterious of all the vegetables which this country produces. Mr. Howell, surgeon at Haverfordwest, relates, that u eleven French prisoners had the liberty of walking in and about the town of Pembroke ; three of them, being in the fields a little before noon, dug up a large quantity of this plant, which they took to be wild celery, to eat with their bread and butter for dinner. After washing it, they all three ate, or rather tasted, of the roots. As they were entering the town, without any previous notice of sickness at the stomach, or disorder in the head, one of them was seized with convulsions. The other two ran home, and sent a surgeon to him. The surgeon endeavoured first to bleed, and then to vomit him ; but those endeavours were fruitless, and he died presently. Ignorant of the cause of their comrade’s death, and of their own danger, they gave of these roots to the other eight prisoners, who all ate some of them with their dinner. A few minutes afterwards the remaining two, who gathered the plants, were seized in the same manner as the first ; of which one died ; the other was bled, and a vomit with great difficulty forced down, on account of his jaws being as it were locked together. This operated, and he recovered, but was some time affected with dizziness in his head, though not sick or the least disordered in his stomach. The other eight, being bled and vomited immediately, were soon well.” At Clonmel], in Ireland, eight boys, mistaking this plant for water-parsnip, ate plentifully of its roots: about four or five hours after, the eldest boy became suddenly convulsed, and died: and before the next morning four of the other boys died in a similar manner. Of the other three, one was maniacal se¬ veral hours, another lost his hair and nails, but the third escaped unhurt. Stalpaart vander Wiel mentions two cases of the fatal effects of this root ; these, however, were attended with great heat in the throat and stomach, sickness, vertigo, and purging. They both died in the course of two or three hours after eating the root. Allen, in his Synopsis Medicince ; also relates that four chil- 314 HEMLOCK WATER-DROPWORT. dren suffered greatly by eating this poison. In these cases great agony was experienced before the convulsions supervened; vo¬ mitings likewise came on, which were encouraged by large draughts of oil and warm water, to which their recovery is ascribed. The late sir William Watson, who refers to the instances here cited, also says that a Dutchman was poisoned by the leaves of the plant boiled in pottage. It appears from various authorities that most brute animals are not less affected by this poison than man ; and Mr. Light- foot informs us, that a spoonful of the juice of this plant given to a dog, rendered him sick and stupid ; but a goat was observed to eat the plant with impunity. The great virulence of this plant has not, however, prevented it from being taken medicinally. In a letter from Dr. Poultney to sir William Watson, we are told that a severe and inveterate cutaneous disorder was cured by the juice of the root, though not without exciting the most alarming symptoms. Taken in the dose of a spoonful, in two hours afterwards the head was affected in a very extraordinary manner, followed with violent sickness and vomiting, cold sweats and rigors ; but this did not deter the patient from continuing the medicine, in somewhat less doses, till it effected a cure. WATER HEMLOCK. CICUTA VIROSA. Class Y. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Fruit subovate, sulcate. Spec. Char. Umbels terminal : Petals marginate, obtuse. DESCRIPTION. Rises four feet in height. Leaves pinnated ; leaflets usually placed in threes, spear-shaped, serrate, serratures white at the point. Flowers in large compact umbels. Flowers all uni¬ form, fertile. Fruit egg-shaped, divisible into two seeds. HISTORY. This poisonous plant grows on the borders of pools and rivers, and flowers in July and August. MEDICAL VIRTUES. It appears from Bergius, that water-hemlock, in its dried state, may be taken in a considerable quantity without producing 316 WATER HEMLOCK. any bad effect ; but of the fatal effects of its root when fresh, numerous instances are recorded. Of two boys and six girls, who ate of this root for that of parsnip, the greater part died in a short time afterwards, those only escaping who were en¬ abled to discharge it by vomiting. The symptoms it produced were intoxication, vertigo, great heat and pain in the stomach, convulsions, and even epilepsy, distortions of the eyes, vomit¬ ing or retching, a discharge of blood from the ears, swelling of the abdomen, hiccup, spasms, &c. In the case of a man who had eaten of this poisonous root, we are told the symptoms were vertigo, succeeded by delirium, with constant heat at the sto¬ mach, and inextinguishable thirst : these symptoms were of long continuance, and followed by an erysipelatous tumour of the neck. To cite all the instances related of the deleterious effects of this root would be unnecessary, as those here stated from Wepfer will sufficiently show the train of symptoms which usually follow the taking of this poison. It may be observed, however, that in most of the cases in which it proved fatal, the patients died in a convulsed or epileptic state, and that whenever the root was rejected by vomiting, only a slight degree of stupefaction was for a few hours experienced. On examination of the bodies of those w ho perished by eating this root, we are told that the stomach and intestines were dis¬ covered to be inflamed, and even in a gangrenous or eroded state, and the blood-vessels of the brain much distended. To several brutes this plant has likewise proved mortal , but the facts upon this point are somewhat vague and various. Though said to be a fatal poison to cows, it is eaten with im¬ punity by goats and sheep. As an internal medicine the Cicuta aquatica is universally su¬ perseded by the common hemlock ; but externally employed in the way of a poultice, it is said to afford relief in various fixed pains, especially those of the rheumatic and arthritic kind. COMMON HEMLOCK. CONIUM MACULATUM. Class V. Pentandria. Order II. Digynia. Bssent. Gen. Char. Irtvolucella dimidiate, subtriphyllous : Fruit sub- globular, having live striae, crenate on both sides. DESCRIPTION. The root is biennial, tapering, sometimes forked, eight or ten inches long, and about the thickness of a finger : the stalk is five or six feet high, round, shining, beset with brown and purplish specks; towards the top branched and striated; near the bottom about three inches in circumference, and covered with a blueish exudation, appearing like a fine powder : the lower leaves are very large, tripinnated, of a shining green co¬ lour, standing upon long, striated, concave footstalks, which proceed from the joints of the stem; the upper and smaller leaves are bipiunated, and placed at the divisions of the branches 318 COMMON HEMLOCK. the flowers are produced in umbels, which are both universal and partial, and composed of several striated radii. The universal involucrum consists of five or seven leaves, these are lanceolated, whitish at the margin, and bent downwards ; the partial involu¬ crum is composed of three or four leaves, which are placed on the outer side of the radial stalk ; the petals are five, oval, white, and curl inwards at their points ; the stamina are five, W'hite, about the length of the corolla, and crowned with whitish antherae ; the styles are two, filiform, inclining outwards, and terminated by round stigmata ; the fruit is oval, striated, con¬ sisting of two irregularly hemispherical striated brownish seeds. The hemlock is obviously distinguished from our other um¬ belliferous plants by its large and spotted stalk, by the dark and shining green colour of its bottom leaves, and particularly by their disagreeable smell when bruised, and which, according to Stoerck, resembles that of mice. — Curt. Flor. Lond. The Chse- rophyllum bulbosum has a spotted stem, but its swelled joints, and rough seeds, distinguish it from the hemlock. HISTORY. It is common near waste grounds and dunghills, and flowers in July. MEDICAL VIRTUE. This plant, like the former, is a most deadly poison, and the Athenians often made those condemned to death drink a cup-full of its juice to put an end to life. The ancients, however, be¬ lieved it to be a good discutient and anodyne external applica¬ tion, and used it both in fomentations and poultices ; and it has been continued to be employed as an external application to this day. Ray and others mention the powder of the root of the hem¬ lock as an efficacious remedy in scirrhi of the liver and spleen ; but none of the modern physicians were bold enough to give either it, or any of its preparations, as a medicine, till in the year 1760, that Dr. Stoerck, of Vienna, published a treatise in which he mentions his having cured a number of cancers by means of an extract made with the juice of the leaves, which he gave from a few grains to a drachm or more in the day. Immediately on the arrival of this publication in Great Bri¬ tain, large quantities of the extract, made according to Dr. Stoerck’s directions, were prepared by private apothecaries, and at most hospitals within the kingdom j and practitioners con- COMMON HEMLOCK. 319 gratulated each other on a remedy for this most terrible distemper having been at last discovered. But, alas ! how were they dis¬ appointed when they found, after the cicuta had been admi¬ nistered to many hundreds of unhappy patients, not one true cancer had been cured by any practitioner whatever. Many hundred pounds weight of this extract were made, and given to patients labouring under various disorders, in the space of the last twenty-five years. u The following are the principal observations that I made,” says Dr. Donald Monro, u on the effects of this medicine during that period. 66 I did not see, nor hear, of its having cured one true cancer, either occult or ulcerated. It sometimes alleviated the pain, and in some few cases it was imagined to have lessened the tumor a little, on first using ; but this effect soon ceased, and the tumor continued to increase as before. In some few cases of ulcerated cancers it mended the discharge, and changed it from a thin ichorous state, to a thicker consistence, like to that which we call laudable pus ; but, notwithstanding, the disorder increased, and at last terminated fatally. The physicians and surgeons of the other hospitals in London have often told me that they had made the same observations on the use of the hemlock in can¬ cerous disorders as I had. u The cicuta produced better effects in scrophulous than in the cancerous disorders ; some few very small tumors were thought to have been discussed by its use ; but I never saw it remove any tumor that was large and hard, though given in large quantity for weeks or months daily. In scrophulous sores of the extre¬ mities it often mended the discharge when it was continued for some time. In many scrophulous cases it had a much better effect when it was administered along with the bark, than when it was given by itself ; many of the sores came to a better state than 1 ever expected to have seen them ; and in three cases, where there was reason to suspect that the bones were affected, the sores healed by continuing the use of these two medicines for four or five months. I tried the cicuta and bark separately in many such cases, but neither of them produced such good effects as when they were given at the same time. “The discharge from some sore legs, and from some other foul ulcers, was mended by the patient’s taking freely of this ex¬ tract, and it was thought to assist the operation of the bark and of mercury in some cases. 320 COMMON HEMLOCK^ 6i It was given to a number of out-patients labouring under the chincough, but it did not produce such good effects as were ex¬ pected. The observations on the various success of the cicuta in Ire¬ land, given by the late Dr. Rutty, in the third volume of Me¬ dical Observations and Inquiries, agree in most respects with what is here mentioned ; only that he relates a case where a sore on the upper part of the sternum, which was suspected to have been cancerous, was cured by taking freely of the cicuta. In the same volume of Observations the late Dr. Fothergill men¬ tions three cases : 1. Of a gentleman who laboured under a very painful ulcer of the nose, which had spread and corroded a great part of the integuments of one of the eyelids. 2. Of another gentlemen who had a violent pain on one side of his face, about the antrum highmorianum. 3. Of a lady who had large angry pimples on her face, and a number of small steatomatous tumors on her scalp, and at the same time laboured under the fluor albus; who all three received great benefit from the use of the cicuta. And he says that it cured a rheumatic pain in the arm, which had continued long ; and that he had seen it of service where there were symptoms of tubercles beginning to form in the lungs. Dr. Bergius mentions u that it has no effect in curing the true cancer, but that it has been of service in scrophulous complaints, and in venereal, when joined with mercury ; and that it is some¬ times of use in cutaneous disorders. a It is right to begin with giving small quantities of this ex¬ tract, and to increase the dose gradually ; I have generally be¬ gun with giving four or five grains to an adult three or four times in the day, and gradually increased the dose to a scruple; J seldom exceeded a drachm in the day, except in a few cases, where I gave it the length of two ; though I have seen some prac¬ titioners give half an ounce in that time ; and in one case or two I saw above an ounce of it given in the twenty-four hours. cc In some few instances I imagined that it hurt the general health of the patients, and in one or tw o cases that it hastened death ; though the use of the cicuta had been laid aside some time before the patients died, and they sunk so gradually as to leave it mere matter of conjecture what had been the cause of their death.” Some practitioners, however, speak more favourably of this plant. Dr. Withering says : u Let the leaves be gathered about COMMON HEMLOCK. 321 the end of June, when the plant is in flower. Pick off the little leaves, and throw away the leaf-stalks. Dry these selected little leaves in a hot sun, or in a tin dripping-pan or pewter dish be¬ fore the fire. Preserve them in bags made of strong brown paper; or powder them, and keep the powder in glass phials, in a drawer or something that will exclude the light, for the light soon dissipates the beautiful green colour, and with its co¬ lour the medicine loses its efficacy. From fifteen to twenty-five grains of this powder may be taken twice or thrice a day. I have found it particularly useful in chronic rheumatisms, and also in many of those diseases which are usually supposed to arise from acrimony. The nature of this book does not allow minute details of the virtues of plants, but I can assure the me¬ dical practitioner that this is well worth his attention.” — Bot. Arrang. 2d ed. p. 280. And the respectable Haller says, 66 it has often succeeded where other remedies have failed, and if it has not always succeeded in cancer, it has always allayed the distress of that most afflicting disorder.” PREPARATIONS. Inspissated Juice of Hemlock. (Succus Cicutae Spissatus.) Express the leaves of hemlock, gathered when the flowers are just appearing, and allow the juice to stand six hours, until the faeces subside ; then reduce the decanted juice to the thickness of an extract with a moderate heat. This is a very convenient form for the exhibition of those sub¬ stances which are sufficiently succulent to afford a juice by ex¬ pression, and whose virtues do not reside in any very volatile matter. By inspissation the bulk of the requisite dose is very much diminished ; they are reduced to a form convenient for making up into pills ; and they are much less apt to spoil than the simple expressed juices. The mode of their preparation is not yet, however, reduced to fixed principles. Some direct the juices to be inspissated as soon as they are expressed ; others allow them previously to undergo a slight degree of fermenta¬ tion ; some defaecate them before they proceed to inspissate them ; and, lastly, the nature of the soil, of the season, and many other circumstances, must materially alter the quantity or na¬ ture of the product. In moist years Baume got from thirty pounds of elder berries four or five pounds of inspissated juice, and in dry years only two, or two and a half. From hemlock he 322 COMMON HEMLOCK. got, in October 1769, 7*5 per cent, of inspissated juice, and in May of the same year only 3*7 ; on the contrary, in August 1768, 4 per cent., and in May 1770, 6*5; but, in general, the product in the autumn months was the greatest. Haller disapproves of gathering the hemlock in the autumn, when its virtues are greatly extracted by the seeds, and says it has most efficacy in the spring. This observation merits all the attention such authority deserves. PRESCRIPTIONS. J^. 1. Take of the inspissated juice of hemlock, three grains; — - - compound powder of tragacanth, one drachm : Rub them together, and divide into six equal parts, of which take one twice a day at first, then four times a day, gradually increasing the dose. This is to be given in inward and outward cancers, chronic rheumatism, exhausting by pain, dry irritating cough, vomica : and half the dose to children in the last stage of the hooping cough, accompanied with a hectic look, and much fever ; but not in any mild case of this disease, as it seldom proves under such circumstances fatal, unless injudiciously treated with this poison. 2. Take of the inspissated juice of hemlock, one drachm ; — - — the dried herb hemlock, in powder, as much as is sufficient to produce a mass to form pills : Make into thirty pills, of which take one or more twice a day, gradually increasing them each day as may be required. Em¬ ployed in the same diseases as the last; also in cases of high scor¬ butic acrimony. 3. Take of the dried herb hemlock, - chamomile flowers, of each one ounce ; - - boiling water, a pint: Boil for ten minutes, and add to the strained juice linseed meal, as much as may be sufficient to make a cataplasm, to be applied warm to the affected part, passing over it a little oil, and re- sewed twice a day. F or an open cancer. ELDER.. SAMBUCUS NIGRA. Class V. Pentandria. Order III. Trigynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five* parted; Corolla five-cleft; Berry three® seeded. Spec. Char. Cyme five-partite : Leaves pinnate : Stem arboreous. DESCRIPTION. It rises to the height of a small tree. It is much branched to¬ wards the top. The young shoots are full of pith, the old ones without any. The leaves are pinnated, consisting of two or three pair of pinnae, with an odd one at the end. The flowers are sweet-smelling, white, and produced on large flat umbels or clusters. These do not proceed from a regular centre, there¬ fore it only approximates to the umbelliferous tribe. The fruit is a round succulent berry, of a blackish purple colour, and con¬ tains three seeds, which are flat on one side and angular on the other. HISTORY. This tree is frequent in hedges ; it flowers in June, and ripens its fruit in September. The berries contain malic acid, and have a sweetish, not unpleasant, taste; nevertheless, eaten in sub« Y 2 324 ELDER. stance, they offcnd the stomach. For the market they are ga¬ thered indiscriminately from the Sambucus nigra and ebulus ; a very venial fraud, as their effects are exactly the same. They are, however, easily distinguished, by the latter, when bruised, staining the fingers of a red colour, and the former of the co¬ lour of a withered leaf. MEDICAL USE. An infusion of the inner green bark of the trunk in wine, or the expressed juice of the berries in the dose of half an ounce or an ounce, is said to purge moderately, and in small doses to prove an efficacious deobstruent, capable of promoting all the fluid secretions. The expressed juice, inspissated to the con¬ sistence of a rob, proves an useful aperient medicine, promotes the natural evacuations, and, if continued for a sufficient length of time, does considerable service in various chronical disorders. The young leaf buds are strongly purgative, and act with so much violence, as to be deservedly accounted unsafe. The flowers are very different in quality : these have an agreeable aromatic flavour, which they yield in distillation to water, and impart, by infusion, to vinous and spirituous liquors. PREPARATIONS. Inspissated Juice of Elder Berries, commonly called Elder Rob. (Succus Spissatus Sambuci Nigri, vulgo Rob Sambuci. E.) Take of juice of ripe elder berries, five pounds ; — double refined sugar, one pound : Evaporate, with a gentle heat, to the consistence of pretty thick honey. These inspissated juices contain the virtues of the respective vegetables in a very concentrated state. Those of the elder, black currant, and lemon, are acidulous, cooling, and laxative, and may be used in considerable quantities. Elder Ointment. (Unguentum Sambuci. L.) Take of elder flowers, four pounds ; - - mutton suet, prepared, three pounds ; - olive oil, one pint : Boil the flowers in the suet and oil till they be almost crisp ; then strain with expression. ELDER. 325 Dub. Take of fresh elder flowers, three pounds; * - - prepared hogs lard, four pounds ; - - - mutton suet, two pounds : Boil the flowers in the lard until they become crisp; then strain with expression ; lastly, add the wax, and melt them together. Compositions of this kind were formerly very frequent ; but vegetables, by boiling in oils, impart to them nothing but a little mucilage, which changes the greasy oils to drying oils, and any resin they may contain ; but that also is never in such quantity as to affect the nature of the oil. We therefore do not suppose that this ointment possesses any properties different from a simple ointment of the same consistence, except its fragrancy. Per¬ haps on this account it is found to be a pleasant ointment to apply to the piles when outward ; and the colour and smell give the patient a degree of faith, which is an excellent stimulus in painful diseases, which are apt to produce great depression of spirits. Elder Wine. Pick your berries when quite ripe, put them into a stone jar, and set them in an oven, or in a kettle of boiling water, till the jar is hot through ; them take them out, and strain them through a coarse sieve ; squeeze the berries, and put the juice into a clean kettle. To every quart of juice put a pound of fine Lisbon sugar; let it boil, and skim it well. When clear and fine, pour it into a cask. To every ten gallons of wine add an ounce of isinglass dissolved in cider, and six whole eggs. Close it up, let it stand six months, and then bottle it. Another Way. — Take twenty-five pounds of Malaga raisins, and rub them small ; then boil five gallons of water an hour, and let it stand till milk warm : put it into an earthen stein, with your raisins, and let them steep ten days, stirring them twice a day ; pass the liquor through a hair sieve, and have in readiness five pints of the juice of elderberries, drawn off as you do jelly of currants ; mix it cold with the liquor, stir it well together, and put it in a cask. Let it stand in a warm place ; and when it has done working, stop it close and bottle it. 326 ELDERt Elder Flower Wine, or English Frontiniac. Boil eighteen pounds of white powdered sugar in six gallons of water, and two whites of eggs well beaten; skim it, and put in a quarter of a peck of elder flowers; do not keep them on the fire. When cool, stir it, and put in six spoonfuls of lemon-juice, four or five of yeast, and beat well into the li¬ quor ; stir it well every day ; put six pounds of the best raisins, stoned, into the cask, and tun the wine. Stop it close, and bottle in six months. When well kept, this wine will pass very well for Frontiniac. DWARF ELDER. SAMBUCUS EBULUS. Class V. Pentandria. Order IIT. Trigynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-parted : Corolla five-cleft : Berry three- seeded. Spec. Char. Cyme tripartite : Stipules foliaceous : Stem herbaceous. DESCRIPTION. This rises to six feet in height, herbaceous, erect. Leaves opposite, pinnated, composed of four or five pair, with an odd one at the extremity : pinnae lanceolate, unequal, serrated. Flowers in terminal corymbi. Calyx cut into five teeth. Co¬ rolla monopctalous, wheel-shaped, cut into five large segments. Fruit a roundish, black, single-celled berry, containing three irregularly shaped seeds. HISTORY. It is not unfrequent in hedges, flowering in June and July, but seldom brings its fruit to maturity. MEDICAL VIRTUES. Every part of the plant has a faint disagreeable smell, resembling that of common elder, but stronger and more ungrateful ; and, 328 DWARF ELDER. when taken into the stomach, manifests a greater share of active power. The root of the ebulus, which is white, fleshy, and of a nau¬ seous bitter taste, was formerly very generally employed in drop¬ sies. A decoction of two drachms of it, or a small quantity of its expressed juice, promotes both the alvine and urinary dis¬ charges ; and if the decoction is prepared from the bark of the fresh root, its activity is so much increased, that it commonly proves both emetic and cathartic. The inner bark of the stalk, when recent, is equally powerful in evacuating the primce vice ; and its effects, as a diuretic, on the testimony of Dr. Brocklesby, were found to be very con¬ siderable; but its operation is so violent and precarious, that it is now very rarely employed. The berries, in their recent state, according to Scopoli, prove a gentle cathartic, though Haller says that he never experienced this effect from their use. The seeds are said to be diuretic, and to have been given with advantage in dropsical complaints : they also afford ail oil, which Haller applied with success in painful affections of the joints. The leaves, boiled in wine, and formed into a cataplasm, have been recommended in France as a discutient application to con¬ tusions and tumours. ELM-LEAVED SUMACH. RHUS CORIARIA. Class V. Pentandria. Order III. Trigynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-parted: Petals five : Berry one seed. Spec. Char. Leaves obtusely pinnate, serrate, oval, underneath villous. DESCRIPTION. This is a small tree, rises ten feet. Leaves are pinnate, com¬ posed of several pinnae, which are lance-shaped, obtusely sawed, smooth above, hairy beneath ; ends with an odd leaf. The com¬ mon footstalk is somewhat winged. Flowers small, bundled together, in a long spike. HISTORY. This species of sumach is a native of the south of Europe, and appears from the Catalogus Horti Oxoniensis to have been cul¬ tivated in that garden previous to the year 1648, though it is still a scarce plant in this country. 330 ELM-LEAVED SUMACH. MEDICAL USE. The genus to which this species belongs comprehends several species which are known to be extremely poisonous, especially the rhus toxicodendron, radicans, andvernix; but the coriaria is perfectly innocent, and its berries are in some places used for culinary purposes. Its medicinal qualities are wholly to be ascribed to its styp- ticity or astringency ; a property which it possesses in a suf¬ ficient degree to render it useful in dyeing, and also in tanning of leather, for which it was used in the time of Dioscorides. Both the leaves and berries have been employed in medicine, but the former are more astringent and tonic, and have been long in common use in various complaints indicating this class of remedies. The berries, which are red, and of a roundish compressed figure, contain a pulpy matter, in which is lodged a brown, hard, oval seed, manifesting a considerable degree of astringency. The pulp, even when dry, is gratefully acid, and has been dis¬ covered to contain an essential salt similar to that of wood-sorrel, or perhaps more nearly allied to crystals of tartar. An infusion of the dry fruit is not rendered black by a solu¬ tion of iron ; hence it appears to be destitute of astringency; but its acidity is extremely grateful, which has caused the tree to be called by the French le vinaigrier. Therefore, like many other acid summer fruits, these berries may be advantageously taken to allay febrile heat, and to correct bilious putrescency. Lately the rhus toxicodendron and radicans have been recom¬ mended in paralytic affections; the latter by Mr. Fresnoi, and the former by Dr. Alderson, of Hull : but the cases in which these virulent plants were employed are but few and indecisive. FLAX. LINUM USITATISSIMUM. Class V. Pentandria. Order V. Pentagynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-leaved : Petals five : Capsule five-valved9 ten-celled : Seed single. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises to a foot and a half. The branches are simple, erect, and terminated by the flowers. They are single, of a sky blue colour. The leaves are lance-shaped, acute, sessile. The calyx is cut into five segments. The corolla is composed of five petals. HISTORY. This valuable annual plant is said to have come originally from those parts of Egypt which are exposed to the inundations of the Nile. It now grows wild in the fields in the south of England, and is cultivated in large quantities. It flowers in July. Linseed contains about one-fifth of mucilage, and one-sixth of fixed oil. The mucilage resides entirely in the skin, and is separated by infusion or decoction. The oil is separated by ex¬ pression. It is one of the cheapest fixed oils ; but is generally rancid and nauseous, and unfit for internal use. The cake which 332 FLAX. remains after the expression of the oil, contains the farinaceous and mucilaginous part of the seed, and is used in fattening cattle under the name of oil-cake. MEDICAL USE. Linseed is emollient and demulcent. The entire seeds are used in cataplasms. The infusion is much employed as a pectoral drink, and in ardor urinae, nephritic pains, and during the ex¬ hibition of corrosive sublimate. Linseed abounds with a quantity of oil and mucilage. It yields its mucilage to water ; and infusions of it, sweetened with sugar or honey, or prepared with the addition of some liquorice root, prove good and useful remedies in coughs and rheums ; and the oil got by expression may be used as other mild oils. Bergius recommends this oil as a good remedy in the iliac passion and volvulus. It is much employed in manufactures of different kinds. PREPARATIONS. Cure for a recent Cough and Cold. Put a large tea-cupful of linseed, with a quarter of a pound of sun raisins and two ounces of stick liquorice, into two quarts of soft water, and let it simmer over a slow fire till reduced to one quart; add to it a quarter of a pound of pounded sugar- candy, a table-spoonful of old rum, and a table-spoonful of the best white wine vinegar or lemon-juice. The rum and vinegar should be added as the decoction is taken ; for, if they are put in at first, the whole soon becomes flat, and less efficacious. The dose is half a pint, made warm, on going to bed ; and a little may be taken whenever the cough is troublesome. The worst cold is generally cured by this remedy in two or three days ; and, if taken in time, is considered infallible. Lintment of Lime Water, or Linseed Oil with Lime. (Linimentum Aquae Calcis, sive Oleum Lini cum Calce. E.) (Linimentum Calcis. D.) Take of linseed oil (olive oil, D.); - - lime water, of each equal parts (three ounces, by measure, D.): Mix them (by shaking them together. D.) This liniment is extremely useful in cases of scalds or burns, being singularly efficacious in preventing, if applied in time, the FLAX. 333 inflammation subsequent to these ; or even in removing it after it has come on. It is also a species of soap, and might be called soap of lime, although it probably contains a great excess of oil. f To dress Flax to look like Silk. Take one part lime, and between two and three parts of wood ashes ; pour over them a due proportion of water to make a strong ley after they have stood together all night, which must be poured olf when .) Take of senna, three drachms ; * - lesser cardamom seeds, husked and bruised, half a drachm ; — boiling water, as much as will yield a filtered infusion of six ounces : Digest for an hour, and filter, when cold. This is a well contrived purgative infusion, the aromatic cor¬ recting the drastic effects of the senna. But the quantity ordered to be prepared at one time by the London college is much too large, for an ounce or two is a sufficient dose. It is of advan¬ tage that it should be used fresh prepared, as it is apt to spoil very quickly. Tartarised Infusion of Senna. (Infusum Sennae Tar- tarisatum. L.) Take of senna, one ounce and a half ; — - ■ coriander seeds, bruised, half an ounce ; - crystals of tartar, two drachms ; • - distilled wrater, one pint : Dissolve the crystals of tartar by boiling in the water ; then pour the liquor, as yet boiling, on the senna and seeds. Macerate for an hour in a covered vessel, and strain when cold. The addition of the supertartrate of potash renders the taste of the senna less unpleasant, and also promotes its action. The quantity to take as a purge is from half an ounce to an ounce early in the morning. Infusion of Senna with Tamarinds. (Infusum Sennae cum Tamarindis. D.) Add to the infusion of senna, before it be strained, an ounce of tamarinds ; then strain. - 2 E 2 420 SENNA, OR A3GYPTIAN CASSIA. This forms a mild and useful purge, excellently suited for delicate stomachs and inflammatory diseases. The taste of the senna is well covered by the aromatic sugar, and by the acidity of the tamarinds. An ounce is a convenient purge. Compound Tincture of Senna, commonly called Elixir of Health. Tinctura Sennae Composita, (vulgo Elixir Sa- lutis. E.) ir Take of senna leaves, two ounces ; — — — - jalap root, bruised, one ounce ; - coriander seeds, bruised, half an ounce ; - diluted alcohol, three pounds and a half : Digest for seven days, and to the liquor, filtered through paper, add Double refined sugar, four ounces. i Compound Powder of Senna. (Pulvis Sennae Compositus. L.) Take of senna, - - — crystals of tartar, of each two ounces ; — - - — scammony, half an ounce; - - — ginger, two drachms : Triturate the scammony by itself, reduce the rest together into a powder, and then mix them all. This powder is given as a cathartic, in the dose of two scru¬ ples, or a drachm. The scammony is used as a stimulus to the senna; the quantity of the latter necessary for a dose, when not assisted by some more powerful material, being too bulky to be conveniently taken in this form. The ginger is added to make it sit easier on the stomach, and gripe less. Extract of Senna. (Extractum Sennas. L.) Take of senna, one pound ; • - distilled water, one gallon : Boil the senna in the distilled water, adding, after its decoction, a little rectified spirit of wine. Evaporate the strained liquor to a proper thickness. The dose is ten grains to half a drachm. Electuary of Senna, commonly called Lenitive Elec¬ tuary. (Electuarium Cassias Sennas, olim Electuarium Le- nitivum. E.) Take of senna, eight ounces ; - — - - coriander seeds, four ounces ; SENNA, OR .EGYPTIAN CASSIA* 4 21 Take of liquorice root, bruised, three ounces ; — — figs, ■ - - pulp of prunes, each one pound ; - Pulp of tamarinds, half a pound ; — - double refined sugar, two pounds and a half. Electuary of Senna. (Electuarium Sennae. L.) Take of senna, eight ounces ; - coriander seeds, four ounces; • - liquorice, three ounces ; - figs, one pound ; - pulp of tamarinds, - - pulp of cassia, — - — — pulp of prunes, each half a pound ; - double refined sugar, two pounds a half : Powder the senna with the coriander seeds, and sift out ten ounces of the mixed powder ; boil the remainder with the figs and liquorice, in four pounds of water to one half ; express and strain the liquor, which is then to be evaporated to the weight of about a pound and a half ; dissolve the sugar in it ; add this syrup by degrees to the pulps ; and, lastly, mix in the powder. Dub. Take of senna leaves, in very fine powder, four ounces ; - pulp of French prunes, one pound; - pulp of tamarinds, two ounces ; • - molasses, a pint and a half ; - - - essential oil of caraway, two drachms : Boil the pulps in the syrup to the thickness of honey ; then add the powder, and when the mixture cools, the oil ; lastly, mix the whole intimately. This electuary is a very convenient laxative, and has long been in common use among practitioners. Taken to the size of a nutmeg, or more, as occasion may require, it is an excellent laxative for loosening the belly in costive habits. The formula of the Dublin college is much more simple and elegant than the others. PRESCRIPTIONS. fy. 1. Take of the electuary of senna - - - ounce lf - jalap, in powder, - ginger, in powder, equal quantities, drachm 15 - - syrup of roses, as much as is sufficient : m SENNA, OR ^EGYPTIAN CASSIA. Make into an electuary, take the size of a nutmeg every night to keep the body open, or repeat that quantity every two hours to obtain a relief. 2. Take of the electuary of senna - - ounce 1, - - vitriolated kali, in powder - drachm 1 : The dose is the size of a nutmeg at bed-time, as often as the body is bound. pj£. 3. Take of the electuary of senna, • - jalap, in powder* - - — crystals of tartar, equal parts, drachms 2, - — — — syrup of buckthorn, as much as is sufficient: Make into an electuary, of which take two drachms in the morning as a purge. To be given in costive habits, and in cases of dropsy. 4. Take of the electuary of senna - - ounce 14> - washed flowers of sulphur - drachms 4, — ■■ vitriolated kali, in powder * drachm 1, • - syrup of roses, as much as is sufficient : Make into an electuary, of which take the size of a nutmeg going to bed, as may be required. This is an excellent remedy in persons who have the piles, or are subject to their return. J^. 5. Take of senna leaves - - drachms 2, - - tamarind fruit - drachms 3, . rhubarb, broken drachm 1-J, - - water - - - - ounces 7 : Boil for a quarter of an hour. Strain, and add half an ounce of syrup of roses. Give two table-spoonfuls early in the morn¬ ing, and repeat a table-spoonful every half-hour until the bowels are relieved. This is a mild and agreeable purge. 6. Take of the simple infusion of senna, ounces 3, ■ — ■ ■ tartarised antimony - . grain 1 : Make into a draught, to be taken directly. This forms a cer¬ tain, brisk, and agreeable purge. ]J. 7. Take of the simple infusion of senna, ounces 3, —■ - . vitriolated natron - - drachms 4, - spirit ,f pimento - - - drachms 2 : Make into a draught, to be taken in the morning early. A very excellent purge for costive habits and inflammatory cases. PURGING CASSIA. CASSIA FISTULA. Class X. Decandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. The same as the preceding. Spec. Char. Leaves ovate-accuminate. 1. DESCRIPTION. This tree often rises forty feet in height. The leaves are pinnated, composed of four to six pairs of pinnas, which are ovate, pointed, undulated, standing upon short footstalks. Calyx composed of five leaves. The corolla is composed of five undu¬ lated petals, and of a yellow colour. The three lower stamina are very long, and curl inwards. The others have no filaments, and are rostrate, that is, open like the beak of a bird. The fruit is cylindrical and pendulous, from one to two feet in length, at first soft and green, afterwards brown, and lastly black, divided into numerous cells, containing each a hard, round, compressed seed, surrounded with a black pulpy matter. 424 PURGING CASSIA. HISTORY. This tree is indigenous in India and iEgypt, and is cultivated in Jamaica. It rises to about thirty feet high, and has long flower-spilces, with yellow papilionaceous blossoms. Its fruit is a cylindrical pod, scarcely an inch in diameter, a foot or more in length : the outside is a hard, brown bark, the inside is divided by thin transverse woody plates, covered with a soft black pulp, of a sweetish taste, with some degree of acri¬ mony. There are two sorts of this drug in the shops ; one brought from the East Indies, the other from the West (Cassia Javanica?). The canes or pods of the latter are generally large, rough, thick-rinded, and the pulp nauseous ; those of the former are less, smoother, the pulp blacker, and of a sweeter taste : this sort is preferred to the other. Such pods should be chosen as are weighty, new, and do not make a rattling noise, from the seeds being loose within them, when shaken. The pulp should be of a bright shining black colour, and have a sweet taste, neither harsh, which happens from the fruit being gathered be¬ fore it has grown fully ripe : nor sourish, which it is apt to be¬ come upon keeping ; nor at all mouldy, which is frequently the case from its being kept in damp cellars, or moistened in order to increase its weight. Greatest part of the pulp dissolves both in water and in alcohol, and may be extracted from the pod by either. The shops boil the bruised pod in water, and afterwards evaporate the solution to a due consistence. v MEDICAL VIRTUE. The pulp of cassia, from its saccharine and extractive consti¬ tuents, is a gentle laxative medicine, and is frequently given, in a dose of some drachms, in costive habits. Some direct a dose of two ounces, or more, as a cathartic, in inflammatory cases, where the more acrid purgatives are improper ; but in these large quantities it generally excites nausea, produces flatulence, and sometimes gripings of the bowels, especially if the cassia be not of a very good kind : these effects may be p revented by the ad¬ dition of aromatics, and by exhibiting it in a liquid form. PREPARATIONS. Electuary of Cassia. (Electuarium Cassim Fistulas. E.) Take of pulp of cassia fistularis, four parts ; - - pulp °f tamarinds, PURGING CASSIA. 425 Take of manna, each one part ; - - syrup of pale roses, four parts: Having beat the manna in a mortar, dissolve it with a gentle heat in the syrup ; then add the pulps, and evaporate with a re¬ gularly continued heat to a proper consistence. Electuary of Cassia. (Electuarium Cassise. L. D.) Take of the fresh extracted pulp of cassia, half a pound ; • - manna, two ounces ; - PQlp of tamarinds, one ounce ; - ■ (syrup of roses, half a pound, L.) ■ (syrup of orange-peel, half a pound, D.) Boil the manna, and dissolve it over a slow fire in the syrup ; then add the pulps ; and, with a continued heat, evaporate the whole to the proper thickness of an electuary. These compositions are very convenient officinals, to serve as a basis for purgative electuaries, and other similar purposes. The tamarinds give them a pleasant acidity, and do not, as might be expected, dispose them to ferment. After standing for four months, the composition has been found no sourer than when first made. This electuary is usefully taken by itself, to the quantity of two or three drachms occasionally, for gently loosen¬ ing the belly in costive habits. OFFICINAL GUAIACUM. GUAIACUM OFFICINALE. Class X. Decandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-cleft, unequal : Petals five, inserted on the calyx : Capsule angular, three- or five-celled. Spec. Char. Leaves in two sets from one peduncle : Pinna: obtuse. DESCRIPTION. The guaiacum tree grows to forty feet in height, and in cir¬ cumference is four or five, sending forth several branches. The bark of the trunk is a dark gray, of the branches an uniform ash colour. The leaves are pinnated, consisting of four to six pairs of oval pinnae, with very short footstalks. The tlowers grow in clusters, or umbels, upon long peduncles, which spring from the divisions of the smaller branches. OFFICINAL GUAIACUM, 427 HISTORY. This tree is a native of the West Indies, and grows to a large size. The wood is heavier than water, very hard, resinous, and of a greenish black colour. Its taste is bitterish, and when kin¬ dled it gives out a pleasant smell. It is brought either in pieces, which are sometimes covered with a pale yellow alburnum, or already rasped, when by division its colour appears greenish brown, or yellow. The bark is thin, of an ash gray, or blackish colour, and apparently composed of several laminae. It is less resinous than the wood. Neumann got from 7680 parts of the wood 1680 alcoholic, and 280 watery extract; and inversely, 740 watery, and 960 alcoholic. From 3840 of the bark he got 560 alcoholic, and 320 watery , and inversely, 620 watery, and 240 alcoholic. The resin exudes spontaneously in tears, but is principally obtained by sawing the wood into billets about three feet long, which are then bored with an auger longitudinally. One end of these is laid upon a fire, so that a calabash may re¬ ceive the melted resin, which runs through the hole as the wood burns. It may be also obtained by boiling the chips or sawings of the wood in water and muriate of soda. The resin swims at the top, and may be skimmed off. Guaiacum has a brownish yellow colour externally ; when held against the light is transparent, breaks with an uniform smooth shining fracture, of a blueish green colour, is pulverizable, and the powder has a white colour, gradually becoming blueish green, is fusible in a moderate heat, but not softened by the heat of the fingers, without proper smell or taste, but when thrown on hot coals diffusing an agreeable odour, and when swallowed in a state of minute division, causing an insufferable burning and prickling in the throat. Its specific gravity is 1*23. Neumann got from 480 parts, 400 alcoholic, and only 10 watery extract; and in¬ versely, 80 watery, and 280 alcoholic. Mr. Braude has more lately investigated this substance with much care. Digested with water, about one-tenth of it is dissolved, the water acquiring a sweetish taste and greenish brown colour. The liquid, when evaporated, leaves a brown substance, soluble in hot water and alcohol, but scarcely in sulphuric ether, and precipitating the muriates of alumina and tin. Alcohol readily forms with guaiacum a deep brown-coloured solution, rendered milky by water, and precipitated pale green by the muriatic and sulphuric acids, brown 428 OFFICINAL GUAIACUM. by the nitric, and pale blue by the oxymuriatic, but not by the acetic acid or alkalies. The solution in ether exhibits nearly the same properties. Guaiacum is soluble in about 15 parts of solu¬ tion of potass, and in 38 of ammonia.; and the solutions are precipitated by the nitric, muriatic, and diluted sulphuric acids. Sulphuric acid dissolves it, and nitric acid converts it into oxalic acid. On being burnt, it leaves a large proportion of charcoal. Dr. Wollaston has discovered a curious property of guaiacum. By exposure to air and light, it acquires a green colour. This effect is produced in the greatest degree by the most refrangible rays. In the least refrangible rays it is disoxidized, and the yellow colour is restored. The same effect is produced by hot metal. According to this analysis, it differs from the resins in the changes of colour produced on it by air and light, and the action of the acids, in not forming tannin when treated with nitric acid, and in the large proportion of charcoal it affords when burnt. It is sometimes adulterated with colophony or common resin ; but the fraud is easily detected, by the smell of turpentine which it emits when thrown on live coals. MEDICAL USE. Taken internally guaiacum commonly excites a sense of warmth in the stomach, a dryness of the mouth, with thirst. It increases the heat of the body, and quickens the circulation. If the pa¬ tient be kept warm, it produces diaphoresis ; if exposed freely to the air, an increased flow of urine. In large doses it is pur¬ gative. Guaiacum is a useful remedy, 1. In rheumatism and gout. 2. In certain venereal symptoms ; as in foul indolent ulcers, and a thickened state of the ligaments or periosteum, remaining after the body is reduced by a mercurial course. Guaiacum will also suspend the progress of some of the secondary symptoms ; but it is totally incapable of eradicating the disease. 3. In cutaneous diseases. 4. In ozsena, and scrofulous affections of the membranes and ligaments. The wood is always exhibited in decoction. From the re¬ sinous nature of the active constituent of this substance this can¬ not be a very active preparation, as the menstruum is totally in¬ capable of dissolving, though it may suspend a little of the resin. OFFICINAL GUAI ACUM « 429 The decoction of an ounce may be drunk in cupfuls in the course of a day. The resin may be exhibited, 1. In substance, either made into pills, or suspended in water in the form of an emulsion. In this way from 10 to 30 grains of the resin may be taken in the day. 2. In solution ; in alcohol. About half an ounce of the tinc¬ ture, with three ounces of water, is a sudorific dose for an adult, if he attend to keeping himself warm. 3. Combined with an alkali. PREPARATIONS. Tincture of Guaiacum. (Tinctura Guaiaci Officinalis. E.) Take of gum guaiacum, in powder, one pound ; - - - alcohol, two pounds and a half: Digest for ten days, and strain through paper. Tincture of Guaiacum. (Tinctura Guaiaci. D.) Take of guaiacum, four ounces ; - rectified spirit of wine, two pints : Digest for seven days, and filter. What is called gum guaiacum is in fact a resin, and perfectly soluble in alcohol. This solution is a powerful stimulating sudo¬ rific, and may be given in doses of about half an ounce in rheu¬ matic and arthritic cases. It was once supposed to be a specific against the gout. Tincture of Guaiacum. (Tinctura Guaiaci. L.) Take of guaiacum, in powder, four ounces ; - - aromatic spirit of ammonia, a pint and a half ; Digest for three days, and filter. Ammoniated Tincture of Guaiacum. (Tinctura Guaiaci Ammon iata. E. D.) Take of resin of guaiacum, in powder, four ounces ; - ammoniated alcohol, one pound and a half (one pint and a half, D.): Digest for seven days, and filter through paper. These are very elegant and efficacious tinctures ; the ammo¬ niated spirit readily dissolving the resin, and at the same time promoting its medicinal virtue. In rheumatic cases, a tea- or 43G OFFICINAL GUAIACUM* even table-spoonful, taken every morning and evening, in any convenient vehicle, particularly in milk, has proved of singular service. Compound Decoction of Guaiacum, commonly called De¬ coction of the Woods. (Decoctum Guaiaci Compositum, vulgo Decoctum Lignorum. E.) Take of guaiacum raspings, three ounces ; - raisins, stoned, two ounces ; - sassafras root, sliced, - - — — liquorice root, bruised, each one ounce ; ■ — > water, ten pounds : Boil the guaiacum and raisins with the water, over a gentle fire, to the consumption of one half, adding, towards the end, the sassafras and liquorice, and strain the decoction, without ex¬ pression. This decoction is of use in some rheumatic and cutaneous af¬ fections. It may be taken by itself, to the quantity of a quarter of a pint, twice or thrice a day, or used as an assistant in a course of mercurial or antimonial alteratives ; the patient in either case keeping warm, in order to promote the operation of the medicine* Compound Lime Water. (Aqua Calcis Composita. D ) Take of guaiacum wood, in shavings, half a pound ; - - — - liquorice root, sliced and bruised, an ounce ; - — sassafras bark, bruised, half an ounce; coriander seeds, three drachms ; - lime water, six pints : Macerate, without heat, for two days, and filter. This, though an infusion, may be considered as an improve¬ ment of the compound decoction of guaiacum, as the lime water cannot fail to be decomposed during the preparation. PRESCRIPTIONS. 1^. 1. Take of guaiacum (gum resin), in powder, scruple 1, - - conserve of hips, as much as is sufficient: Make into a bolus, to be taken twice a day, for rheumatism. 2. Take of guaiacum (gum resin), - scammony, equal parts, grains 15, - syrup of ginger, as much as is sufficient : Make into a bolus, to be taken early in the morning in rheu¬ matism. OFFICINAL GUAIACUM. 431 ft. 3. Take of guaiacum (gum resin), in powder, - - soap, equal parts - - - drachm 1, - essential oil of juniper berry, drops 4: Make into twenty-eight pills : take two four times a day. This is an admirable remedy in rheumatism. ft. 4. Take of guaiacum (gum resin), scruple 1, — - decoction of barley - ounce 1^, - syrup of Tolu - - drachm 1 : Make into a draught, to be taken twice a day, drinking after ifc a cup of warm barley water : for rheumatism. ft. 5. Take of tincture of guaiacum - - drachms 3, - - cinnamon water, - peppermint water, equal parts, drachms 6 : Make into a draught, to be taken at twelve and seven every day. Dr. Cullen, speaking of the tincture, says, that u several phy¬ sicians have apprehended mischief from the use of the guaiacum in a spirituous tincture, and I am certain that it sometimes hap¬ pens. It is therefore that in imitation of the very respectable Berger, of Copenhagen, I avoid the spirituous tincture of guai¬ acum, and employ almost only the diffusion of it in w ater. In preparing this, having first with an equal part of hard sugar re¬ duced the guaiacum to a fine powder, I apply some portion of the yolk of egg, or of a mucilage of gum Arabic, and rubbing these together very carefully, I form an emulsion with water, or watery liquors, as may be thought proper. This preparation I give over night in such a quantity as may open the belly once next day, which will happen to different persons from doses con¬ taining fifteen to thirty grains of the guaiacum.” M. M. 199. Berger’s formula is the following : ft . G. guaiaci % ss G. Arabici 3 ij. Bene trita solv. in aquae hyssopi vel alius distill. J ix. Add. sacchari % ss m. d. s. solutio, cujus duo cochlearia majora mane et vesperi capiantur, superbibito libra una decocti hordei vel avenae. Yet. Acad. Handl. vol. i. p. 74. Theden recommends the guaiacum made into pills with soap of almonds, which is still more convenient. (Neue Bemerk. u Ersahr, a. d. Wundarzneyk. nnd Arz. p. 2, 204.) HIT E FKAXI N E l . L A. O ^ :: > v v h a r» i r r a n \ r'.axv.vis Visis \ '.'Vv’jajt -i*. 0* vts- - " s ' v >■» v - < <*. v jp.- fK-t> * . > c'^-rvr' it- <7Vtv ' >V* O^Il. JLmm» mAmm* : Stoat '‘irwrit Vww^n a v\ * ^jrcvJti, .nc > r - > . x ; ? ; ; o n l a ' .-««•: rasrs i :\vc *ae 4 *. V'i At tvs iif .irru: jl:c L-cf: a ,\s.r c*** 'AJiec, ivtJL^vi. s r r. » *£ tosa: i .'«t- -s A'.*Trr:x^Afc > . t: a c oe*>^ * > el > : * > ' -*'•*«> » I a, xryjjv t^rn. ra;- : e >cv«k *»c srxjc i ' - :, aa . e At > l .s, etci * :* * l at x\ ; a. seejs. WHITE FRAXINELLA, OR BASTARD DITTANY. 4 33 HISTORY. This plant is commonly called Fraxinella, and is native of France, Germany, and Italy. It emits a fragrant bituminous odour, which seems to be the essential oil of the herb, secreted by numerous small glands, with which the peduncles and fila¬ ments are abundantly furnished. These odorous effluvia are so very inflammable, that on the application of flame they take fire, especially on the evening of a hot dry day. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The root, which is the part directed for medicinal use, when fresh, has a moderately strong, not disagreeable smell, but as met with in the shops it has scarcely any. To the taste it discovers a pretty strong and very durable bitterness, which is taken up both by watery and spirituous menstrua, and, on inspissating the filtered tinctures, remains entire in the extracts : the aqueous extract is in much larger quantity than the spirituous, and pro- portionably weaker in taste. Formerly this root was used as a stomachic, tonic, and alexi- pharmic, and was supposed to be a medicine of much efficacy in removing uterine obstructions and destroying worms ; but its mediciual powers became so little regarded by modern phy¬ sicians, that it had fallen almost entirely into disuse, till baron Stoerck brought it into notice by publishing several cases of its success, viz. in tertian intermittents, worms (lumbrici), and menstrual suppressions. In all these cases he employed the pow¬ dered root to the extent of a scruple twice a day. He also made use of a tincture, prepared of two ounces of the fresh root di¬ gested in fourteen ounces of spirit of wine; of this twenty to fifty drops, two or three times a day, were successfully pre¬ scribed in epilepsies, Ac. r and when joined with steel, this root, we are told, w as of great service to chlorotic patients. The dictamnus undoubtedly is a medicine of considerable power ; but, notwithstanding the account of it given by Stoerck, who seems to have paid little attention to its modus operandi , we may still say with Haller, “ Nondum autem vires pro dignitate exploratus est.” COMMON RUE. RUTA GRAVEOLENS. Class X. Decandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-parted : Petals concave : Receptacle sur¬ rounded with ten honey-bearing points : Capsule lobed. Spec. Char. Leaves twice compound : Lateral flowers quadrifid. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises a foot in height. The leaves consist of double sets of irregular pinnae, are blunt at the ends, and of a glaucous colour. Flowers numerous, of a pale yellow. Petals five, den- tated, or fringed at the edges. HISTORY. This shrub is native of the south of Europe, flowers from June to September, and is common in the gardens. * / MEDICAL VIRTUE. It is supposed to be antipestilential, and hence our benches of judges have their noses regaled with this most foetid plant: this arose from the ancients believing that mithridate, in which COMMON RUE. 435 rue has a principal share, repels all poisons. Hence this adage, “ Salvia cum ruta faciunt tibi pocula tuta.” It is made into tea, and drank with advantage to cure hyste¬ rics. Fits in infants are often cured bj the syrup. Boerhaave celebrates the numerous virtues of this plant, and amongst its many properties enumerates, u that mixed with wine ! and salt it stops gangrene, restores vitality to the part, prevents suppuration, and heals the wound.” — u Ham herba est lauda- tissima, inter alias alexipharmacas, antidoxicas, antihystericas, an- ' tiepilepticas, antiapoplecticas, antispasmodicas, antipestilentiales, antiphlogisticas, antigangraenosas refertur ; nam cum pars jam gangraena est mortua, si ham herba cum vino et sale contusa ap- plicetur, vitam iterum reddit, suppurationem prohibet, et pars sanatur.” It is strongly recommended as a cure of bad eyes. u Visum acuit si mane bibatur instar thee, et vapor oculo excipiatur.” That is, if taken as tea in the morning, and the vapour of it be received by the eyes, the vision will be improved, and all disease of that organ removed. “ INobilis est ruta, quia lumina reddit acuta.” And the author of this work has several times, with himself and others, cured the most violent inflammations of the eyes by the vapour of boiling water alone : so much for the probability of this practice with rue, as reported by the great Boerhaave! i 2 f 2 BALSAM OF TOLU TREE. TOLUFFER.A BALSAMUM. Class X. Decandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-toothed, campanulate: Petals five, the lowest largest, obcordate : Style none. DESCRIPTION. This tree grows to a great height. The leaves are oval or ovate, and stand upon short footstalks. The fruit is a round berry. HISTORY. This tree grows in Spanish America ; the balsam flows from incisions made in its bark during the hot season, and is brought to us in little gourd shells. It is of a yellowish brown colour, inclining to red ; in consistence thick and tenacious : by age it grows hard and brittle. The smell of this balsam is extremely fragrant, somewhat resembling that of lemons ; its taste warm and sweetish. Lewis says that he has sometimes procured ben¬ zoic acid from it. It yields very little volatile oil, although it impregnates the distilled water strongly with its flavour. By dissolving a proper quantity of sugar in this water, a more ele- BALSAM OF TOLU TREE. 437 gant syrup is obtained than that prepared in the common way with a decoction of the balsam. In its medical virtues it agrees with the other balsams. PREPARATIONS. Tincture of the Balsam of Tolu. (Tinctura Toluiferi Bal- sami, olim Tinctura Tolutana. E. Tinctura Balsami Tolu- tani. L. D.) Take of balsam of Tolu, an ounce and a half (one ounce, D.) - alcohol, one pound (one pint, L. D.): Digest until the balsam be dissolved; and then strain the tincture through paper. This solution of balsam of Tolu possesses all the virtues of the balsam itself. It may be taken internally, with the several in¬ tentions for which that balsam is proper, to the quantity of a tea-spoonful or two, in any convenient vehicle. Mixed with simple syrup, it forms an elegant balsamic syrup. Syrup of Tolu. (Syrupus Tolutanus. L.) Take of the balsam of Tolu, eight ounces ; - distilled water, three pints : Boil for two hours. Mix double refined sugar with the liquor, strained after it is cold, that it may be made a syrup. The intention of the contrivers of the two foregoing processes seems to have been somewhat different. In the latter, which is certainly the most elegant, the benzoic acid of the balsam alone is contained ; the other syrup contains the whole substance of the balsam in larger quantity. They are both moderately im¬ pregnated with the agreeable flavour of the balsam. The syrup of Tolu usually enters into the composition of other medicines, except when given in the form of lozenges for a cold, which may be procured of almost any chemist, and is certainly very serviceable in appeasing the irritation productive of severe coughing. The following forms an agreeable and very useful prescription in almost every cough, and merits justly the title of a placelo. PRESCRIPTION. 1. Take of spermaceti dissolved in the white of egg, scr. 1, - syrup of Tolu ------- dr. 2, - cinnamon water - - - - - - dr. 3, — - milk of almonds - ----- dr. 11: Make into a draught, to be taken four times a day. COPAIVA TREE. COP A IF ERA OFFICINALIS. Class X. Decandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx none : Petals four: Legumen ovate : Seed one, with a berried arillus. DESCRIPTION. 1 his tree grows to a great height. The leaves are pinnated, large, consisting of several pair of pinna; and an odd one, on short footstalks. The flowers are white, and inconspicuous. Petals four, acute, spreading. . II I S T O R Y. The tree which produces this resin is a native of the Spanish West India islands, and of some parts of South America. It grows to a large size, and the resinous juice flows in considera¬ ble quantities from incisions made in the trunk. The juice is clear and transparent, of a whitish or pale yel¬ lowish colour, an agreeable smell, and a bitterish pungent taste. COPAIVA TREE. 439 It is usually about the consistence of oil, or a little thicker; when long kept, it becomes nearly as thick as honey, retaining its clearness ; but it has not been observed to grow dry or solid, as most of the other resinous juices do. The best resin of co¬ paiva comes from Brazil ; but we sometimes meet with a thick sort, which is not at all transparent, or much less so than the foregoing, and generally has a portion of turbid watery liquor at the bottom. This is probably either adulterated by the mix¬ ture of other substances, or has been extracted by decoction from the bark and branches of the tree : its smell and taste are much less pleasant than those of the genuine resin. Pure resin of copaiva dissolves entirely in alcohol: the solu¬ tion has a very fragrant smell. Distilled with water it yields a large quantity of a limpid essential oil, but no benzoic acid: it is therefore not a balsam, but a combination of resin and vola¬ tile oil. Neumann says that it effervesces with liquid ammonia. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The resin of copaiva is an useful corroborating detergent me¬ dicine, but in some degree irritating. It strengthens the nervous system, tends to loosen the belly; in large doses proves purga¬ tive, promotes urine, arid cleans and heals ulcerations in the urinary passages, which it is supposed to perform more effec¬ tually than any of the other resinpus fluids. Fuller observes that it gives the urine an intensely bitter taste, but not a violet smell, as the turpentines do. This resin has been principally celebrated in gleets, and the fluor albus, and externally as a vulnerary. The dose of this medicine rarely exceeds twenty or thirty drops, though some authors direct sixty, or upwards. It may be conveniently taken in the form of an emulsion, into which it may be reduced by triturating it with almonds, with a thick mucilage of gum arabic, or with the yolk of eggs, till they are well incorporated, and then gradually adding a proper quantity of water. * BENJAMIN or BENZOIN TREE. STYRAX BENZOIN. Class X. Decandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Same as the last. Spec. Char. Leaves oblong, acuminate, beneath tomentose : Racemes compound, length of the leaves. DESCRIPTION. This tree grows to a great height. The leaves are oblong, entire, veined, tapering to a sharp point; the upper surface smooth, beneath downy, standing alternately upon short foot¬ stalks. The flowers are placed on common peduncles arising from the axilhe of each leaf. The corolla is bell-shaped, and the border cut into five segments, but closed, which gives the ap¬ pearance of buds. HISTORY. This species of storax grows in Sumatra, and, like the former, also furnishes a balsam oil being wounded, which is brought from 441 BENJAMIN OR BENZOIN TREE. the East Indies, in large masses, composed of white and light brown pieces, with yellowish specks, breaking very easily betwixt the hands; that which is whitest, and freest from imparities, is most esteemed. MEDICAL USE. In its properties it differs from storax only in containing a larger proportion of benzoic acid. Neumann found that it was totally soluble in alcohol, forming a blood-red tincture, and that water extracted no gummy matter, but a notable proportion of benzoic acid. By sublimation he got two ounces of impure acid from sixteen of benzoin. Lime and the alkaline carbonates dis¬ solve the acid without attacking the resin, and are accordingly employed in the processes of Scheele, Gbttling, and Gren, for obtaining the benzoic acid. I find that the solution of potass dis¬ solves benzoin very rapidly, forming a dark-coloured solution, mixed with fine crystals of benzoat of potass. This alkaline so¬ lution is not decomposed by wTater, but forms with acids a rose- coloured coagulum, easily soluble in excess of acid. Boiling ni¬ trous acid also attacks benzoin w ith great violence, and dissolves it entirely ; the solution becomes turbid, and lets fall a copious precipitate on cooling, which, according to Mr. Braude, is ben¬ zoic acid. It is decomposed by water, and by alkaline solutions. PREPARATIONS. Benzoic Acid. (Acidum Benzoicum. E.) Take of benzoin, twenty-four ounces ; - carbonate of soda, eight ounces ; * - wrater, sixteen pounds : Triturate the benzoin with the carbonate, then boil in the wrater for half an hour, with constant agitation, and strain. Repeat the decoction, with other six pounds of water, and strain. Mix these decoctions, and evaporate until two pounds remain. Filter anew, and drop into the fluid, as long as it produces any pre¬ cipitation, diluted sulphuric acid. Dissolve the precipitated ben¬ zoic acid in boiling water, strain the boiling solution through linen, and set it aside to crystallize. Wash the crystals w ith cold water, dry and preserve them. Acid of Benzoin. (Acidum Benzoes. D. ) Take of benzoin, any quantity ; Liquefy it in a retort with a wide throat, having a receiver fitted BENJAMIN OR BENZOIN TREE. 442 to if, but not luted ; and sublime. Remove the sublimed matter occasionally from the neck of the retort, lest it accumulate in too great a quantity. Jf it be soiled with oil, separate the oil by pressing it, folded up iii blotting paper, and repeat the sub¬ limation. Flowers of Benzoin. (Flores Benzoes. L.) Take of benzoin, in powder, one pound : Put it into an earthen pot, placed in sand, and, with a slow fire, sublime the flowers into a paper cone fitted to the pot. If the flowers be of a yellow colour, mix them with white clay, and sublime them a second time. The distinguishing character of balsams is their containing benzoic acid, which may be separated from the resin, their other principal constituent, either by sublimation, or by combining it with a salifiable base. The London and Dublin colleges direct it to be done in the former way. But, even with the greatest care, it is almost impossible to manage the heat so as not to de¬ compose part of the resin, and thus give rise to the formation of an empyreumatic oil, which contaminates the product. Nor can it be freed completely from the empyreumatic oil by bibulous paper, as prescribed by the Dublin college, and still less by the second sublimation with clay, directed by that of London. The other method of separating benzoic acid from resin was first practised by Scheele, who employed lime water; Gottling afterwards used carbonate of potass ; and, lastly, Gren used car¬ bonate of sodg, which has been adopted by the Berlin college, and now by that of Edinburgh. Mr. Brande prefers Scheele’s process, as the lime dissolves less of the resin of the benzoin than the alkalies do. In experiments, which he made for the purpose of ascertaining the comparative value of the different processes, he obtained from one pound of benzoin, oz. dr. scr. gr. By sublimation ------200 0 — Scheele’s process - 6 2 19 — Gren’s and Gottling’s process I 5 I 10 — boiling benzoin in water 1 0 0 10 As the crystallized acid, on account of its lightness and elas¬ ticity, is not easily reduced to powder, for most purposes it will be more convenient to keep it in the state of a precipitate. It may also be extracted from storax, and all the other bal- BENJAMIN OR BENZOIN TREE. 44 3 sams, particularly those of Tolu or Peru; and from the urine of children, and of herbivorous animals. The benzoic acid has an agreeable taste, and a fragrant smell, especially when heated. It is soluble in alcohol, and in boiling water, but very sparingly in cold water, although it may be sus¬ pended in it, by means of sugar, so as to form an elegant bal¬ samic syrup. The dose is ten grains to half a drachm. Compound Tincture of Benzoin. (Tinctura Benzoes Com- posita, vulgo Balsamum Traumaticum. E.) Take of benzoin, in powder, three ounces; ■ - balsam of Tolu, one ounce; - socotrine aloes, in powder, half an ounce; - alcohol, two pounds : Digest with a gentle heat for seven days, and strain. Compound Tincture of Benzoin. (Tinctura Benzoes Composita. L. D.) Take of benzoin, three ounces ; - purified storax, two ounces ; • - balsam of Tolu, one ounce; • - socotrine aloes, half an ounce; - - rectified spirit of wine, two pints : Digest for seven days, and filter. Both preparations may be considered as elegant simplifications of some very complicated compositions, which were celebrated under different names ; such as Baume de Commandeur, Wade’s balsam, Friar’s balsam, Jesuit’s drops, &c. These, in general, consisted of a confused farrago of discordant substances. The dose is a tea-spoonful in some cold water four times a day, in consumptions and spitting of blood. It is useful also when ap¬ plied on lint to recent wounds, and serves the purpose of a scab, but must not be soon removed. Poured on sugar it removes spitting of blood immediately. PRESCRIPTION. ]y. 1. Take of compound tincture of benzoin, drops 40, - purified honey - - - drachms 1, • - — rose water - - ounce 1.1, - tincture of opium - - - - drops 3: Make into a draught, to be taken four times a day. Excellent in consumptions. OFFICINAL STORAX. STY' RAX OFFICINALE. Class X. Decandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx beneath: Corolla funnel-shaped: Drupe two-seeded. Spec. Char. Leaves ovate, underneath villous: Racemes simple, shorter than the leaf. DESCRIPTION. JTins tree rises to twenty feet. The leaves are broad, entire, somewhat pointed, and on the upper surface smooth, on the under surface covered with a white down ; these are placed al¬ ternate, and stand upon short footstalks. The flowers are large, white, and terminate the branches. The border of the corolla is cut into five segments. HISTORY. This tree grows in the Levant, Italy, and France. The sto- rax flows from wounds made in the bark, in countries where the heat is sufficient, for neither in France nor in Italy does it fur¬ nish any. It occurs either in small distinct tears, of a whitish or reddish colour, or in large masses composed of tears, or in masses of an uniform texture, and yellowish red or brownish OFFICINAL STOHAX. 445 colour ; though sometimes likewise interspersed with a few whitish grains. The common storax of the shops is in large masses, consider¬ ably lighter and less compact than the foregoing : it appears on examination to be composed of a resinous juice, mixed with sawdust. Storax has an agreeable smell, and an aromatic taste. Neu¬ mann got from 480 grains, 360 alcoholic, and 30 of watery ex¬ tract ; and inversely, 120 watery, and 240 alcoholic. In di¬ stillation it yielded benzoic acid. It is therefore a balsam, or natural combination of resin with benzoic acid. PREPARATIONS. Purified Storax. (Sty rax Purificata. L.) Dissolve the storax in rectified spirit of wine, and strain the so¬ lution ; afterwards reduce it to a proper thickness, with a gentle heat. Dub. Digest the storax in water, w ith a low heat, until it gets soft ; then express it between iron plates, heated with boiling water m9 and, lastly, separate it from the water. Storax is a balsam, or combination of resin and benzoic acid, both of which are soluble in alcohol, and neither of them volatile in the heat necessary for evaporating alcohol. The London pro¬ cess for purifying is expensive, and the Dublin college cannot have altered it without good reason. Pills of Opium. (Pilulae Opii. L.) Take of hard purified opium, powdered, two drachms ; • - extract of liquorice, one ounce : Beat them until they are perfectly united. Storax Pills. (Pilulae e Styrace. D.) Take of purified storax, three drachms \ - soft purified opium, - - saffron, of each one drachm : Beat them into an uniform mass. Opiate or Thebaic Pills. (Pilulae Opiatic, oliin Pilulae Thebaicae. E.) Take of opium, one part ; - - extract of liquorice, seven parts ; - Jamaica pepper, two parts : OFFICINAL STORAX. 446 Soften the opium, and extract separately with diluted alcohol; aud, having beat them into a pulp, mix them : then add the pepper reduced to a powder ; and, lastly, having beat them well together, form the whole into a mass. It is unfortunate that these compositions should differ so much in strength, the two former containing two, and the latter only one grain of opium, in ten of the mass. Under the idea that opium is to operate as a sedative, the addition of the pepper is somewhat injudicious. The London title also is improper, as it is naturally employed for pills of opium without any addition. Even the title adopted by the Edinburgh college is ambiguous. That of the Dublin appears to me well contrived, although it does not mention the only active ingredient; as it is often ne¬ cessary to conceal from our patients that we arc giving them opium, which both the name and smell of the storax enable us to do. The dose is four or five grains, to be given at bed-time. This produces often a very comfortable night, and without that disturbance which opium often creates. PRESCRIPTION. Fj/. Take of purified storax - - grains 8, • - aromatic powder - grains 6, ' — - - purified opium - - grains 3, - - — syrup of Tolu, as much as is sufficient: Make into six pills. Take a pill every night. This often pro¬ duces a less distress of the head and stomach the following morn¬ ing than opium by itself. BITTER QUASSIA. QUASSIA AMARA. Class X. Decandria. Order I. Monogynia. Ess ent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-leaved : Petals five : Nectary five-leaved : Pericarps five, distant. Spec. Char. Flowers bisexual, in spikes: Leaves pinnate, ending in an odd one : Pinna; opposite, sessile, on an articulated winged petiole. DESCRIPTION. This tree rises several feet in height. The wood is light and white. The leaves are placed alternately on the branches, and consist of two pairs of opposite pinnae, with an odd one at the end. The common footstalk is articulated and winged, with a leafy membrane. The flowers are of a bright red colour. The bractes or floral leaves are small, and accompany each peduncle, or flower-stalk. The calyx is small, coloured, and has five teeth. The corolla is composed of five petals. The nectary consists of five small rounded scales. The stamina are conspi¬ cuous, as well as the nectary. 448 BITTER QUASSIA. HISTORY. This is the root of a tree growing near to Surinam, in South America ; it got its name from a slave who was first known to use it in the cure of fevers. The tree is described by Dr. Bloom in the sixth volume of Linnaeus’s Amcenitates Academicae, where we have likewise an account of the use of the root. This root is about the thickness of a man’s arm ; its wood is whitish, becoming yellowish by exposure to the air. It has a thin, gray, fissured, brittle bark, which is deemed, in Surinam, more powerful than the wood. Quassia has no sensible odour, but is one of the most intense, durable, pure bitters kuown. Its infusion, decoction, and tincture, are almost equally bitter and yellowish, and are not blackened by chalybeates. The proper¬ ties of the extract of quassia have been detailed by Dr. Thomson, under the title of the bitter principle. MEDICAL USE. This root is extremely bitter ; it has been given in powder from ten grains to half a drachm for a dose, every three, four, or six hours ; or one or two ounces of an infusion, made of two drachms of it and a pint of boiling water, have been given as often, in bilious, remitting, and intermitting fevers. In the year 1767, Mr. Farley, of Antigua, sent home an account of three or four cases of bilious and putrid fevers in which the bark would not stay on the stomach, but in which this root produced every good effect that could have been wished ; and his account was published in the fifty-eighth volume of the Philosophical Transactions. I have frequently ordered, with suocess, both the powder and the infusion of the root, in fevers ; and have likewise found it to be a good stomachic bitter in many cases. SIMARUBA QUASSIA. QUASSIA SIMARUBA. Class X. Decandria. Order I, Monogynia, Essent, Gen. Char. The same as the last. Spec. Char. Flowers monoecious : Leaves abruptly pinnate ; Leaflets al¬ ternate, subpetioled : Flowers in panicles, - - - * — - DESCRIPTION. Tins tree reaches a considerable height. The leaves are nu¬ merous, and stand alternately on the branches. Each leaf Is composed of several pinnae, of an elliptic shape. The flowers are small and yellow, and placed on panicles, which are only branched spikes. Calyx small. Corolla composed of five small petals. Nectary ten hairy scales. HISTORY. This tree grows in Guiana and in Jamaica. The simarouba of the shops is the bark of the root of this tree, and not of the quassia amara, as stated by the Dublin college, it is brought to us in pieces some feet long, and some inches broad, folded 2 G 450 SXMARUBA QUASSIA. lengthwise. It is light, fibrous, very tough ; of a pale yellow on the inside ; darker coloured, rough, scaly, and warted on the outside ; has little smell, and a bitter, not disagreeable taste. It gives out its bitterness both to alcohol and water. MEDICAL USE. It has been much celebrated in obstinate diarrhoea, dysentery, anorexia, indigestion, lienteria, and intermittent fevers. It is given in powder, in doses of half a drachm, or a whole drachm ; but it is too bulky, and very difficultly pulverizable. It is best exhibited in decoction. Two drachms of the bark may be boiled in two pounds of water to one, and the decoction drunk in cupfuls in the course of the day. PRESCRIPTIONS. Ije. 1. Take of the raspings of quassia. - drachms 2, orange-peel - - - - drachms 3, ■ ■ ■ ■ lemon-peel - - - - drachms 4, boiling water pound 1 : Let this remain for four hours in a closed saucepan, then strain off. The dose is three table-spoonfuls at twelve, seven, and bed-time. A very fine stomachic medicine. FjL 2. Take of the soft extract of quassia - drachm 1, — — — essential oil of peppermint - . drop 1 : Make into twelve pills, of which take three, an hour before din¬ ner. Excellent to create digestion in habits injured by hard drinking. IjL 3. Take of shavings of quassia - drachms 2, — - boiling water - - - pint 1 : Let this remain in a close vessel until cold, when strain off, and add to the strained liquor, Compound tincture of cardamom - ounces 2, Compound spirit of lavender - , drachms 4, Powder of rhubarb - - - - scruple 1 : Take three table-spoonfuls an hour before dinner, to create an appetite. PL 4. Take of the infusion of quassia (as in the last pre¬ scription) ------- ounce 1, ■ ■ — ■ cinnamon water - - drachms 4, — compound spirit of ammonia, drops 20, prepared oyster-shells - grains 2: Make into a draught to be taken at twelve and seven everyday. This relieves sickness and qualms in pregnancy. TRAILING ARBUTUS, or BEAR-BERRY. ARBUTUS UVA URSI. Class X, Decandria. Order I, Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-parted : Corolla ovate : mouth with a pellucid base : Berry five-celled. DESCRIPTION. This rises to a large shrub. Leaves numerous* oblong, ob* tuse, narrower towards the base, entire, fleshy, without foot¬ stalks, very closely surrounding the upper part of the stalk,, Flowers whitish, or flesh-coloured, terminating the stem in clus= ters. Calyx small and toothed. Corolla round, bellied, at the margin cut into five segments, which become reliexed. HISTORY. This is a very small evergreen shrub. The leaves are oval, not toothed, and their under surface is smooth and pale green. It grows wild in the woods, and on sand-hills in Scotland, and 452 TRAILING ARBUTUS, OR BEAR-BERRY. In almost every country in Europe. The green leaves alone, Dr. Bourne says, should be selected and picked from the twigs, and dried by a moderate exposure to heat. The powder, when properly prepared, is of a light brown colour, with a shade of greenish yellow, has nearly the smell of good grass hay as cut from the rick, and to the taste is at first smartly astringent and bitterish ; which sensations gradually soften into a liquorice fla¬ vour. Digested in alcohol they give out a green tincture, which Is rendered turbid by water, and when filtered passes transparent and yellow, while a green resin remains on the filter. They are powerfully astringent, approaching, in the deepness of the colour which they give to red sulphate of iron, more nearly to nut-galls than any substance I have tried. Indeed in some parts of Russia they are used for tanning. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The medical effects of this medicine depend entirely on its astringent and tonic powers. It is therefore used in various fluxes arising from debility, menorrhagia, fluor albus, cystirrhcea, diabetes, enuresis, diarrhoea, dysentery, &c. It has been strongly recommended in phthisical complaints by Dr. Bourne, and in diseases of the urinary organs by De Haen, particularly in ul¬ cerations of the kidneys and bladder. It certainly alleviates the dyspeptic symptoms accompanying nephritic complaints. It is commonly given in the form of powder, in doses of from twenty to sixty grains three or four times a day. The illustrious Haller, speaking of this plant, says, u the in¬ fusion is bitter and astringent, the aqueous extract has the smell of honey w ith the properties of the infusion. The spirituous in¬ fusion is likewise bitter. Besides, we extract a green resin which has the odour of wax. The decoction is bitter, and leaves a heat in the throat. By distillation we obtain an acid liquor.” It is this acid liquor which attacks the calculi formed in the human body, reduces them to small pieces, and softens those that cannot be thus split, or broken: of 150 calculi which we submitted to this test, there was not one but was acted upon by this acid liquor. When taken internally it destroys that glutinous matter which forms with the terrene part calculi, and hence prevents the forma¬ tion of this dreadful disease. This liquor was injected into the bladders of dogs, and produced with them no inconvenience, TRAILING ARBUTUS, OR BEAR»BERRY. 4 53 and remained Might not the same process be successfully era® ployed with the human subject? We never observed any mis» chief arising from the use of this plant ; we have found it good in all disorders of the kidneys or bladder, and also in the hae® morrhoids and strangury. De Haen gives a drachm of the leaves in powder at a dose two or three times a day. Werlhof has employed it with success in gravel. In two cases of con» sumption it did not succeed. In this country the fate of this remedy has been reversed ; for it has acquired considerable fame in pulmonary consumption, and sunk in reputation as a specific in calculous disorders. Dr. Withering, speaking of the effects of this plant, says, “ Per-, haps, upon the whole, we shall find it no better than other ve» getable astringents, some of which have long been used by the country people in gravelly complaints, and with very great ad¬ vantage, though hitherto unnoticed by the regular practitioners. ,s> LOGWOOD. H^EMATOXYLUM campechianum. Class X. Decandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-parted : Petals five : Capsule lanceolate, one-celled, two-valved : Valves navicular. v DESCRIPTION. This rises to a moderate sized tree. Its branches are defended with sharp spines. The leaves are pinnated, composed of four or five pair of pinnae, heart-shaped, and obliquely veined. The flowers are yellow, small, and numerous. II I STO RY. This tree was introduced from the Honduras into Jamaica, where it is now very common. The wood is firm, heavy, and of a dark red colour. Its taste is sweet, with a slight degree of astringency. It. forms a precipitate with solution of gelatine, very readily soluble in excess of gelatine, and with sulphate of iron it strikes a brighter blue than any other astringent I have tried. It is used principally as a dye-wood, but also with con¬ siderable advantage in medicine. MEDICAL USE. Its extract is sweet, and slightly astringent ; and is therefore useful in obstinate diarrhoeas, and in chronic dysentery. Of the extract one to two scruples is given four times a day. MAHOGANY TREE, SWIETENIA MAIIAGONI. Class X. Decandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-cleft: Petals five: Nectary cylindric, bearing the anthers at its mouth: Capsule five-celled, ligneous, dehiscent at the base : Seed imbricated, winged. DESCRIPTION. This is a very large tree, well known as producing the hardest tables, and when polished of exceeding great beauty. Leaves are pinnated, alternate, composed of three, four, or five pinnas, lance-shaped, acute, on short footstalks. Flowers numerous, small, white. HISTORY. This majestic tree grows principally in Jamaica and in Spanish America. Its useful wood is universally known. Its bark is brown, rough, and scaly, on the branches gray and smoother. Its taste is very astringent, and more bitter than that of Peruvian bark. Its smell weak and aromatic. MEDICAL VIRTUE. In its action on the living body, it is said to coincide nearly with Peruvian bark, and may be substituted for it in many situa® tions. YELLOW-FLOWERED RHODODENDRON. RHODODENDRON CHRYSANTHUS. Class X. Decandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Ge'n. Char. Calyx five-parted: Corolla funnel-shaped, border cut into five irregular segments : Stamina declined : Capsule five-celled. Spec. Char. Leaves oblong, above rough, veined, beneath smooth : Corolla rotate, irregular. DESCRIPTION. This shrub rises a foot in height. The leaves are opposite below, above clustered like a rose ; of a deep green colour above, and ferruginous beneath. The flowers are in umbels, of a bright yellow colour. The stamina are very distinctly seen In this plant, and curl upwards to the pistil. HISTORY. This small shrub grows in the coldest situations, and highest parts of the snow-covered mountains in East Siberia, and espe¬ cially in Dauria, The leaves are oblong, rigid, rejected at the edges, rough on the upper surface, smooth, and paler on the YELLOW-FLOWERED RHODODENDRON, 457 lower. When dried, they have no smell, but a rough, astrin- gent, and bitterish taste. They also contain a stimulant nar¬ cotic principle ; for they increase the heat of the body, excite thirst, and produce diaphoresis, or an increased discharge of the other secretions or excretions ; and, in a large dose, inebriation and delirium. MEDICAL USE. In decoction it is used in Siberia in rheumatism and gout. About two drachms of the dried shrub are infused in an earthen pot, with about ten ounces of boiling water, keeping it near a boiling heat for a night, and the infusion taken in the morning. Besides its other effects, it is said to produce a sensation of prickling or creeping in the pained parts ; but in a few hours the pain and disagreeable symptoms are relieved, and two or three doses generally complete the cure. Liquids are not allowed during its operation, as they are apt to induce vomiting. SAXIFRAGE. SAX1FRAGA GRANULATA. Class X. Decandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-parted : Corolla five petals : Capsule two- beaked, one-celled, many-seeded. Spec. Char. Leaves cauline, reniform, lobed : Stem ramous : Root gra¬ nulated. DESCRIPTION. Root composed of small bulbs adhering to fine fibres. Stalk rises a foot. Leaves kidney-shaped, toothed. Flowers white, conspicuous. HISTORY. Native of England. Flowers in April and May. Found on dry situations. MEDICAL VIRTUE. From its little tubercles, it has been supposed to point out a hidden power in this plant to break stones in the kidneys and bladder; but this reputation, probably, is wholly owing to po¬ pular superstition. CLOVE PINK. DIANTHUS CARYOPIIYLLUS. Class X. Decandria. Order II. Digynia. Essext, Gex. Char. Calyx cylindrical, one-leafed, at the base four scales: Petals five, clawed: Cfljj.su/ecylindric, one-celled. Spec. Char. Flowers single : Calycine scales subovate, very short : Corolla crenate. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises from one to two feet in height. Stem slender, jointed. Leaves linear, placed in pairs at the joints. The flowers are of a deep crimson colour. HISTORY. This species of dianthus is perennial, and a native of Italy, though now found wild on the walls of old castles in England. By cultivation its varieties have increased to a very great number, and they form one of the greatest ornaments of our gardens. Most of these are termed carnations ; but the variety which is officinal surpasses all the others in the richness of its smell. It is also distinguished by being of an uniform deep crimson colour. It is now scarcely, if at all, to be found in Scotland, and instead 460 CLOVE PINK. of it the crimson carnations are commonly used to give the co¬ lour to the syrup, while for its flavour it is indebted to the spice clove. Their only use in pharmacy is to give a pleasant flavour and beautiful colour to an officinal syrup. PREPARATIONS. Syrup of Clove July-flower. (Syrupus Dianthi Caryophylii. E.) Take of clove July. flowers, fresh gathered, and freed from the heels, one pound ; - — - — — double refined sugar, seven pounds ; - - — ■ boiling water, four pounds : Macerate the petals in the water for twelve hours; and dissolve in the filtered infusion the sugar, in powder, by a gentle heat, so as to form a syrup. Syrup of Clove July-flower. (Syrupus Caryophylii Rubri. L. D.) Take of fresh clove July-flowers, two pounds ; - • - - boiling distilled water, six pints : Macerate for twelve hours in a glass vessel ; and in the strained liquor dissolve double refined sugar^ so as to form a syrup. As the beauty of the colour is principally attended to in this syrup, no force should be used in expressing the infusion from the flowers. Some have substituted for it one easily prepared at seasons when the flowers are not to be procured : an ounce of spice doves is infused for some days in twelve ounces of white wine, the liquor strained, and, with the addition of twenty ounces of sugar, boiled to the proper consistence of a syrup, to which a little cochineal gives a colour exactly similar to that prepared from the clove July-flower; and its flavour is of the same kind, though not so pleasant. The counterfeit may be readily de¬ tected, by adding to a little of the syrup some alkaline salt or ley, which will change the genuine syrup to a green colour; but in the counterfeit it will make no such alteration, only varying the shade of the red. W O O D - S O R R E L. OX A. LIS ACETOSELLA. Class X, Decandria. Order V. Penlaedria. Essent. Gen* Char, Calyx five-leaved : Petals adhering by their claws : Capsule five-sided, exploding its seeds. Spec. Char. Scape one-flowered : Leaves ternate-obcordate : Root dentate. description; This plant rises to a small height. The root runs horizontal, scaly, or toothed. The leaves grow three together, each being heart-shaped. The leaf-stalks are about three inches long. The flowers are large and white, or flesh-coloured, and elegantly streaked with red veins. HISTORY. This is a small perennial plant, which grows wild In woods and under shady hedges, and flowers in April tod May. The 462 WOOD-SORREL. leaves contain a considerable quantity of super-oxalate of potass, and have an extremely pleasant acid taste. They possess the same powers with the vegetable acids in general, and may be given in infusion, or beaten with sugar into a conserve, or boiled with milk to form an acid whey. The super-oxalate of potass is extracted in large quantities from them, and sold under the name of Essential Salt of Lemons. Twenty pounds of the fresh leaves yielded to Neumann six pounds of juice, from which he got two ounces two drachms and a scruple of salt, besides two ounces and six drachms of an impure saline mass. MEDICAL USE. A conserve is ordered by the Royal College, which is useful in inflammatory diseases i a whey is likewise made by boiling this plant in milk ; and it is used in soups in hot w'eather, and tends to allay heat and thirst. WALL-STONE CROP, or WALL PEPPER. SEBUM ACRE. Class X. Decandria. Order V. Pentagynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-clefts Corolla five petals; Nectariferous scales five, at the base of the germen ; Capsules five. Spec. Char. Leaves sub-ovate, adnate, sessile, gibbous, each alternate*, one rather erect : Cyme trifid. DESCRIPTION. A small plant, not more than three indies high. Leaves fleshy, minute, placed like the tiles of a house. Flowers nu¬ merous, rather conspicuous, of a yellow colour. HISTORY. A British plant growing on houses, walls, and gravelly banks. MEDICAL VIRTUE. Being highly acrid and stimulant, a decoction has been found of the greatest use in violent scorbutic humours : the process is to boil a handful in eight pints of beer till reduced to four, and to take three or four ounces every other morning, or to use the same in milk i the same is likewise used In dropsy and m cancer with reported success* LAUREL-LEAVED CANELLA. CAN ELLA ALBA. Class XI. Dodecandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent, Gen. Chat*, Calyx three-lobed: Petals five: Anthers sixteen, attached to the pitcher-like nectary. DESCRIPTION. This tree rises fifty feet in height, branching only at the top. Leaves on short footstalks, alternate, oblong, very obtuse, en¬ tire, and thick. Flowers small, dividing in clusters, of a violet colour. HISTORY. This is a tall tree, which is very common in Jamaica, and other West India islands. The canella is the interior bark, freed from the epidermis, which is thin and rough, and dried in the shade. There are LAUREL-LEAVED CANELLA® 465 two sorts of canella in the shops, differing from each other In the length and thickness of the quills : they are both the bark of the same tree, the thicker being taken from the trunk, and the thinner from the branches. It was introduced into Europe, according to Clusius, in 1605? and is brought to us rolled up in long quills, or flat pieces, thicker than cinnamon, and both outwardly and inwardly of a whitish colour, lightly inclining to yellow. It is a warm pun*, gent aromatic, and in distillation with water it yields a large proportion of a very active volatile oil, of a yellow, or rather reddish colour, and of a sweet odour approaching to that of cinnamon. It must not be confounded with the bark of the Wintera aromatica. MEDICAL USE. Canella alba is sometimes employed, from ten to fifteen grains, where a warm stimulant to the stomach is necessary. In Arne® rica it is considered to be a powerful antiscorbutic. It is also added as a corrigent to other medicines. COMMON ASARABACCA. ASARUM EUROPIUM. Class XI. Dodecandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx three- or four-cleft, sitting upon the ger- men : Corolla none : Capsule coriaceous, coronate. Spec. Char. Leaves reniform, obtuse, bifurcate. DESCRIPTION. The leaves rise immediately from the root, and divide from one stem in pairs: the flower proceeds from betwixt these leaves. The flowers are large, purple, and bell-shaped. HISTORY. This is a perennial plant, which is a native of some places of England, although the dried roots are generally brought from the Levant. It grows in moist and shady situations. It produces only two leaves, which are reniform and very obtuse. The root is fibrous, of a gray-brown colour externally, but white within. Both the roots and leaves have a nauseous, bitter, acrimonious, hot taste ; their smell is strong, and not very disagreeable. In its analysis it is said by Neumann to agree with ipcca- COMMON ASARABACCA. 467 cuanha ; but it seems to contain, besides its odorous principle,, which is probably camphor, a portion of the same acrid prin¬ ciple which has been noticed when speaking of arum. Upon this its virtues depend ; and as this principle is volatile, we find accordingly that asarabacca loses much of its activity by decQC® tion and long keeping. M E D I C A L U S E. Given in substance, from half a drachm to a drachm, it eva® cuates powerfully both upwards and downwards. It is said that alcoholic tinctures possess both the emetic and cathartic virtues of the plant ; that the extract obtained by inspissating these tinc¬ tures acts only by vomiting, and with great mildness ; that an infusion in water proves cathartic, rarely emetic ; that aqueous decoctions made by long boiling, and the watery extract, have no purgative or emetic quality, but prove good diaphoretics, diuretics, and emmenagogues. The principal use of this plant among us is a sternutatory* The root of asarum is perhaps the strongest of all the vegetable errhines, white hellebore itself not excepted. Snuffed up the nose, in the quantity of a grain or two, it occasions a large evacuation of mucus, and raises a plentiful spitting. The leaves are considerably milder, and may be used to the quantity of three, four, or five grains. Geoffroy relates, that after snuffing up a dose of this errhine at night, he has frequently observed the discharge from the nose to continue for-three days together; and that he has known a paralysis of the mouth and tongue cured by one dose. He recommends this medicine in stubborn disorders of the head, proceeding from viscid tenacious matter, in palsies, and in soporific distempers. PREPARATION. Compound Poavder of Asarabacca. (Pulvis Asari Com® positus. L.) Take of asarabacca, - — - sweet marjoram, - - S) rian herb-mastich, - - — - lavender, of each, dried, one ounce: Reduce them together to powder, which is to be kept in a closed phial. 2 h 2 468 COMMON ASARABACCA. Edin. Take of the leaves of asarabacca, three parts ; — the leaves of marjoram, flowers of lavender, of each one part t Rub them together to powder. Dub, Take of dried leaves of asarabacca, one ounce; lavender flowers, two drachms .* Powder them, and keep them in a phial well closed. These are agreeable and efficacious errhines, and superior to most of those usually sold under the name of herb snuff. They are often employed with great advantage in cases of obstinate lieadaeh, and of ophthalmias resisting other modes of cure. Taken under the form of snuff, to the extent of five or six grains, at bed, time, they will operate the succeeding day as a powerful errhine, inducing frequent sneezing, and likewise a copious discharge from the nose. It is, however, necessary, during their operation, to avoid exposure to cold. SOAPWORT. SAPONARiA OFFICINALIS. Class X. Decandria. Order II. Digynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx one-leafed, naked : Petals five, unguiculate ; Capsule oblong, one-celled. Spec. Char. Calyx cylindrical : Leaves ovato-lanceolate. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises a foot in height. Leaves entire, pointed, fur¬ nished with three ribs. Flowers numerous, terminal, large, of a pale pink colour. HISTORY. Native of England, affects moist situations, and flowers in July and August. A decoction of the root of this plant pro» duces a saponaceous froth, but more so the leaves, insomuch that these have been used by country people as a substitute for soap, and with this advantage, that this quality is not injured by acids. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The great Boerhaave highly extols the use of this plant in jaundice and all obstructions of the liver. Septalius affirms that the decoction cures the venereal disease, and answers better than the sarsaparilla ; and this opinion has been supported by Stahl, and other eminent physicians. COMMON AGRIMONY. Class XI. Dodeoandria. Order I. Digynia. Essevt. Gew Char. Calyx five-toothed : Petals five : Seeds two, at the bottom of the calyx. Spec. Char. Cauline leaves pinnate, with an odd one petioled: Fruit hispid. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises to two or three feet in height. Leaves alter¬ nate, interruptedly pinnate, composed of five or six pairs, with an odd one at the end. The large pinn e are commonly sessile, opposite, ovate, deeply serrate, rough. The flowers are yellow, on long spikes, not very conspicuous. HISTORY. It is common in fields and hedges, and shady places, in Eng¬ land ; and flowers in June and July. MEDICAL VIRTUE. It is a mild astringent and corroborant, and is therefore given for a lax tone of the bowels and solids. For cutaneous diseases it has obtained much reputation. It is given in the form of tea twice a day. Class XII. lcosandria. Order I, Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Catyx five-cleft, beneath: Petals five : Drupe per¬ forated in the nut with pores. Spec. Char. Leaves minutely serrated, with the base beset with glands: Flowers in pairs, sessile. DESCRIPTION. This tree rises twelve or more feet, and early in spring dis« plays its pale pink flowers, which are placed in pairs upon its branches; afterwards appear the leaves, which are elliptic, nar¬ row', pointed at the end, minutely sawed, standing upon short footstalks. HISTORY. The almond tree nearly resembles the peach. It originally came from $\ ria and Barbary, but is now much cultivated in the south of Europe. There is no apparent difference betwixt the ALMOND TREE. AMVGDALUS COMMUNIS. 472 ALMOND TREE. trees which produce the sweet and bitter almonds, and very little betwixt the kernels themselves ; and it is said that the same tree has, by a difference in culture, afforded both. The almond is a flatfish kernel, of a white colour, and of a soft sweet taste, or a disagreeable bitter one. The skins of both sorts are thin, brownish, unpleasant, and covered with an acrid powdery substance. They are very apt to become rancid on keeping, and to be preyed on by insects, which eat out the internal part, leaving the almond to appearance entire. To these circumstances regard ought to be had in the choice of them. Sweet almonds are of greater use in food than as medicine, but they are reckoned to afford lirtle nourishment; and when eaten in substance are not easy of digestion, unless thoroughly comminuted. They are supposed, on account of their unctuous quality, to obtund acrimonious juices in the primes vies : peeled sweet almonds, eaten six or eight at a time, sometimes give present relief in the heartburn. x Bitter almonds have been found poisonous to dogs and some other animals; and a water distilled from them, when made of a certain degree of strength, has had the same effects. Never¬ theless, when eaten, they appear innocent to most men, and are every day used in cookery, on account of their agreeable fla¬ vour; but there are some habits in which the smallest quantity produces urticaria, and other unpleasartt symptoms. The simi¬ larity of the smell induced Mr. Schrader to suppose that bitter almonds contained prussic acid, and he verified his conjecture by analysis. Since that time it has been found that this acid exists, but in a particular state, in all the bitter poisonous vegetables, and that in its pure state it is poisonous. Both sorts of almonds yield, on expression, a large quantity of oil, which separates likewise upon boiling the almonds in water, and is gradually collected on the surface.. The oils obtained by expression from both sorts of almonds are in their sensible qualities the same. They should be perfectly free from smell and taste, and possess the other properties of fixed oils. MEDICAL USE. The general virtues of these oils are, to blunt acrimonious humours, and to soften and relax the solids : hence their use in¬ ternally in tickling coughs, heat of urine, pains and inflamma- ALMOND TREE. 473 tions ; and externally, in tension and rigidity of particular parts. On triturating almonds with water, the oil and water unite to¬ gether, by the mediation of the amylaceous matter of the kernel, and form an unctuous milky liquor, called an emulsion, which participates in some degree of its emollient virtue, but have this advantage above the pure oil, that they may be given in acute or inflammatory disorders, without danger of the ill effects which the oil might sometimes produce; since emulsions do not turn rancid or acrimonious by heat, as all the oils of this kind in a little time do. As the bitter almond imparts its peculiar taste when treated in this way, the sweet almonds alone are employed in making emulsions. Several unctuous and resinous substances, of themselves not miscible with water, may, by trituration with almonds, be easily mixed with it into the form of an emulsion ; and are thus ex. cellently fitted for medicinal use. In this form camphor, and the resinous purgatives, may be commodiously taken. It has been a common practice to dissolve from half an ounce to an ounce, or more, of gum arabic in the water used for making the emulsions; and to make patients drink freely of them, while blisters are applied to the body, in order to prevent strangury ; and to order them to be used in cases of gravel, and of inflammation of the bladder or urethra; and in heat of urine from virulent gonorrhoea or other causes. Camphor, resin of jalap, and other resinous substances, by being triturated with almonds, become miscible with water, and more mild and pleasant than they were before; and therefore they are frequently ordered to be rubbed with them, and made up into pills or boluses, with the addition of some conserve or gum arabic mucilage; or they are incorporated with watery ii« quors into the form of an emulsion. Formerly the seeds of the lettuce, of the cucumber, of the white poppy, and of a number of other plants, were employed for making emulsions ; but now in this country the sweet al¬ monds supply the place of all the rest. The bitter almonds are not so much used as they were for. roerly, because they have been found to destroy some sorts of animals: this effect was related by the ancients, but believed to be fictitious, because when eaten by men they appear to be in¬ nocent, and to produce no deleterious effects. However, the facts related by VVepfer in his Treatise de Cicuta Aquatica, 474 ALMOND TREE. having been confirmed by later experiments ; and it having been discovered that a water drawn from them had deleterious effects, and that the distilled water from the lauro-cerasns leaves, which have a bitter taste resembling that of bitter almonds, was still more poisonous, it raised a suspicion of the wholesomeness of th ose bitter substances, and has made physicians more cautious of using them, though they have been employed for making orgeate and other liqueurs, without producing any bad effects. PREPARATIONS. Oil of Almonds. Those who prepare large quantities of the oil of almonds blanch them by steeping them in very hot water, which causes their epidermis to swell and separate easily. After peeling them, they dry them in a stove, then grind them in a mill like a coffee- mill, and, lastly, express the oil from the paste, enclosed in a hempen bag. By blanching the almonds, the paste which re¬ mains within the bag is sold with greater advantage to the per¬ fumers, and the oil obtained is perfectly colourless. But the heat employed disposes the oil to become rancid, and the colour the oil acquires f:om the epidermis does not injure its qualities. For pharmaceutical use, therefore, the almonds should not be blanched, but merely rubbed in a piece of coarse linen, to sepa¬ rate, as much as possible, the brown powder adhering to the epi¬ dermis. Sixteen ounces of sweet almonds commonly give five ounces and a half of oil. Bitter almonds afford the same pro¬ portion, but the oil has a pleasant bitter taste. Expressed Oil of Almonds. (Oleum Expressum. E.) Take of fresh almonds, any quantity: After having bruised them in a stone mortar, put them into a hempen bag, and express the oil, without heat. Lond. Pound fresh almonds, either sweet or bitter, in a mortar, then press out the oil in a cold press. Dub. Bruise fresh almonds in a mortar, and express the oil in a press, without heat. ALMOND TREE. 475 Almond Emulsion. (Emulsio Amygdalae Communis. E.) Take of sweet almonds, one ounce; - — water, two pounds and a half ; Beat diligently the blanched almonds in a stone mortar, gradu® ally pouring on them the water ; then strain the liquor. Almond Milk. (Lac Amygdalae. L. D.) Take of sweet almonds, blanched, an ounce and a half ; - — — — • double refined sugar, half an ounce ; - - distilled water, two pints (two pints and a half, D.)s Beat the almonds with the sugar; then rubbing them together, add by degrees the water, and strain the liquor. Almost any quantity may be taken as a frequent drink to soften coughs, and nourish the system ; also to assuage urinary disorders. Arabic Emulsion. (Emulsio Arabica. D.) Take of gum arabic, in powder, two drachms; — - - sweet almonds, blanched, - - double refiued sugar, each half a drachm ; - - decoction of barley, one pint: Dissolve the gum in the warm decoction ; and when it is almost cold, pour it upon the almonds, previously well beaten with the sugar, and at the same time triturate them together, so as to form an emulsion, and then filter. All these may be considered as possessing nearly the same qualities. They are merely mechanical suspensions of oil of almonds in watery fluids, by means either of the mucilage with which it is naturally combined in the almonds by itself, or as¬ sisted by the addition of gum arabic and sugar. Therefore, on standing for some days, the oily matter separates and rises to the top, not in a pure form, but like thick cream. By heat the same decomposition is immediately effected. Great care should be taken that the almonds have not become rancid by keeping; which not only renders the emulsion extremely unpleasant, a circumstance of great consequence in a medicine that requires to be taken in large quantities, but likewise gives it injurious qualities. The almonds are blanched by infusing them in boiling water, and peeling them. The success of the preparation depends upon beating the almonds to a smooth pulp, and triturating them with 476 ALMOND TREE. each portion of the watery fluid, so as to form an uniform mix¬ ture before another portion be added. CULINARY PREPARATIONS. Almond Tarts. Blanch and beat fine some almonds, with a little white wine and some sugar (a pound of sugar to a pound of almonds), grated bread, nutmeg, cream, and the juice of spinach to colour the almonds. Bake it in a gentle oven; and when done thicken with candied orange or citron. Green Almond Tarts. Pull the almonds from the tree before they shell, scrape off the down, and put them into a pan with cold spring water, then put them into a skillet with more spring water, set it on a slow fire, and let it remain till it simmers. Change the water twice, and let them remain in the last till tender. Then take them out and dry them well in a cloth. Make a syrup with double refined sugar, put them into it, and let them simmer. Do the same the next day, put them into a stone jar, and cover them very close ; for if the least air comes to them they will turn black. The yellower they are before they are taken out of the water, the greener they will be after they are done. Put them into your crust, cover them with syrup, lay on the lid, and bake them in a moderate oven. PRESCRIPTIONS. ]y. 1. Take of oil of almonds - - drachms 6. — - — — - milk of almonds - - ounces 5, • — - rose water - - - drachms 2, • - * gum arabic, - — purified sugar, equal parts, drachms 2 : Let these be well rubbed together, and take two table-spoon¬ fuls four times a day, and a tea-spoonful upon coughing. This is far preferable to the common white emulsions formed by an alkali, which uniting with the oil produces a kind of soap, which readily mingling with water, forms the white appearance we ob¬ serve, and is commonly disgusting to patients, and unpleasant in the stomach ; whereas this suits every palate, and removes that tickling in the throat so very distressing to patients. ALMOND TREE. 477 Respecting soap, the learned and ingenious editor of the Edinburgh New Dispensatory says: The detergent property of soap, or the power it possesses of rendering oily and resinous substances miscible with water, has given rise to very erroneous notions of its medical virtues. It was supposed to render such substances more readily soluble in the juices of the stomach, and in the fluids of the body, and to be well fitted for dissolving such oily or unctuous matters as it may meet with in the body, atte- nuating viscid juices, opening obstructions of the viscera, and de¬ terging all the vessels it passes through. It has likewise been sup¬ posed a powerful menstruum for the urinary calculus ; and a solution of soap in lime water has been considered as one of the strongest solvents that can be taken with safety into the sto® xnaeh ; for the virtue of this composition has been thought con® siderably greater than the aggregate of the dissolving powers of the soap and lime water when unmixed. How erroneous these ideas are, appears evidently, when we recollect the very easy decomposition of soap, which renders It perfectly impossible that it should enter the circulating system, or indeed come into contact with the fluids even of the mouth, without being decomposed. As to the solution of soap in lime water, we may observe that it is only a clumsy way of exhibit® ing a solution of soda ; for the soap is decomposed, an insoluble soap of lime is formed, and the soda remains in solution. The internal use of soap should therefore be confined, in our ©pi¬ nion, to the giving form to other substances which are not de¬ composed by it, and to the decomposing metallic poisons when they have been taken into the stomach. For this last purpose, a teacupful of a solution of soap, in four times its weight of water, may be drunk every three or four minutes, until a suf¬ ficient quantity be taken. % Take of milk of almonds « - . — ■ syrup of Tolu - - - — — rose water - - - - — — . - tincture of squills ounce 1, drachms 2, drachms 2, drops 16? Make into a draught. Four of these draughts are to be taken during the day. An admirable remedy in colds, and also in com* sumptions, as well as in asthma. N. COMMON PEACH TREE. AMYGDALUS PERS1CA. Class XII. Icosandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Same as the last. Spec. Char. All the serratures of the Leaves acute : Flowers single, sessile. DESCRIPTION. The peach tree is trained against walls and palings, and extends itself far. Its leaves are narrow, pointed, acutely serrate, on footstalks, and grow alternate. Flowers are light blush red. Stamina conspicuous, inserted into the calyx. HISTORY. Native of Persia, and was known in England in 1562. The nectarine is only a variety of the peach. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The fruit is cooling and nutritious, and can seldom be eaten to injure. The flowers and leaves have been made into tea, and given in the morning as a purge against worms, and with ma¬ nifest success. It may be prudent to join some rhubarb with it. PIMENTO, ok JAMAICA PEPPER. ALLSPICE. MYRTCS PIMENTA. Class XII. Icosandria. Order I. Monogvnla. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-cleft, above : Petals five : Berry two- or three-seeded. Spec. Char. Flowers panicled, trichotomous : Leaves oblong-lanceolate. DESCRIPTION. Tins species of myrtle grows to thirty feet in height. The leaves are four inches in length, veined, pointed, of a bright green. The flowers grow upon stalks, terminating the branches, and dividing into three forks; at the end of each is a flower; also one at the bifurcation, or angle. 480 PIMENTO, JAMAICA PEPPER, OR ALLSPICE. HISTORY. This beautiful tree is a native of Jamaica, and grows in all the woodlands on the north side. Soon after the trees have blossomed, the berries become fit for gathering; the fruit not being suffered to ripen, as in that state it is moist and glutinous, and therefore difficult to cure, and when dried becomes black and tasteless. The berries are dried by spreading them on a terrace, exposed to the sun for about seven days, during which time they gradually lose their green colour, and become of a reddish-brown. The smell of this spice resembles a mixture of cinnamon, cloves, and nutmegs ; its taste approaches to that of cloves, or a mixture of the three foregoing ; whence it has received th® name of allspice . Neumann ascertained that its flavour resides entirely in a vo¬ latile oil heavier than water, and its pungency in a resin or a substance soluble in alcohol and insoluble in water. From 480 parts he got 120 watery extract, 30 volatile oil, and 20 alcoholic extract ; and inversely, 66 alcoholic, and 100 watery. MEDICAL VIRTUES. Pimento is a warm aromatic stimulant, and is much used as a condiment in dressing food. As a medicine, it may be advan¬ tageously substituted for the more costly spices, especially in hospital practice. PREPARATIONS. „ Allspice Water. (Aqua Pimento.) Take of allspice, bruised, half a pound, water sufficient to prevent empyreuma: Macerate for four-and-twenty hours, and draw off one gallon. POMEGRANATE TREE. PUNIC A GRANATUM. Cte XII. Ieosandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-cleft, above: Petals five: Pome many- celled, many-seeded. Spec. Char. Leaves lanceolate : Stem arboreous. DESCRIPTION. This is a low tree, or rather shrub. Its leaves are oblong, pointed, piaced upon short footstalks. The flowers are large, of a bright scarlet. The fruit is the size of an orange, and crowned with the calyx. HISTORY. This tree grows wild in Italy and other countries in the south of Europe. It is sometimes met with in our gardens; but the fruit, for which it is chiefly valued, rarely comes to perfection. MEDICAL VIRTUE. This fruit has the general qualities of the other sweet summer fruits, allaying heat, quenching thirst, and gently loosening the belly. The rind is a strong astringent, striking a permanent blue ' with sulphate of iron, and as such is occasionally made use of. The flowers are of an elegant red colour, in appearance resem« bling a dried red rose. Their taste is bitterish and astringent. They are recommended in diarrhoeas, dysenteries, and other cases where astringent medicines are proper. 2 i SLOE TREE. PRUNUS SPINOSA. Class XII. Icosandria. Order I. Monogy nia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five» cleft, beneath: Petals five : Drupe a knob with prominent sutures. Spec. Char. Peduncles solitary: Leaves lanceolate, smooth: Branches spiny. DESCRIPTION. This is a shrub which rises eight or ten feet. Leaves are oval, minutely serrated, standing upon short footstalks. The flowers are white, and tolerably conspicuous. The fruit is of a dark black, but covered with a bright blue exudation. HISTORY. The sloe grows wild in Britain. It flowers in March and April. The fruit has a very astringent sourish taste. It con¬ tains malic acid. The inspissated juice of the unripe fruit is very astringent, and is called Acacia Germanica. MEDICAL USE. An infusion of a handful of the flowers is a safe and easy purge. The powdered bark will sometimes cure agues. SLOE TREE. 483 PREPARATION. Conserve of vSloes. (Cqnserva Pruni Silvestris. L.) Put the sloes in water upon the fire, that they may soften, taking care that they be not broken ; then take them out of the water, press out the pulp, and mix it with three times its weight of double refined sugar into a conserve. This preparation is a gentle astringent, and may be given as such in the dose of two or three drachms. It is used also for a gargle with considerable advantage, especially where the uvula is found to be relaxed. COMMON PRUNE, or PLUM TREE. PRUNUS DOMESTICA. Class XII. Icosandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. The same as the last. Spec. Char. Peduncles subsolitary : Leaves lanceolate-ovate, convolute: Branches unarmed. DESCRIPTION. This species rises higher than the last, is without thorns ; the leaves are oval, slightly indented at the edges, pointed, and stand upon short footstalks. HISTORY. This tree is found wild in hedges in England, but has probably originated from the stones of the cultivated kinds being dropped 4- there by accident. It flowers in April. Great quantities of the dried fruit are imported from the continent, of w hich the French prunes are reckoned the best. MEDICAL VIRTUES. They contain much mucilaginous and saccharine matter, and their medical effects are, to abate heat, and gently loosen the PLUM TREE, 485 belly, which they perform by lubricating the passages, and softening the excrement. They are of considerable service in costiveness, accompanied with heat or irritation, which the more stimulating cathartics would tend to aggravate : “where prunes are not of themselves sufficient, their action may be promoted by joining with them a little rhubarb or the like, to which may be added some carminative ingredient, to prevent their occasion¬ ing flatulency. It enters properly into the composition well known by the name of lenitive electuary; and even taken alone gently, in some constitutions, opens the body. They are stewed. The F rench prunes are the best. CHERRY LAUREL. PRUNUS LAURO-CERASUS. Class XII. Icosandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. The same as the last. Spec. Char. Flowers in racemes : Leaves evergreen, with two glands at the back. DESCRIPTION. This is a shrub rising sometimes very high. The leaves are obovate, blunt, somewhat serrate, of a shining green, placed alternate upon strong short footstalks. The flowers are on short peduncles, in spikes, which proceed from the alai of the leaves. The calyx is firm, divided into five segments. The corolla is composed of five small petals. HISTORY. It is native of the Levant, and has been long cultivated in England ; for its polished evergreen leaves add much to the beauty of our shrubberies. CHERRY LAUREL. 487 MEDICAL VIRTUES. Since Dr. Madden communicated to the Royal Society an ac¬ count of the deadly effects of the simple distilled water from the lauro-cerasus, many experiments have been made, here in Eng¬ land, to prove and confirm the truth of the same ; but I do not know of any attempts that have been made towards discovering what influence this water, or the leaves from whence it is di¬ stilled, would have on animal bodies, if exhibited in small doses, and continued so for some time. Now as this, in my humble opinion, is the only way of investigating the useful properties of such plants whose modus of action we are unacquainted with, X hope the following experiments will be acceptable ; for, let them be ever so simple, they may lead us to greater discoveries, and without doubt one of the most considerable services we can do to mankind, is to be diligent in making a variety of experiments, and collecting observations ; and when we have procured a num¬ ber of these, it will be allowable to reason upon, and deduce proper inferences from them. To find out the virtues of plants, says Dr. Langrish, has ever been reckoned the most commendable undertaking, and nothing is more certain than that the likeliest means to discover the effi¬ cacy of such as are not as yet used in physic, is to have recourse to proper experiments with them upon brutes ; for though some things may be hurtful to man that are not so to other animals, and vice versa , yet, as the greatest number of medicines affect both equally, the exhibition of them to brutes will afford good opportunities for observing their effects. Doubtless, says the illustrious Boyle, we trample upon many things that, did we know their uses, might serve the noblest ends. We despise many common plants of extraordinary efficacy for want of taking pains to discover their virtues ; and though some may be deleterious or poisonous in themselves, or in large doses, yet it is probable that art may discover ways and means to reduce such drugs into useful medicines. I am of opinion we have simples of our own growth capable of curing the most formidable diseases, did we but understand their efficacy, and the best manner of applying them; and I doubt not but a further acquaintance with experimental philo¬ sophy will hereafter suggest ways and means of discovering their virtues, and of making most noble medicines from such plants which are little thought of at present, at least for such uses® CHERRY LAUREL. I therefore, with all humility, beg leave to offer the following experiments to the consideration of the learned. Experiment I. To an old cast-off horse, blind, and troubled with the poll evil, I gave a pint (wine measure) of laurel water in the morning fasting, he having been tied up to an empty rack all night for that purpose. Just before I gave it him I took seven ounces a drachm and a scruple of blood from the jugular vein, which was extremely viscid and foul, looking at first like coarse grease, and after it had stood some time it had a coat upon it above an inch thick, tough and horny, rather resembling one part of brawn than buff leather. The gore was of a deep black. The serum was pel¬ lucid, but no more in quantity than six drachms. The pulse, before he took the laurel water beat 34 strokes in a minute ; and indeed they were not so much accelerated by the dose as I expected, they never exceeding 45 that day. The only visible effect was stopping the humour that flowed from his poll ; which, though it ran in an extraordinary manner before he took the laurel water, was quite suppressed in the evening. About two hours after he had taken his dose, I gave him some oats, which he ate greedily, and continued perfectly well all night. The next morning I let seven ounces and a drachm of blood, which, after it had stood twenty-four hours, as the other did, separated an ounce and two scruples of clear, straw-coloured serum. The crassamentum was something improved in its co¬ lour, and the horny coat at the top of it was not quite three quarters of an inch thick. The poll evil was quite shut up all this day; and therefore that I might know how long it would remain so, I desisted from giving any more laurel water for three days. The next morning the humour began to flowT again, though not so much as before; * It was prepared as follows: Having procured a peck of fresh laurel leaves, says Dr. Langrish, I weighed them very exactly, lest I might be deceived by different measures in future trials ; and accordingly I found their weight to be two pounds one ounce and a half avoirdupois. To these 1 put three gallons of spring water, and distilled off, in a common alembic, two quarts, which were mixed together. CHERRY LAUREL. 489 but on the third day there seemed to be as great a discharge as ever. Experiment 11. A fine fresh young horse being seized with the glanders, was turned into a salt marsh, and neglected till the distemper ar¬ rived at its greatest height, or what the farriers call the chine glanders, which among them is deemed incurable. The matter which was discharged from his nose was very viscid, yellow, and extremely offensive. His blood was exceed¬ ing glutinous and foul, and had a buff coat upon it more than half an inch thick. The cohesion of the crassamentum was so strong as to resist the weight of a column of mercury, in a glass tube, with an obtuse point about the size of a pea, 1 3-| inches high, before the point of the tube cut through. The bore of the tube was one-third of an inch diameter. Eight ounces of this blood, which was taken from the jugular vein, separated, after standing twenty-four hours, no more than two drachms ten grains of yellow serum. July 28, 1734. I gave to this horse six ounces of laurel water diluted Math half a pint of spring water, and repeated it every morning for eight days. Aug. 5. I increased the dose to eight ounces, and continued it for eight days more. The same day eight ounces of blood afforded one ounce two drachms of serum, not quite so yellow as before. The bull' coat was three-eighths of an inch thick. The cohesion very little altered. Aug. 13. The dose was increased to twelve ounces, and re¬ peated every morning for eight days. The same day eight ounces of blood separated one ounce and a half of good-coloured serum. The buff coat was now not above a quarter of an inch thick, and gave w ay to the weight of ten inches of mercury. Aug. 21. The dose was increased to a pint, wine measure, and given every morning for eight days, mixed with a quart of spring water. The same day eight ounces of blood separated one ounce four drachms and a half of dark-coloured serum. There was now very little or no appearance of a buff coat, only here and there a blueish speck, or film. Its cohesion was equal to seven inches and a quarter of mercury. 490 CHERRY LAUREL. Aug. 29. Eight ounces of blood separated one ounce sis drachms of dark-coloured serum. The gore had not the least film upon it, and was now grown so tender, that a column of mercury four inches high cut through it. During the whole time the horse appeared very brisk and well, and his appetite continued good. But as to his distemper, the running at the nose increased in quantity, but the matter was altered into a white, well-digested pus, without any offen¬ sive smell, as at first. The quantity of laurel water which was taken in the whole time was 336 ounces, or 21 pints. Experiment III. The following experiments were made to show that even out of the body the laurel water has great power over the blood. To six ounces of blood extracted from a young man violently afflicted with an inflammatory rheumatism, I put one ounce of laurel water, which altered the crassamentum, rendering it soft and tender, without a speck of size upon it. The serum was of a light red, like Burgundy wine, and, after standing 24 hours, weighed exactly two ounces. Six ounces more of the same blood, being saved in another porringer, by itself, appeared very foul and sizy, with a thick, tough buff coat upon it. The serum was of a bright yellow, and weighed two ounces one drachm and ten grains. Experiment IV. Sixteen ounces of blood being drawn from a woman on the third day of a pleuritic fever, I put one ounce of warm laurel water into a bason which received about one-half of it. The next day I found the blood which was mixed with the laurel water of a bright colour, the coagulum exceeding tender, the serum of a pale red, and in a small quantity. The other parcel of blood had a buff coat upon it at least one- third of an inch thick; the grumous part looked very foul and black ; the serum was of a straw colour, and much more in quantity than what was in the other porringer. But this patient being in the country, I had not an opportunity of examining into the exact proportions. Experiment V. Half an ounce of laurel water being mixed with three ounces CHERRY LAUREL* 491 of blood, as it ran from the arm of a child ten years old, and troubled with the St. Anthony’s lire, it preserved a beautiful colour, and let go one ounce three drachms of dark-coloured serum. Whereas three ounces six drachms and fifty grains of the same blood, in another cup, separated one ounce a drachm and a scruple of straw-coloured serum. The fibrous part had a coat one-sixth of an inch thick, exactly resembling melted suet. I could add a great many more experiments of this kind, but as they all exhibited the same phaenomena it would be useless. I shall therefore only observe, that from these experiments it is evidently demonstrated that laurel water has a power of making great alterations in the blood. The kernel-like flavour which these leaves impart being ge¬ nerally esteemed grateful, has sometimes caused them to be em¬ ployed for culinary purposes, and especially in custards, pud* dings, blancmange, &c. ; and as the proportion of this sapid matter of the leaf to the quantity of the milk is commonly in¬ considerable, bad effects have seldom ensued. But as the poi¬ sonous quality of this laurel is now indubitably proved, the public ought to be cautioned against its internal use. The following communication to the Royal Society, by Dr. Madden of Dublin, contains the first and principal proofs of the deleterious effects of this vegetable upon mankind: — u A very extraordinary accident that fell out here some months ago, has discovered to us a most dangerous poison, which was never be¬ fore known to be so, though it has been in frequent use among ns. The thing I mean is a simple water, distilled from the leaves of the lauro-cerasus. The water is at first of a milky colour, but the oil which comes over the helm with it, being in a good measure separated from the phlegm, by passing it through a flannel bag, it becomes as clear as common water. It has the smell of bitter almond or peach kernel, and has been for many years in frequent use among our housewives and cooks, to give that agreeable flavour to their creams and puddings. It has also been much in use among our drinkers of drams; and the pro¬ portion they generally use it in, has been one part of laurel water to four of brandy. Nor has this practice, however frequent, ever been attended with any apparent ill consequences, till some time in the month of September 1728, when it happened that one Martha Boyse, a servant, who lived w ith a person that sold 49 2 CHERRY LAUREL. great quantities of this water, got a bottle of it from her mistress, and gave it to her mother, Ann Boyse, as a very rich cordial. Ann Boyse made a present of it to Frances Eaton, her sister, who was a shopkeeper in town, and wTho she thought might oblige her customers with it. Accordingly, in a few days, she gave about two ounces of the water to a woman called Mary Whaley, who drank about two-thirds of what was filled out, and went away. Frances Eaton drank the rest. In a quarter of an hour after Mary Whaley had drank the water (as I am informed) she complained of a violent disorder in her stomach, soon after lost her speech, and died in about an hour, without vomiting or purging, or any convulsion. u The shopkeeper, Frances Eaton, sent word to her sister, Ann Boyse, of what had happened, who came to her upon the message, and affirmed that it was not possible the cordial (as she called it) could have occasioned the death of the woman ; and to convince her of it, she filled out about three spoonfuls, and drank it. She continued talking with Frances Eaton about two minutes longer, and was so earnest to persuade her of the liquor’s being inoffensive, that she drank two spoonfuls more, but was hardly well seated in her chair when she died without the least groan or convulsion. Frances Eaton, who, as before observed, had drank somewhat above a spoonful, found no dis¬ order in her stomach or elsewhere ; but to prevent any ill con¬ sequence she took a vomit immediately, and has been well ever since.” Though this vegetable seems to have escaped the notice of Stoerck, yet it is not without advocates for its medicinal use. Linnaeus informs us, that iff Switzerland it is commonly and suc¬ cessfully used in pulmonary complaints. Langrish mentions its efficacy in agues ; and as Bergius found bitter almonds to have this effect, we may from analogy conclude that this power of the lauro-cerasus is well established. Bay lies found that it pos¬ sessed a remarkable power of diluting the blood, and from ex¬ perience recommended it in all cases of disease supposed to pro¬ ceed from too dense a state of that fluid ; adducing particular instances of its efficacy in rheumatism, asthma, and in scirrhous affections. Nor does this author seem to have been much afraid of the deleterious quality of the lauro-cerasus, as he directs a pound of its leaves to be macerated in a pint of water, of which he gives a tea-spoonful three or four times a day. COMMON QUINCE TREE. PYRUS CYDONIA. Class XII. Icosandria. Order V. Pentagynia. Essen't. Gen. Char. Calyx five-cleft: Petals five: Pome beneath, five- celled, many seeded. Spec. Char. Leaves entire : Flowers solitary. DESCRIPTION. This is rather a small tree. Leaves simple, oval, of a dusky green, underneath whitish, and standing upon short footstalks. Flowers solitary, conspicuous, of a pale red and white, placed in the axilla? of the leaves. The calyx is cut into five notched segments. HISTORY. It was originally a native of Cydon, in Crete, and is now common in gardens. MEDICAL USE. The seeds are successfully employed with liquorice root sliced in diseases of the kidneys and the stone. Its seeds abound so much with a mucilage, that one drachm will render three pints 494 COMMON QUINCE TREE. of water quite thick and ropy ; they may be used as the other soft mucilaginous substances. We have in our dispensatory a mucilago seminum cydoniorum , which ought not to be ordered as a preparation to be kept in the shops, because it soon grows mouldy in keeping. This mucilage, with conserve and syrup, makes a good linctus for easing a tickling cough, and has been used where oily medicines disagree. OFFICINAL PREPARATION. Mucilage of Quince Seeds. (Mucilago Seminum Cydonii Mali. L. ) Take of quince-seeds, one drachm ; — distilled water, eight ounces, by measure : Boil, with a slow fire, for ten minutes; then pass it through linen. This mucilage, though sufficiently agreeable, is perfectly su¬ perfluous, especially as it is apt to spoil, from being mixed with the other principles of the seeds soluble in water. It is, besides, never so transparent as mucilage carefully prepared from gum arabic, is not cheaper, and is unfit for many purposes, being coagulated by acids. CULINARY PREPARATION. Quince Pudding. Scald your quinces tender, pare them thin, scrape off the pulp, mix with sugar very sweet, and add a little ginger and cinnamon. To a pint of cream y ou must put three or four yolks of eggs, and stir it into your quinces till they are of a good thickness. Butter your dish, pour it in, and bake it. RED OFFICINAL ROSE. ROSA GALLIC A. Class XII. Ieosandria. Order V. Polygynia. Essent. Ge\. Char. Petals five: Calyx urceolate, five-cleft, fleshy, nar¬ row at the neck: Seeds many, hispid, affixed to the interior sides of the calyx. Spec. Chau. Germens ovate, hispid: Stems and Petioles hispid-aculeate. DESCRIPTION. The petals of this rose, though large and spreading, are not half so numerous as in the centifolia, and are of a deep crimson. HISTORY. Native of the south of Europe, now common in our gardens, flowering in June and July. PREPARATIONS. Conserve of Roses. (Conserva Rosas Gallicas.) This is made like other conserves, but from the rose buds; and in this form, on account of the large proportion of sugar, only substances of considerable activity can be taken with advantage 496 It ED OFFICINAL HOSE. as medicines. And, indeed, conserves are at present considered chiefly as auxiliaries to medicines of greater efficacy, or as inter¬ mediums for joining them together. They are very convenient for reducing into boluses or pills the more ponderous powders, as submuriate of mercury, the oxides of iron, and other mineral preparations ; which, with liquid, or less consistent matters, as syrups, will not cohere. Infusion of Roses. (Infusum Rosae Gallicae. E.) Take of the petals of red roses, dried, one ounce; - boiling water, live pounds ; - sulphuric acid, one drachm ; - - - white sugar, two ounces : Macerate the petals with the boiling water in an earthen vessel, which is not glazed with lead, for four hours ; then add the acid, strain the liquor, and dissolve the sugar in it. Infusion of Roses. (Infusum Rosae. L.) Take of dried red roses, half an ounce; - - diluted vitriolic acid, three drachms ; — - boiling distilled water, two pints and a half ; - double refined sugar, an ounce and a half : First pour the water on the petals in a glass vessel, then add the diluted vitriolic acid, and macerate for half an hour. Strain the liquor, when cold, and add ihe sugar. The differences in the directions for preparing this infusion are very material. In fact, the rose leaves have very little effect, except in giving the mixture an elegant red colour. Its sub-acid and astringent virtues depend entirely on the sulphuric acid. Altogether, however, it is an elegant medicine, and forms a very grateful addition to juleps. in haemorrhagies, and in ail cases which require mild coolers and sub-astringents: it is some¬ times taken with boluses or electuaries of the bark, and likewise makes a good gargle. Honey of Roses. (Mel Rosae. L. D.) Take of dried red rose buds, (with the heels cut off, D.) four ounces ; - - - boiling distilled water, three pints; - - clarified honey, (honey, D.) five pounds: Macerate the rose leaves in the water for six hours ; then mix the honey with the strained liquor, and boil the mixture to the thickness of a syrup, (removing the scum, D.) RED OFFICINAL ROSE. 497 This preparation is not nnfrequently used as a mild, cooling detergent, particularly in gargles for ulcerations and in dam m a- tion of the mouth aRd tonsils. The rose buds here used should be hastily dried, that they may the better preserve their astrin- gency. The Dublin college, in making this and some similar prepara¬ tions, used unclarified honey, with the idea, probably, that it may be equally well clarified in the course of the preparation itself. This is no doubt true; bat gs we do not know what elfect the clarification may have on the active substances added to the honey, we think that the use pf clarified honey, as di¬ rected by the London college, is preferable. Syrup of Red Roses. (Syrupus Rosm Gallicae. E.) Take of the dried petals of red roses, seven ounces ; — - - double refined sugar, six pounds ; - — boiling water, five pounds : Macerate the roses in the water for twelve hours ; then boil a little, and strain the liquor ; add to it the sugar, and boil again for a little, so as to form a syrup. This syrup is supposed to be mildly astringent, but is prin¬ cipally valued on account of its red colour. PRESCRIPTION. 1. Take of the conserve of red roses - ounce I, - - - — • the conserve of hips - - ounce 1, • - gum arabic - - - - drachms 2, • - syrup of violets - - - drachms 3: Make into a linctus. This is excellent in all coughs, and re¬ moves the tickling of rheums; and a tea-spoonful may be fre¬ quently taken, according to the violence of the disease. R/ . 2. Take of the infusion of red roses - ounces 8, - — syrup of the wild poppy - drachm IT, - - diluted vitriolic acid - - drops 2Q, - - ■ compound powder of tragacanth, drachm 1 : Make a mixture, of which take two table-spoonfuls four times a day. Ordered in spitting of blood, and night perspirations ; a medicine of much pleasantness and beauty. fy. 3. Take of honey of roses - - ounces 2, - decoction of barley - ounces 6 : This is often injected upon ulcers of the tonsils. Make it first hike warm. 2 K DAMASK ROSE. ROSA CENTIFOLIA. Class XII. Icosandria. Order V. Polygynia. Essent. Gen. Char. As the last. Spec. Char. Germens ovate : Peduncles hispid : Stems and Petals hispid and aculeate : Petioles unarmed. DESCRIPTION. The leaves are pinnated, consisting of two or four pair, and an odd one at the end ; these are oblong and serrated, on short footstalks. The flowers are very large, beautiful, terminal, two or three together. The calyx is cut into five segmeuts, and three of these cut again into other segments. HISTORY. The native country of this shrub is unknown, but the de¬ lightful fragrance of its flowers has rendered it the favourite or¬ nament of every garden. In the former editions of Linnams, the damask rose was considered as a variety only of the rosa centifolia; but Aiton, Du Roy, and Willdenow have arranged it as a distinct species. It is, however, highly probable, that the petals of all the varieties of the rosa centifolia, or Dutch hu-n- DAMASK ROSE. 499 dred-leaved rose, Willdenow’s fifteenth species, are employed indiscriminately with those of the real damask rose in the distilla¬ tion of rose water. PREPARATIONS. Rose Water. (Aqua Rosas. L.) Take of the leaves of fresh damask roses, with the heels cut off, six pounds ; - of water, as much as to prevent burning s Distil off a gallon. Note. We have ordered the distilled waters to be drawn from dried herbs, because the fresh cannot be got at all times in the year. Whenever the fresh are used, the weights must be in¬ creased $ but whether the fresh or dry are made use of, we leave it to the judgement of the operator to vary the weight, according as he thinks the plants are in greater or less perfection, owing to the season in which they grew, or in which they were collected. Mr. Nicholson mentions, that as rose water is exceedingly apt to spoil, the apothecaries generally prepare it in small quantities at a time from the leaves, preserved by packing them closely in cans with common salt. This, we understand, is not the prac¬ tice in Edinburgh ; and, indeed, cannot succeed with the petals of the damask rose ; for they lose their smell by drying. The London apothecaries, therefore, probably use the red rose. The spoiling of some waters is owing to some mucilage carried over in the distillation ; for, if rectified by a second distillation, they keep perfectly well for any length of time. PRESCRIPTIONS. ]^. 1. Take of vitriolated zinc - - grains 10, — - distilled vinegar - - drachms 2, - rose water - drachms 14: Make into a wash for the eyes, and apply this frequently. This is used when the eye-lids are greatly tumified, and has performed wonders in that complaint. 2. Take of vitriolated zinc - - grains 2, - - . rose water - - ounces 7 : Pour some of this lotion into two cups, have a piece of rag in each cup, and keep the wet rag to the diseased eye, and when this is warm, remove it, and take the cold rag from the other cup, and so apply the lotion cold. Even rose water by itself is very useful for strengthening the eyes, and its smell is very reviving and grateful. 2 k 2 DOG ROSE. ROSA CANINA. Class XII. Icosandria. Order V. Polygynia. Essent. Gen. Char. As the last. Spec. Char. Germens ovate: Peduncles smooth : Stem and Petals aculeate. DESCRIPTION. The leaves are pinnate, composed of one, two, or three pairs of pinnae, with an odd one at the end. The flowers are large and terminal, two or three together. The corolla is composed of five heart-shaped petals. The fruit is an oval, fleshy berry. HISTORY. Native of Britain, and gives a beautiful appearance to the hedges in the month of June. MEDICAL VIRTUE. A conserve of hips is made from this, which is more agreeable than that of the red rose, and is used for the same purpose. RASPBERRY BUSH. RUBUS IDiEUS. Class XII. Icosandria. Order V. Polygynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-cleft : Petals five: Berry compound : the Acini containing each one seed. Spec. Char. Leaves five, or three pairs of pinnae : Stem aculeated : Pe¬ tioles channelled. DESCRIPTION. The stem of this plant is defended with spines, and rises three or four feet in height. The leaves are rough, veined, serrated, downy beneath, composed of three or five oval pinnae. HISTORY. Native of Britain, found in woods, rocky mountains, and moist situations, producing flowers in May and June. MEDICAL VIRTUE. A cooling fruit, eaten with sugar. 502 RASPBERRY BUSH. PREPARATION. Syrup of Raspberry. This is a very pleasant cooling syrup ; and, with this inten¬ tion, it is occasionally used in draughts and juleps, .for quench¬ ing thirst, abating heat, &c. in bilious or inflammatory distem¬ pers. Sometimes, likewise, it is employed in gargarisms for in¬ flammations of the mouth and tonsils. CULINARY USES. Raspberry Jam. Let your raspberries be ripe, and dry. Mash, strew them in their weight of loaf sugar, and half their weight of the juice of white currants. Boil them half an hour over a clear slow fire, skim well, and put them into pots, or glasses. Tie down with brandy papers, and keep them dry. Strew sugar over as soon as you can after the berries are gathered, and to preserve their fine flavour boil them as soon as you can. Raspberry Dumplings. Make a puff paste, and roll it out. Spread raspberry jam, and make it into dumplings. Boil them an hour ; pour melted butter into a dish, and strew grated sugar over. Raspberry Tarts, and Cream. Roll out thin puff paste, lay it in a pattypan ; put in rasp¬ berries, and strew fine sugar over them. Put on a lid, and when baked, cut it open, and put in half a pint of cream, the yolks of two eggs well beaten, an4 a little sugar. COMMON TORMENTIL. TORMENTILLA ERECTA. Class XII. Icosandria. Order V. Polvgynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx eight-cleft: Petals four: Seed roundish,, naked, affixed to a small dry receptacle. Spec. Char. Stem somewhat erect : Leaves sessile. DESCRIPTION. 1 his plant has slender stems rising five or six inches, orna¬ mented with sessile leaves cut into five lobes, of which three are largest before, and two smaller behind the stem, all deeply ser¬ rate. Flowers single, on long peduncles, springing from the alae of the leaves. HISTORY. Tormentil is perennial, and found wild in woods and on com¬ mons : it has long slender stalks, with usually seven long narrow leaves or segments at a joint; the root is for the most part crooked and knotty, of a blackish colour on the outside, and reddish within. It has an austere styptic taste, accompanied ’with a slight kind of aromatic flavour. Neumann got from 960 grains, 366 alcoholic, and 170 watery extract; and inversely, 670 watery, and eight alcoholic. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The root is the only part of the plant which is used medici- 504 COMMON TORMENTIL. nally; it has a strong styptic taste, but imparts no peculiar sapid flavour. As a proof of its powerful astringency, it has been subsituted for oak bark in the tanning of skins for leather. This root has been long held in great estimation by physicians as a very useful astringent; and as the resin it contains is very in¬ considerable, it seems more particularly adapted to those cases where the heating and stimulating medicines of this class are less proper; as in phthisicaldiarrh'ceas, diarrhoea cruenta, &c. Dr. Cullen thinks 44 it has been justly commended for every virtue that is competent to astringents,” and says : 44 I myself have :• •» had several instances of its virtues in this respect; and particu¬ larly I have found it, both by itself and as joined with gentian, cure intermittent fevers ; but it must be given in substance, and in large quantities.” Rutty recommends it in these words: 44 Ulcera vetera et putrida sanat vino vel aqua decocta collutione et inspersu. In vino cocta optime deterget et roborat, in ulceri- bus scorbuticis oris, gutturis, et faucium ac in gingivis dissolutis, sanguinem stillantibus. Decocta ad appetitum deperditum max. ime valet, tonum ventriculi restituens, et sordes ejus abstergens. Non est vegetabile quod in fluxionibus alvi efficacius sit. In dy- senteria epidemica quidam in ore tenent ad preecavendum con- tagium. In tluxu sanguinis, fluore albo, et mictu involuntario valet.” That is, 44 it cures old and putrid ulcers, what is termed scurvy in the gums, restores appetite, gives tone to the bowels, is most serviceable in fluxes, passing of blood, fluor albus, and involuntary discharges of water. Held in the mouth, it wards off the contagion of dysentery.” I witnessed once most extraordinary cures performed by this root. A poor man, fond of botanical excursions, either by tra¬ dition or accident knew the powers of this root ; and by making a strong decoction of it, sweetened with honey, he cured agues which had resisted the bark, long standing diarrhoeas, ulcers of the legs turned out of hospitals as incurable, the worst scorbutic ulcers, the confluent small-pox, the whooping-cough, fluxes, &c. &c., so as to excite the attention of lord William Russell, who allowed him a piece of ground out of his park to cultivate , his plant, which he kept as a secret ; and in fluxes of blood I have found a drachm, given four times a day in an infusion of hops, do wonders. The danger of suddenly checking discharges should be guarded against, of which this old man knew nothing ; and occasional purges should be used, or an issue made in the thigh. COMMON CINQUEFOIL. POTENTILLA REPTANS. Class XII. Icosandria. Order V. Polygynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx ten-cleft : Stem roundish : Seed naked, roundish, affixed to a small receptacle. Spec. Char. Leaves quinate : Stem repent : Peduncles one-flowered. DESCRIPTION. The stalks trail along the ground. The leaves are five, placed together, and sometimes seven, of unequal sizes, obtuse, ser¬ rated, veined, standing upon a long petiole. The corolla, like the last, which it greatly resembles, is yellow. HISTORY. It is a native of Britain, common on meadow banks, and the sides of roads; iiowers in July and September. VIRTUES. Like the last plant it is astringent, but with less power, and has been employed in the same diseases. COMMON AVENS. GEUM URBANUM. Class XII. Icosandria, Order Y. Polygynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx ten-cleft: Petals five: Seeds with a kneed awn. Spec. Char. Flowers erect : Fruit globular, villous : Awns hooked, naked : Leaves lyre-shaped. DESCRIPTION. Rises a foot high. Root fibrous and aromatic. Leaves large, lyre-shaped, and rough. Stalks upright, hirsute. Flowers ter¬ minal, yellow. HISTORY. Avens is a common perennial plant, which grows wild in shady uncultivated places, and flowers from May to August. The root is fibrous, externally of a dark red colour, internally white, and has the flavour of cloves, with a bitterish astringent taste. Its virtues are said to be increased by cultivation, and COMMON AVENS. 507 the large roots are preferred to the smaller fibres. It must be dug up in spring, when the leaves begin to appear, for the smell is then strongest : indeed, it is hardly to be perceived when it flowers. It must be dried in the air, but not with a strong heat, as its flavour would be dissipated, and its virtues dimi¬ nished. It tinges both water and alcohol red. Half an ounce yielded 30 grains of resinous, and 20 of gummy extract ; the former had the smell of the root, the latter was without smell, and merely astringent. Water distilled from it has a pleasant flavour, and carries over a little thickish essential oil. MEDICAL USE. Avens is an old febrifuge, mentioned by Ray, but again brought into notice by Boerhaave. It is recommended as a sub¬ stitute for cinchona in intermittent fevers, dysentery, and chronic diarrhoeas, flatulent colic, affections of the primce vice , asthmatic symptoms, and cases of debility. Half a drachm or a drachm of the powder may be given four times a day, simply, or made up into an electuary with honey or rhubarb. Two table-spoon¬ fuls of the decoction may be given every hour ; or a table-spoon¬ ful of a tincture, made with an ounce of the root to a pound of alcohol, three or four times a day. As an indigenous remedy it deserves notice. WHITE POPPY. PA PAVER SOMNIFERUM. Class XIII. Polyandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla four petals: Calyx two-leaved: Capsule one-celled, gaping with pores, arising from a permanent, and, w hen ripe, an upright stigma. Spec. Char. Calyx and Capsules smooth: Leaves amplexicaul, with in¬ cisions. DESCRIPTION. Tuts plant rises two or three feet in height. The leaves are alternate, ovate, smooth, deeply cut into various segments, and closely embrace the stem. The calyx soon drops, the flowers are large and terminal. The stigma is a large flat radiated crown covering the germen, which afterward becomes the peri¬ carp. HISTORY. The white poppy originally came from Asia, and is there much cultivated, and it produces the opium imported from thence, which comes to us in flat cakes covered with leaves : it WHITE POPPY. 509 "has a reddish brown colour, inclining to black, and a strong pe¬ culiar smell. Six hundred thousand pounds of it are annually exported from the Ganges ! It is remarkable that the seeds pos¬ sess not any or a very slight narcotic quality. They consist of a simple farinaceous matter, united with a bland oil, and serve as food in some countries, and are given to fatten poultry. The manner in which this drug is collected in the East has been described long ago by K^empfer and others ; but the most circumstantial detail of it is given by Mr. Kerr, in the fifth vo¬ lume of Medical Observations and Inquiries. When the capsules are half grown, at sun-set, they make two longitudinal double incisions, passing from below upwards, and taking care not to penetrate the internal cavity. In Persia, ac¬ cording to Kaempfer, a five-pointed knife is used for this pur¬ pose. The incisions are repeated every evening, until each cap¬ sule has received six or eight wounds : they are then allowed to ripen their seeds. If the wound were to be made in the heat of the day, a cicatrix would be too soon formed. The night dews favour the exstillation of the juice. Early in the morning, old women, boys, and girls collect the juice, by scraping it off with a small iron scoop, and deposit the whole in an earthen pot, where it is worked by the hand in the open sunshine, until it becomes of a considerable thickness : it is then formed into cakes of a globular shape, and about four pounds in weight, and laid into little earthen basins to be further dried. These cakes are then covered over with poppy or to¬ bacco leaves, and thus dried until they are fit for sale. Opium is frequently adulterated with cow dung, the extract of the plant procured by boiling, and various other substances of which they make a secret. It appears that the poppy may be cultivated for the purpose of obtaining opium to great advantage in Britain. Professor Alston, of Edinburgh, said long since, that the milky juice, drawn by incision from poppy heads, and thickened either in the sun or shade, has also the characters of good opium ; its colour, consistence, taste, smell, faculties, phamomena, are all the same ; only, if carefully collected, it is more pure and free from feculencies. Similar remarks have been made by others ; to which, says Dr. Woodville, we may add our own ; for during that summer 510 WHITE POPPY. (probably 17952) we at different times made incisions in the green capsules of the white poppy, and collected the juice, which soon acquired a due consistence, and was found, both by its sensible qualities and effects, to be very pure opium. May I be per¬ mitted to add, that near fifty years ago I frequently amused my¬ self with slashing the green poppy-heads, and collecting a most pure and well digested opium from them ? But the merit of first cultivating the poppy for opium is due to Mr. John Ball, of Williton, who in the year 1796 was re¬ warded by the Society of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, for procuring opium in an unsophisticated state from British poppies, and communicating his mode of preparing it to the So¬ ciety for the use of the public. When the leaves die away and drop off, the capsules or heads being then in a green state, is the proper time for extracting the opium, by making four or five small longitudinal incisions with a sharp-pointed knife, about an inch long, on one side only of the head, taking care not to cut to the seeds : immediately on the incision being made, a milky fluid will issue out, which being of a glutinous nature, will adhere to the bottom of the incision ; but some are so luxuriant that it will drop from the head. The next day, if the weather should be fine, the opium will be of a grayish substance, and some almost turning black ; it is then to be scraped off, with the edge of a knife, into pans or pots ; and in a day or two it will be of a proper consistence to make into a mass, and to be potted. As soon as the opium is all taken away from one side, make incisions on the opposite side, and proceed in the same manner. The reason of not making the incisions all round at once is, that the opium cannot be so conveniently taken away ; but every person, upon trial, will be the best judge. Children may with ease be soon taught to make the incisions, and take off the opium, so that the expense will be trilling. An instrument might be made, of a concave form, with four or five pointed lancets, about the twelfth or fourteenth part of an inch, to make the incisions at once. Mr. Ball calculates, that supposing one poppy to grow in one square foot of earth, and to produce only one graiu of opium, more than fifty pounds will be collected from one statute acre. But since one poppy produces from three or four to ten heads, WHITE POPPY. 511 each incision sometimes producing two or three grains, what must be the produce, and what the profit at the present price of opium, twenty-two shillings the pound ! I am sensible that great abatements must be made in practice from such theoretical calculations as these; and that in our moist climate many seasons will occur, and many days in almost every summer, unfavourable to the collection of the opium. It is, however, with all its disadvantages, a very important object to cultivate the poppy for this purpose in Britain ; considering the great price of foreign opium, the increasing call for it in medi¬ cine, the adulteration of what is imported by rice flour and other articles, and the employment that it will fiud in the collection for women and children. Mr. Ball adds, that in 1795, from a bed of self-sown poppies 576 feet square, he collected four ounces of opium, though the plants were very thick; and from a few plants that stood de¬ tached he took from fifteen to thirty.four grains : this ground had been well manured with rotten dung. He remarks, that semidouble flowers, and those of a dark colour, produced the most opium ; that the heads should be about the size of a walnut before the incisions are made ; and that the foreign dried poppy heads are full three times as big as ours. Mr. Miller remarks also that they are of a different shape ; but the size is only owing to climate, and the shape indicates no more than a variety. Mr. Ball collected from one semidouble poppy a quantity which he supposes to be more than thirty grains; but this plant had twenty-eight heads on it. He prefers the double and semi- double-flowering plants to those which have single flowers. But I have observed that the single poppy, cultivated by our physic- gardeners here for the seed and the heads, has generally larger heads than the double poppy cultivated in gardens. But after all, the point of most importance respecting the cul¬ tivation of the poppy for opium in Britain is, whether its quality be equal to that of foreign opium. This has been fully ascer¬ tained, not only by a druggist in London having agreed with Mr. Ball to give him the same price for what he should make in the year 179 '), as the foreign drug should bear at that time, but by the testimony of several eminent medical gentlemen in London, who tried it in consequence of the request of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. Dr. Latham observes, that in its sensible qualities it does not seem 512 WHITE POPPY. inferior to any ; that it possesses the excellence of being per¬ fectly clean, which must always be an advantage when given in a crude state; and that probably the purified extract of the fo¬ reign would not be superior to the English. Dr. Pearson also reports that he found the English opium to be equally power¬ ful, and to produce the same effects as the best foreign prepara¬ tion of this drug. Mr. Wilson not only found the English drug equal in point of strength to the best extract from foreign opium, but far superior in flavour, which, in the extract, is much in-, jured by the boiling, and free from the impurities which are so abundant in crude foreign opium. The next candidate for the premium of a gold medal, value fifty guineas, was the indefatigable Mr. Jones, who thus ad¬ dressed the president of the Society instituted at London for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce: Sir, in the summer of the year 1794 1 cultivated a considera¬ ble number of white poppies (entitled in the New London Phar¬ macopoeia, Papaver somniferum , and in another place Papaver hortense semine albo ), when a few of the heads or capsules having been broken off by the wind, I observed at the extremity of the stalks a substance in every respect resembling Turkey opium. This accidental circumstance bring! ng to my recollection its me¬ thod of production, as related in the Encyclopaedia and else¬ where, I wounded a considerable number of them with my pen¬ knife, and in the course of the day collected a small quantity of the abovementioned substance. As this circumstance took place while we were cutting lavender, it happened that an old and experienced servant, who was afterwards to distil it, was directing and assisting, and we agreed that it was probably in effect equal to, and was certainly more pure than, any we had ever seen. From this period I have never entirely lost sight of the ob¬ ject I am now to consider; but, on account of various avoca¬ tions, and particularly my rhubarb plantation, which at this time required all the attention I could spare, it was not in my power to engage in an undertaking of such magnitude; and more especially on a scale so extensive as that which 1 have al¬ ready determined to adopt, under a persuasion that experiments, when more confined, are for the most part fallacious. As preparatory, however, I have not failed every year to repeat the operation, at once establishing its practicability, and WHITE POPPY. 513 availing myself of many advantages which can only be derived from observation and experience^ The inclosed certificates will inform the Society that at length my plan has been carried into execution, but not with the de¬ gree of success that ought, and might have been expected, to at¬ tend so extensive an experiment. It must be confessed that had I been at all aware what an almost Herculean labour I was about to encounter, I really sus¬ pect whether my resolution would have been equal to the task. Lest, however, this should discourage others from prosecuting this object, it is necessary to be more explicit. Difficulties, and such indeed as are considerable, must neces¬ sarily attend most undertakings which have been hitherto un- attempted; but the disappointments I sustained, though more numerous than generally fall to the share of a person under such circumstances, did not all arise out of the undertaking itself, but from causes, some of which may be easily guarded against in future, while others may never again occur. Two years have passed in producing what, I flatter myself, the Society will consider deserving their premium, particularly if I am enabled to render the operation much more simple than may at first sight be supposed. The claimant, I observe, is required to submit to the Society his particular method of cultivating the poppies. As the mode adopted in the present instance arose rather from necessity than choice, I must go back as far as the autumn of 1797, to show how it happened. Five acres of ground and upwards, situated in the parish of Enfield, in the county of Middlesex, I appropriated to this ex¬ periment at the period above mentioned ; which, being ploughed several times previous to the following March, were then sown broadcast; and the weather proving favourable, the seed soon vegetated, and appearances were very promising. From the neglected state of the land, however, to which I was unfortu¬ nately a stranger, such a profusion of weeds sprang up among them, that, after many fruitless efforts at recovery, I was under the mortifying necessity of ploughing them all up together. This circumstance not taking place till the latter end of April, the season for resow ing was elapsed ; and as to cropping my field with oats or barley, a measure very strongly recommended to 2 l 514 WHITE POPPY. me, I considered it as a deviation from my original purpose, and therefore, without paying any attention to it, gave the field a summer fallowing, conceiving that poppies might be sown with equal and perhaps greater advantage in autumn. Finding that the broad-cast method of sowing precluded the possibility of hoeing where the land is much infested with weeds, I now adopted a different mode, and drilled in the seed with a very simple yet efficient machine, which I purchased of Mr. Macdougal, of Oxford-street ; but, as the weather began to be very severe so early as November, and continued so with few intermissions, the succeeding March found me very little for¬ warder. Yet I persevered, and once more resolved to drill the whole five acres : they came up extremely well, and, as I ex¬ pected, accompanied with innumerable weeds ; but these by well-timed application were eradicated, though not without con¬ siderable difficulty. I now thought myself secure ; for nothing could assume a better appearance, till the beginning of May. Alas ! I could not foresee the cold and remarkably dry weather that ensued, and prevailed, I believe, for six weeks successively. Hence the growth of some became stunted, and others were entirely de¬ stroyed; but happily some warm refreshing showers fell just time enough to rescue the remainder. From these I have procured upwards of twenty-one pounds of solid opium, five of which, in compliance with the Society’s requisition, I have sent for their inspection and examination. At one time I began to despair of even procuring this, com¬ paratively speaking, small quantity, (though it is not a fifth part of what I ought to have had,) owing to the extraordinary rains and winds which we experienced through the whole of the summer months. This recital, as I have before observed, ought on no account to intimidate others from a cooperation ; for it is obvious that the former inconveniences originated in my own ignorance, Whilst the latter depended upon causes that in all probability may never occur again. Mr. Ball, in a letter published in one of the volumes of the Society’s Transactions, advances an opinion, which I consider as very fallacious, respecting the quality of land adapted to the growth of poppies. He seems to be very little acquainted about WHITE POPPY. 515 this point, and hints the probability of their being cultivated al¬ most every where. I well know that poppies, like many other vegetables, will grow in soils of every description ; but of this I am fully assured, that, like the rest, they have all their par¬ ticular and favourite soil, viz. a sandy loam, and that the better this is, the more advantages will accrue to the cultivator : for it should be considered, that in bad, as well as good ground, the •» same expenses of cultivation, scarification, and collecting, will be incurred for perhaps a fourth share of the produce. I shall now lay before the Society some general remarks on the cultivation of poppies, and then conclude with submit¬ ting a few hints and directions respecting the preparation of opium. Having a tap-root, their size will consequently be propor¬ tionate to the depth of earth they are enabled to penetrate. Hence the necessity of land that will admit of deep plough¬ ing. The fineness of the surface, too, is very essential. As the seed is so small, and the plants, on their first coming up, so exceedingly tender, the bush-harrow should always be used after those which are commonly employed. By this means a greater number are likely to vegetate, and, from being better protected, are less liable to injury. Poppies (and when I use this name I mean that particular kind before specified) may be cultivated both by the drill and broad-cast mode of husbandry : at the same time it must be re¬ membered, that the land for each requires a different disposition. In the former this is not so material, the sowing machine regu¬ lating the distances of the rows according to the will of the ope& rator : these ought to be nine inches or a foot asunder, and in beds containing four rows, allowing a foot and a half between each. But, with respect to the latter, this point must be strictly attended to : the ridges should never exceed four feet in breadth ; so that the furrows will answer the double purpose of preserving the land throughout the winter, and, in the season for collecting the opium, serve as paths to the workmen. Besides two chances of a crop, I am decidedly in favour of autumnal sowing ; and the first week in September seems to be the most favourable period for this purpose. If the weather continues open, they will make such a progress as to be capable of resisting the severity of an inclement winter, without, on the 2 i. 2 516 WHITE POPPY. other hand, being too forward ; a circumstance highly dangerous, as the first severe frost is inevitably destructive. On this account, whether by the drill or otherwise, a larger proportion of seed should be sown at this season, for the plants will defend each other; and as all the plants will not be equally forward, so, let the winter prove what it may, provided the seed has vegetated freely, there will be great probability of a good appearance in spring. If unfortunately, however, such a winter as the last should again occur, and the whole plantation fail, a circumstance which has happened to myself, the spring sowing ought not to be deferred longer than the first week in March. I do not without sufficient reason recommend that this ope¬ ration should be performed in autumn. The poppies are not only generally larger, but even, when this is not the case, I know from experience, that they will yield a much larger pro¬ portion of opium ; for it seldom happens that a spring poppy will bleed, as we term it, more than twice, while the others will bear scarifying till they are nearly ripe. This, I imagine, can only arise from the length of time the one has been in the ground in comparison with the other. Indeed the difference is so striking, that if the present winter destroys my plants, I shall be almost tempted to dispose of my spring-sowing to other purposes. In drilling, the necessity of covering the seed by harrowing is sus¬ pended by the operation of the machine ; and, in the broad-cast method, a shower of rain will have all the effect without further trouble or expense. Excepting great additional care, turnip and poppy hoeing are similar, and in every respect may be conducted in the same man¬ ner. I believe the turnips are rather benefited, they certainly are not injured, by being shaken, and will recover from the ef¬ fects of a wound ; but if the poppies are accidentally touched, they will either exhaust themselves by bleeding, or dwindle so as to be of no value. But it is high time to proceed to the last point I proposed to consider, namely, the production and pre¬ paration of opium. In ordinary seasons, the heads or capsules of the autumnal poppies will be large enough for our purpose in the month of June; for at this time they will have attained about half their growth, or to be equal in size to a small tea-cup. I have in¬ vented a variety of instruments as scarificators ; but as only two WHITE POPPY. 517 kinds were actually used, I am unwilling to trouble the Society with a description of any other Seven and sometimes eight boys were employed, from eight to twelve years of age, together with a man as a superin tendant. The children’s book, which accompanies the instruments, con» tains only an account of six, as the eldest, being the son of my gardener, is included in another book. To the youngest I gave threepence per day, and, if tractable and well disposed, an addi¬ tional penny for every additional year. The steel instrument was used by the latter, and the others by the former. I have great reason to be satisfied with their construction ; for, notwithstanding their simplicity, they proved themselves fully equal to my purpose; and so considerable a trial has not suggested any other improvement, than that in the largest the tyvo inner bars only should be elastic; for the continual pressure of the finger and thumb on the two outer ones, which is absolutely necessary for the others to act, would be avoided, and consequently some fatigue and inconvenience prevented. It is of very little consequence whether the first incisions are made horizontally or vertically with this instrument; for, how¬ ever luxuriantly the milk may flow, by making four at one time, * Mr. Jones has since added the following description of the instruments, and their mode of application. They remain in the Society’s repository. The first of these instruments consists of two thin steel blades, fixed by a wedge in a wooden handle, so as to make incisions about one fourth of an inch from each other. The other is made entirely of steel, and resembles in form the tuning- fork of a harpsichord. It consists of four bars, proceeding from a handle of a convenient length, a quarter of an inch wide, and two and a half long, each terminating with a bolster, through which a screw passes that fixes the scarificators. The centre bars should be so elastic as to yield to the curvature of the capsule, upon the outer ones being pressed by the finger and thumb; and by this means four incisions are made at once, at equal distances. This instrument is an inch and three quarters in width; but from the two outer blades, only an inch and a quarter. The bolsters are a quarter of an inch in diameter, and the scarificators a proportionate length, namely, three-eighths. The wedge in the former, and a longi¬ tudinal aperture in the scarificators, or blades, of the latter, will regulate the depths of the incisions at the will of the operator. It is of the utmost importance that these should not be made through the inner corner of the capsules. 518 WHITE POPPY. it so divides the stream that seldom any escapes. With ths smaller ones we most commonly made them horizontally, begin¬ ning as near the top of the head as possible ; and for this reason all the juices, if the first incision was made at the bottom, would be naturally attracted by the aperture, and render every other completely fruitless, besides occasioning the certain loss of a con¬ siderable quantity, by falling on the surrounding leaves ; where¬ as, on the other hand, a proportion of milk will exude from each, and the opium be equally distributed over the whole sur¬ face of the head. No particular directions seem necessary for repeating this ope- tion, any further than that each time it should be performed in a contrary direction, and continued till no more will exude, at intervals of four or five days or more, according to circum¬ stances : for, as the weather proves rainy or fair, they will be shorter or longer, the heads being sooner replenished in the one than the other. Each of the children being provided with a tin cup, having one handle, so contrived as to fix itself to a girdle fastened round his waist, with a common gardening knife they scraped off the opium that appeared upon the heads in a soft ash-coloured sub¬ stance. Dewy mornings are best calculated for this purpose, and it should be discontinued so soon as the sun has gained a sufficient power to dissipate it ; for, if persevered in throughout the day, some of the opium will recede into the interstices, and more, in defiance of every endeavour, will remain upon the heads. The principal quantity exudes in the course of the night ; and, uniting with the dew, it is taken off as readily and as com¬ pletely as with a sponge. Several regulations were adopted to excite, as much as possi¬ ble, a spirit of emulation. The name of each boy was written upon his cup, so as to ascertain, on their return from collecting, who had been the most active. And although, in consequence of the unsettled state of the weather, this part of our process continued so long as from the 6th of July to the second week in September inclusive, the good effects were felt to the last. And as, for the reason already mentioned, an hour in the morn¬ ing became so invaluable, those who appeared in the ground at five o’clock, at the most busy period, became entitled to an ad¬ ditional penny to their daily pay. This measure succeeded at first only with a few ; but the remainder, overcome by shame, WHITE POPPY . 519 at length attended equally well. In addition to this encourage¬ ment, I am under an engagement (in case I succeed with the society), to such whose behaviour has been uniformly good, to celebrate the circumstance by a public dinner. The interval from breakfast time to sun-set, if the weather assumed a settled appearance, was occupied by scarifying. And here I again felt the good effects of stimulating measures : cer¬ tain places were allotted to particular children, according to their ability, so as to discover who scarified the most and the best ; the superintendant occasionally following all of them, to observe whether any work was left unfinished, and, if there were any, to complete it. If, in our progress, any one proved refractory, which happened in more instances than one, rather than have recourse to severity, and for the sake of example, he was im¬ mediately discharged. I had numerous applications, and the first on the list always had the preference as his successor. Upon the whole, considering it was the first attempt of the kind, every thing proceeded very regularly ; and had the summer been propitious, notwithstanding my former disappointments, I should have had great cause for satisfaction. The largest quan¬ tity that my man, seven children, and myself, were able to pro¬ cure in one morning, from five to nine o’clock, was one pound and a half ; this happened when the dew was remarkably great, and succeeded one of the warmest days in the summer. As my notes furnish me with no further particulars, I have very little more to add. The opium, when first collected, from its union with the dew, is much too soft to be so formed as the Society has received it. To reduce it to a proper consistence, taking nature for our guide, it should be thinly spread in shallow dishes, and exposed, under glasses, to the rays of the sun. My opinion is, that Turkey opium suffers considerably from the operation of fire ; certain it is, that, with respect to its effluvia, it undergoes a com¬ plete alteration. I have covered it with its own leaves, thinking this a very convenient mode of package, and conceiving it to be important, in every new undertaking, by studying appearances, to yield to the general prejudices which naturally prevail in fa¬ vour of the article to which we have been accustomed. I have several times trespassed on the patience of the Society ; on the present occasion I have again been seduced into prolixity. I hope they will receive the same apology now as before, know- 520 WHITE POPPy. ing so well how acceptable every communication of this kind, though extended even to minuteness, is to the interested inquirer. To the utmost of my power 1 have complied with the requisition of the Society in class 175, in describing the mode of cultivating the poppies, and preparing my opium ; and, in doing this, I can truly say that every thing which I have advauced is founded on the evidence of facts. 1 have been unwilling to indulge myself in mere speculation, being of opinion that a paper of such a de¬ scription as the present would prove much more acceptable if confined to experiment alone. Had it been necessary, I could have introduced a variety of quotations on this subject, describing the method of preparing opium in other countries; but surely this would have been fo¬ reign to the subject. The information which the Society and the public require, is what really has and may be done, as related in this paper. This information does not consist of vague evi¬ dence, collected from accounts of doubtful veracity, arid of course more calculated to mislead than instruct; on the con¬ trary, I have closely adhered to what I conceived to be the prin¬ cipal intention of the’ Society ; have related nothing but what I actually saw ; have confined myself to a bare recital of circum¬ stances ; and have only occasionally ventured to make deduc¬ tions. I acknowledge, with heartfelt pleasure, the repeated honours with which the Society has distinguished me ; am not without hope, that this additional proof of perseverance and exertion will also receive its approbation. With the certificates 1 have inclosed a very flattering letter from Dr. Woodville, author of Medical Botany. It in a great measure proves, that if the prac¬ ticability of preparing this inestimable medicine in this kingdom can be established, the opium itself possesses every quality that can be desired. I remain, sir, your most obedient servant, Thomas Jones. Sir, I called yesterday morning to examine the opium collected by you from the capsules of the white poppy; and I have no doubt, from its taste, smell, colour, and purity, but that it is more powerful and efficacious than the best foreign opium im¬ ported into this country. The late Dr. Alston, when professor of bo (any and the ma- WHITE POPPY. 521 teriamedica in the university of Edinburgh, informed the public, more than sixty years ago (See Med. Essays, vol. v), that the milky juice, drawn by him from the heads of the white poppy, soon acquired the consistence of opium, when its taste, smell, faculties, &c. were the same as those of that drug. In the year 1791 I convinced myself of the truth of his asser- tion, by repeating his experiments, which I noticed the follow’- ing year in my Medical Botany. Soon after this time I appro¬ priated a part of the garden at the Small-pox Hospital for the growth of the Papaver somniferum, from the green capsules of which were collected between two and three ounces of opium, which was found to be more efficacious than that of the exotic, as appeared upon trials of it made by several of my medical friends. But the great trouble and length of time required for the collection of the juice, induced me at that time to think that the manufacture of this valuable medicine in England did not hold forth any prospect of commercial advantage. However, since I have seen the great quantity of it collected under your direction, I sincerely hope that the above opinion will prove to be unfounded, and congratulate you on your success. Your obedient servant, W. Woodville. To the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce, I, William Duncan, of Philpot-lane, in the city of London, chemist and druggist, do hereby certify, that I have examined twenty-one pounds seven ounces of opium, made by Mr. Thomas Jones, of Fish-street Hill, from poppies grown on his planta¬ tion at Enfield ; and I declare, that it appears to me to be as fine opium as the best I have ever seen in the course of my ex¬ perience, for upwards of thirty years : and I further declare, that the whole of the said tvveuty-one pounds seven ounces is of equal quality with the five pounds sent herewith for the in¬ spection of the said society. William Duncan. To the Committee of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, &c. Gentlemen, agreeably to your request to the physicians of St. George’s Hospital, conveyed in a letter of the fith of May last, I, as one of that body, return you the result of the trials 522 WHITE POPPY. made with the English opium, in a few cases under my care. [Then follow the cases.] If a larger quantity of the drug, whose virtues were to be de¬ termined by experience, had been sent, more trials would have been made ; but I have no doubt that the same effects, and by at least as small a dose, would have been produced by it as by the best foreign opium. I have the honour to be, gentlemen, Your most obedient servant, G. Pearson. To the Committee of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts , Gentlemen, agreeably to your request, we have tried the opium you were so good as to send to the hospital, and am sorry, in the short time in which you desired an answer, that we have had only one case to give it a fair trial, namely, Eliza- befh Spraughton, who has been several weeks under the care of Dr. Vaughan with a diseased state of stomach, and in whom we suspect a scirrhus of that viscus. She has been in the habit of taking one grain of opium every four or six hours, according to the violence of pain which she suffered. On the sixth of May she began with your English opium, made into pills of one grain each, and found as much relief as she used to do from the foreign opium. She has continued taking them ever since, and w ith the same effect.— I remain, gentlemen, Your obedient humble servant, G. E. Lawrence, Apothecary. The Committee of Chemistry, to whose examination the En¬ glish opium, prepared by Mr. Jones, was referred by the Society, ordered samples of the opium to be left with several eminent chemists for their analysis and judgement; in consequence of which, the following preparations were laid before the committee by those gentlemen, viz. Extract of English opium, in proof spirit. Hard extract of English opium. Watery extract of English opium of the late dispensatory. Tincture of English opium of the present pharmacopoeia. Tincture of English opium of the late dispensatory. English opium powdered. Similar preparations of fine foreign opium were produced in comparison. From the general result of these experiments it appears, that WHITE POPPY, 523 Mr. Jones’s English opium is equal in quality to fine foreign opium ; and the certainty of its growth in this country, prepara¬ tion, and efficacy, fairly established. Two kinds of opium are found in commerce, distinguished by the names of Turkey and East India opium. Turkey opium is a solid compact substance, possessing a con- derable degree of tenacity ; when broken, having a shining frac¬ ture and uniform appearance ; of a dark brown colour ; when moistened, marking on paper a light brown interrupted streak, and becoming yellow when reduced to powder; scarcely colour¬ ing the saliva when chewed, exciting at first a nauseous bitter taste, which soon becomes acrid, with some degree of warmth ; and having a peculiar heavy disagreeable smell. The best kind is in flat pieces, and besides the large leaves in which it is enve¬ loped, is covered with the reddish capsules of a species of rumex, probably used in packing it. The round masses, which have none of these capsules adhering to them, are evidently inferior in quality. Opium is bad if it be soft, or friable, mixed with any impurities, have an intensely dark or blackish colour, a weak or empyreumatic smell, a sweetish taste, or draw upon paper a brown continued streak. East Indian opium has much less consistence, being sometimes not much thicker than tar, and always ductile. Its colour is much darker ; its taste more nauseous, and less bitter ; and its smell rather empyreumatic. It is considerably cheaper than Turkish opium, and is supposed of only half the strength. One- eighth of the weight of the cakes is allowed for the enormous quantity of leaves with which they are enveloped. In the East Indies, when opium is not good enough to bring a certain price, it is destroyed under the inspection of officers. Opium is not fusible, but is softened even by the heat of the fingers. It is highly inflammable. It is partially soluble, both in alcohol and in water. Neumann got from 1920 parts of opium, 1520 alcoholic, and afterwards 80 watery extract, 320 remaining undissolved ; and inversely 1280 watery, and 200 al¬ coholic extract, the residuum being 440. The solutions of opium are transparent, and have a brown or vinous colour. The watery solution is not decomposed by al¬ cohol. A small quantity of matter, which, as far as my expert ments go, is neither fusible nor remarkably inflammable, is se. 524 WHITE POPPY. parated from the alcoholic solution by water. I have also ob¬ served that the watery solution of opium, or the alcoholic, after it has been precipitated by water, does not redden vegetable blues, is not precipitated by acids or alkalies, but is precipitated copiously by carbonate of potass, muriate and super-nitrate of mercury, oxymuriate of tin, sulphate of copper, sulphate of zinc, acetate of lead, nitrate of silver, and red sulphate of iron. The precipitate in the last case was of a dirty brown colour, not resembling those by alkaline or astringent substances. The solu¬ tions of opium, especially the watery, are also copiously preci¬ pitated by infusion of galls. This precipitate seems to resemble that produced by c.inchonin, and to be different from that pro¬ duced by gelatine. The narcotic virtues of opium are imparted by distillation to alcohol and to water, and they are diminished, or entirely dissi¬ pated, bv long boiling, roasting, or great age. The part of opium which is not soluble either in water or in alcohol, is albumen, according to Gren ; caoutchouc, according to Buchholtz ; a vi¬ rulent glutinous substance, according to Josse; and Proust says it contains wax. From experiments made some years ago, I concluded that it was perfectly similar to the gluten of wheat flour, or fibrine. Long ago it wTas proposed to separate the re¬ sinous parts of opium by the same process that the fibrine of w heat flour is obtained. The fact is, that if Turkey opium be kneaded in a large quantity of water, the soluble parts are re¬ moved, and there remains in the hand an adhesive plastic mass, of a paler colour, not fusible, but becoming ductile when im¬ mersed in hot water, inflammable, imparting some colour to al¬ cohol, but not soluble in it. East India opium, treated in the same way, is entirely dissolved or diffused in the water, and leaves no plastic mass in the hand. Upon the whole, it appears that the active constituent of opium, though not perfectly understood, is of a volatile nature, but sometimes fixed by its combination with the other consti¬ tuents ; that it is soluble both in water and in alcohol ; that it is dissipated in the processes recommended for purifying opium by solution and evaporation ; and that the attempts made by some pharmaceutists, to obtain a preparation of opium which should possess only its sedative without its narcotic effects, only suc¬ ceeded in so far as they diminished its activity. By evaporating a watery solution of opium to the consistence WHITE POPPY. 525 of a syrup, Derosne obtained a precipitate, which was increased by diluting it with water. Fie dissolved this in hot alcohol, from which it again separated on cooling. When purified by repeated solutions, it crystallized in rectangular prisms with rhomboidal bases, had no taste or smell, was insoluble in cold water, and soluble in 400 parts of boiling water, did not affect vegetable blues, was soluble in 24 parts boiling alcohol, and 110 cold; soluble in hot aether and volatile oils, and separated from them as they cooled ; very soluble in all acids, and highly narcotic. These observations are curious, and the experiments deserve to be repeated. MEDICAL USE. The action of opium on the living system has been the subject of the keenest controversy. Some have asserted that it is a di¬ rect sedative, and that it produces no stimulant effects whatever ; while others have asserted as strongly, that it is a powerful, and highly diffusible, stimulus, and that the sedative effects, which it undeniably produces, are merely the consequence of the previous excitement. The truth appears to be, that opium is capable of producing a certain degree of excitement, while the sedative ef¬ fects wThich always succeed, are incomparably greater than could be produced by the preceding excitement. The stimulant effects are most apparent from small doses. These increase the energy of the mind, the frequency of the pulse, and the heat of the body, excite thirst, render the mouth dry and parched, and diminish all the secretions and excretions, except the cuticular discharge, which they increase. These elfects are succeeded by languor and lassitude. In larger doses, the stimulant effects are not so apparent ; but the excitability is remarkably diminished, and confusion of head, vertigo, and sleep, are produced. In exces¬ sive doses, it proves a violent narcotic poison, producing head- ach, vertigo, delirium, and convulsions, accompanied with a very slow pulse, stertorous breathing, and a remarkable degree of insensibility or stupor, terminated by apoplectic death. In one case, where I inspected the body after death, the inner mem¬ brane of the stomach was remarkably corrugated, and with some inflammation ; but as large doses of sulphate of zinc and flour of mustard had been also taken, no inference can be drawn from these appearances. The bad effects of an over-dose of opium are often prevented by the occurrence of vomiting, and they are best counteracted by making the patient drink freely of acids 526 WHITE POPPY * and coffee, and not permitting him to yield to his desire of sleep* ing. By habit, the effects of opium on the body are remarkably diminished. There have been instances of four grains proving fatal to adults, while others have been known to consume as many drachms daily. The habitual use of opium produces the same effects with habitual dram drinking — tremors, paralysis, stupidity, and general emaciation, and, like it, can scarcely ever be relinquished. In disease, opium is chiefly employed to mitigate pain, diminish morbid sensibility, procure sleep, allay inordinate actions, and to check diarrhceas and other excessive discharges. It is contrain¬ dicated in gastric affections, plethora, a highly inflammatory state of the body, and determination of the blood to particular viscera. In intermittents, it is said to have been used with good effect in every stage. Given even in the hot stage, it has been ob¬ served to allay the heat, thirst, headach, and delirium, to induce sweat and sleep, to cure the disease with less bark, and without leaving abdominal obstructions or dropsy. In fevers of the typhoid type, accompanied with watchfulness or diarrhoea, it is extremely useful ; but when not indicated by particular symptoms, it does harm, by augmenting thirst and producing constipation. Especially when combined with calomel, it has lately been much employed in inflammations from local causes, such as wounds, fractures, burns, absorption of morbid poisons, as in swelled testicle, &c. ; and even in active inflammations, accom¬ panied with watchfulness, pain, and spasm, after blood-letting. In smalj-pox, when the convulsions before eruption are fre¬ quent and considerable, or when the accompanying fever is of the typhoid type, opium is liberally used. It is likewise given from the fifth day onwards ; and is found to allay the pain of suppuration, to promote the ptyalism, and to be otherwise useful. In dysentery, after the use of gentle laxatives, or along with them, opium, independently of any effect it may have on the fever, is of consequence in allaying the tormina and tenesmus, and in obviating that laxity of bowels which so frequently re¬ mains after that disease. In diarrhoea, the disease itself generally carries off any of¬ fending acrimonyr, and then opium is used with great effect. Even in the worst symptomatic cases, it seldom fails to alleviate. WHITE POPPY. 527 In cholera and pyrosis, it is almost the only thing trusted to. In colic, it is employed with laxatives ; and often prevents ileus and inflammation, by relieving the spasm. Even in ileus it is sometimes used to allay the vomiting, the spasms, and the pain.1 It is given to allay the pain and favour the descent of calculi, and to give relief in jaundice and dysuria proceeding from spasm. It is of acknowledged use in the different species of tetanus ; affords relief to the various spasmodic symptoms of dyspepsia, hysteria, hypochondriasis, asthma, rabies canina, &c., and has been found useful in some kinds of epilepsy. In syphilis it is only useful in combating symptoms, and in counteracting the effects resulting from the improper use of mer¬ cury, for it possesses no power of overcoming the venereal virus. It is found useful in certain cases of threatened abortion and lingering delivery, in convulsions during parturition, and in the after-pains and excessive flooding. The administration of opium to the unaccustomed is some¬ times very difficult. The requisite quantity is wonderfully dif¬ ferent in different persons, and in different states of the same person. A quarter of a grain will in one adult produce effects which ten times the quantity will not do in another; and a dose that might prove fatal in cholera or colic, would not be percep¬ tible in many cases of tetanus or mania. When given in too small a dose, it is apt to produce disturbed sleep, and other disagreeable consequences ; but sometimes a small dose has the desired effect, w hile a larger one gives rise to vertigo and deli¬ rium, and with some constitutions it does not agree in any dose or form. Its stimulant effects are most certainly produced by the repetition of small doses, its anodyne by the giving of a full dose at once. In some it seems not to have its proper effect till after a considerable time. The operation of a moderate dose is supposed to last in general about eight hours from the time of taking it. Externally, opium is used to diminish pain, and «to remove spasmodic affections. It is found particularly serviceable in chronic ophthalmia, when accompanied with morbidly increased sensibility. Opium may be exhibited, 1. In substance, made up in the form of a pill, lozenge, or electuary. Its most efficient form. 2. Dissolved in diluted alcohol, or white wine. 528 WHITE POPPY. 3. Dissolved in water, or watery fluids. Very perishable. 4. Dried and reduced to powder. It is often given in combination with aromatics, astringents, emetics, bitters, camphor, soap, distilled waters, mucilage, sy¬ rups, acids, carbonate of ammonia, aRher, acetate of lead, tar¬ trate of antimony and potass, and unctuous substances. Some of these are certainly unchemical mixtures ; for I find by experi¬ ment that the solutions of opium are copiously precipitated by astringents, the alkaline carbonates, and all the metallic salts. PREPARATIONS. Purified Opium. (Opium Purificatum. L. D.) Take of opium, cut into small pieces, one pound ; . — - proof spirit of wine, twelve pints : Digest the opium with a gentle heat, stirring now and then till it be dissolved, and filter through paper. (Distil the tincture, so prepared, to a proper thickness, L.) (Distil in a retort until the spirit be separated : pour out the liquor which remains, and evaporate, until the extract acquires a proper thickness, D.) Purified opium must be kept in two forms ; one soft, proper for forming into pills; the other hard, which may be reduced ' into powder. A pill of half a grain usually produces sleep at night. Tincture of Opium, or Thebaic Tincture, commonly called Liquid Laudanum. (Tinctura Opii, sive Thebaica, vulgo Laudanum Liquidum. E.) Take of opium, two ounces ; - diluted alcohol, two pounds : Digest for seven days, and filter through paper. Lond. Dub. Take of hard purified opium, powdered, ten drachms; — - proof spirit of wine, one pint: © Digest for ten (seven, D. ) days, and strain. As these tinctures, on evaporation, furnish the same quantity of extract, they are believed to be of nearly equal strength ; but it is to be regretted that they are not so w ell adapted for keep¬ ing as could be wished : after some time, a part of the opium is gradually deposited from both, and consequently the tinctures become weaker : the part which thus separates, amounts some- WHITE POPPY. 529 times, it is said, to near one-fourth of the quantity of opium at first dissolved. The dose is commonly twenty-five drops at bed¬ time to procure sleep. Ammoniated Tincture of Opium, formerly Paregoric Elixir. (Tinctura Opii Ammoniata, olim Elixir Pa r ego* ricum. E.) Take of benzoic acid, - - English saffron, sliced, of each three drachms | - — - opium, two drachms ; ■ - - volatile oil of aniseed, half a drachm ; - ammoniated alcohol, sixteen ounces : Digest for seven days, in a close vessel, and filter through paper. This is a preparation of considerable efficacy in many spas¬ modic diseases, as chincough, &c., the ammonia removing the spasm immediately, while the opium tends to prevent its return. Each drachm contains about a grain of opium. The dose is from twenty to thirty drops. Pills of Opium. (Pilulae Opii. L.) Take of hard purified opium, powdered, two drachms \ . — — — — extract of liquorice, one ounce: Beat them until they are perfectly united. The dose is five grains at bed-time to procure sleep. Watery Extract of Opium. (Extractum Opii Aquosum, D.) Take of opium, two ounces ; - — - boiling water, one pint : Triturate the opium well in the water for ten minutes ; then, after waiting a little, pour off the liquor, and triturate the re¬ maining opium with the same quantity of boiling water, pouring off the infusion in the same manner. This may be repeated a third time. Mix the decanted liquors, and expose the mixture in an open vessel, for two days, to the air. Lastly, filter through linen, and, by slow evaporation, form an extract. I he dose is one grain. Opiate Powder. (Pulvis Opiatus. L.) Take of hard purified opium, powdered, one drachm ; - - burnt and prepared hartshorn, nine drachms : 2 m Mix them. 530 WHITE POPPY. Edin. Take of opium, one part ; - - . - prepared carbonate of lime, nine parts : Rub them together to a fine powder. In these powders the opium is the active ingredient, and it is immaterial whether the phosphate or carbonate of lime be used to facilitate its mechanical division. Opiate Electuary, commonly called Thebaic Electuary. (Electuarium Opiatum, olim Electuarium Thebaicum. E.) Take of aromatic powder, six ounces; " - Virginian snake-root, in fine powder, three ounces; — — - opium, diffused in a sufficient quantity of Spanish white wine, half an ounce ; syrup of ginger, one pound : Mix them, and form an electuary. Confection of Opium. (Confectio Opiata. L.) Take of hard purified opium, powdered, six drachms ; - — "■ ' ■ long pepper, • - - g^ger, ■ - - — caraway seeds, of each two ounces ; - — — syrup of white poppy, boiled to the consistence of honey, three times the weight of the whole : Mix the purified opium with the syrup heated ; then add the other ingredients rubbed to powder. The action which these electuaries will produce on the living system is abundantly apparent from the nature of their ingre¬ dients. They are combinations of aromatics with opium ; one grain of opium being contained in thirty-six of the London con¬ fection, and in forty-three of the Edinburgh electuary. Liquorice Troches with Opium. (Trochisci Glycyrrhizse cum Opio. E.) Take of opium, two drachms; - - tincture of Tolu, half an ounce; - - common syrup, eight ounces; - - extract of liquorice, softened in warm water, * - gum arabic, in powder, of each five ounces : Triturate the opium well with the tincture, then add by degrees the syrup and extract; afterwards gradually mix in the powdered WHITE POPPY. 53 1 gum arable. Lastly, dry them so as to form a mass, to be di* Tided into troches, each weighing ten grains. These directions for preparing the above troches are so full and particular, that no further explanation is necessary; seven and a half contain about one grain of opium. These troches are medicines of approved efficacy in tickling coughs depending on irritation of the fauces. Besides the mechanical effect of the viscid matters in involving acrid humours, or lining and defend® ing the tender membranes, the opium no doubt must have a con¬ siderable effect, by more immediately diminishing the i ritability of the parts themselves. One of these is to be occasionally taken during the day to allay a tickling irritation in the throat. TABLE Showing the Proportion of Opium in some Compound Medicines . » Opiate confection contains one grain of opium in thirty-six grains. L. Opiate or Thebaic electuary contains in each drachm about a grain and a half of opium. E. Electuary of catechu, or Japonic confection, contains in each ounce about two grains and a half of opium ; for one grain of opium is contained in 193 grains. E. Compound electuary of catechu contains in each ounce about two grains and a half of purified opium. D. Compound powder of chalk with opium contains one grain of opium in about forty-three grains. L. Compound powder of ipecacuana contains one grain of opium in ten grains. L. D. Powder of ipecacuana and opium contains six grains of opium in each drachm, or one in ten. E. Opiate powder contains one grain of opium in ten. L. Pills of opium contain one grain of opium in five. L. Opiate or Thebaic pills contain six grains of opium in each drachm, or five grains contain half a grain of opium. E. Pills of storax, in five grains of the mass, contain one grain of purified opium. D. Tincture of opium or liquid laudanum is made with two scru¬ ples of opium in each ounce of the liquid, or with five grains in each drachm ; but a drachm of the tincture appears, by evapora¬ tion, to contain about three grains arid a half of opium. E. Tincture of opium contains, in a drachm measure, about four grains and a half of purified opium. D, 2 m 2 532 WHITE POPPY. Camphorated tincture of opium contains in four drachms and a half, by measure, one grain of purified opium. D. Ammoniated tincture of opium, or paregoric elixir, is made with about eight grains in each ounce of the liquid, or with about one grain in the drachm. E. Syrup of opium contains in an ounce measure about a grain of the watery extract of opium ; for the liquor, by the addition of the sugar, is more than doubled in bulk. D. Tincture of soap and opium, formerly called opiate liniment, anodyne balsam, is made with one scruple of opium in each ounce of the liquid. E. Troches of liquorice with opium contain about one grain of opium in each drachm. E. PRESCRIPTIONS. 1^. 1. Take of purified opium - - - - scruple 1, • - - soap ....... scruples 2, - - — essential oil of cinnamon - drops 2 : Soften the opium first with a little wine, then mix well with the rest. The dose is one pill, to be taken at bed-time to procure sleep. 1^. 2. Take of purified opium ... grains 3, . — — • purified storax ... grains 8, ■ - ■ aromatic powder - - grains 4: ■ - — — syrup of Tolu, as much as is sufficient: Make into seven pills. Take two at bed-time. fjt. 3. Take of pills of opium ... grains 15; Make into four pills. Give one at bed-time, and, if that in an hour does not procure sleep, give another, and, if this produces no effect, in half an hour repeat a third, or even the fourth. 4. Take of tincture of opium (laudanum), drops 25, — - — cinnamon water .... ounce 1, — - — syrup of Tolu .... drachms 2: Make into a night draught. 5. Take of tincture of opium ... drachms 2, - decoction of barley - - ounces 8: Make a glyster to be thrown up. To stop diarrhcea, and re¬ move spasm. Fj/. 6. Take of tincture of opium . . drops 15, - chalk mixture ... ounces 6, - - ciuuamon water ... ounce 1 : WHITE POPPY. 533 Make into a mixture, of which take a large table-spoonful ever y six hours. Given to stop a looseness. J^. 7. Take of powder of rhubarb - - - - grains 10, powder of chalk with opium scruple 1. - - - powder of chalk without opium, drachm 1 Make into four papers, of which take one, night and morning. 8. Take of tincture of opium - - - drops 20, — - - — chalk mixture - - - - ounces — - — tincture of cinnamon - - ounce - cinnamon water - - ounces C21 1 2: Make a mixture, of which take two table-spoonfuls after every liquid motion. Given in diarrhoea, and the looseness often at¬ tendant upon consumption. 9. Take of tincture of opium - drachms 2, * - - vitriolated zinc - - grains 8, ■ rose water » - - - ounces 4: Take two tea-spoonfuls in a wine glass of weak chamomile tea every four hours. Ordered in diarrhoea. 10. Take two poppy heads, ^oil them in a quart of milk, and use this as a fomentation. Excellent in inflamed eyes, used also to relieve the pain of in¬ flammation from a blister or other cause. CORN POPPY. PA PAVER RIliEAS. Class XIII, Polyandria, Order I. Monogynia. Ess ent. Gen. Char. The same as the last. Spec, Char. Capsule smooth, globular : Stem hairy, mary-fiowered : Leaves pinnatifid, gashed. DESCRIPTION. The stalk is upright, branched, having hairs standing at rigid angles; rises two feet. Leaves pinnate. Peduncles slender, long, hairy, carrying a single flower. Calyx drooping, falls. Petals a bright scarlet, four. Stigma radiated. II l S T O R Y. Common in corn-fields, flowers in June and July. PREPARATIONS. Syrup of White Poppies. (Syrupus Pa.paveris Somniferi. E.' Take of white poppy-heads, dried, and freed from the seeds, two pounds ; — - boiling water, thirty pounds ; - - double refined sugar, four pounds j CORN POPPY. 535 Macerate the sliced heads in the water for twelve hours : boil the infusion till only one third part of the liquor remain ; then strain the decoction with strong expression. Boil the strained decoction to the consumption of one-half, and strain again ; lastly, add the sugar, and boil a little, so as to form a syrup. Syrup of White Poppies. (Syrupus Papaveris Albi. L.) Take of the heads of white poppies, dried, three pounds and a half ; — — — double refined sugar, six pounds ; - — distilled water, eight gallons : Slice and bruise the heads, then boil them in the water to three gallons, in a water bath, saturated with sea salt, and press out the decoction. Reduce this, by boiling, to about four pints, and strain it, while hot, through a sieve, then through a thin woollen cloth, and set it aside for twelve hours that the faeces may subside. Boil the liquor poured off from the faeces to three pints, and dissolve the sugar in it, that it may be made a syrup. Dub. Take of white poppy-heads, gathered unripe, dried, and emp¬ tied of their seeds, one pound ; - — boiling water, three pints : Slice and bruise the heads, then pour on the water, and mace¬ rate for twelve hours ; express the liquor, and evaporate in a moderate heat to one pint ; strain through thin flannel, and set aside for six hours to allow the feces to subside: to the decanted liquor add the sugar, and make into a syrup. This syrup, impregnated with the narcotic matter of the poppy-heads, is given to children, in doses of two or three drachms, and to adults, of half an ounce to an ounce and up¬ wards, for easing pain, procuring rest, and answering the other intentions of mild opiates. Particular care is requisite in its pre¬ paration, that it may be always made, as nearly as possible, of the same strength ; and accordingly the Colleges have been very minute in their description of the process. Syrup of Red Poppies. (Syrupus Papaveris Erratic!. L. D.) Take of the fresh flowers of the red poppy, four pounds (one pound, D.); - boiling distilled water, four pints and a half (twenty ounces, by measure, D.): 536 CORN POPPY. Put the flowers, by degrees, into the boiling water, in a water bath, constantly stirring them. After this, the vessel being taken out of the bath, macerate for twelve hours; then press out the liquor, and set it apart, that the fasces may subside. Lastly, make it into a syrup with double refined sugar. The design of putting the flowers into boiling water in a water bath is, that they may be a little scalded, so as to shrink enough to be all immerged in the water; without this precaution they can scarce be all got in : but they are to be continued no longer over the fire than till this effect is produced, lest the liquor be¬ come too thick, and the syrup be rendered ropy. As a medicine, it has little power. The dose of this syrup is half an ounce to an ounce. The red syrup is often used to colour medicines, and given to infants in the dose of a tea-spoonful. PRESCRIPTION. 1^. Take of syrup of red poppies - - tincture of opium - — — cinnamon water • — — — rose water - - - Make into a draught, to be taken at - drachms 2, ® drops 20, - ounce 1, - drachms 4: bed- time. CLOVE TREE. CARYOPHYLLUS AROMATICUS. Class XIII. Polyandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla four-petalled : Calyx four-leaved : Berry one-seeded, beneath. Spec. Char. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, opposite : Flowers terminal. DESCRIPTION. This is not a lofty tree, and divides into large branches. The leaves are large, entire, and stand upon short footstalks. The flowers terminate the branches. The colour of the petals is blue. The pericarp is one-celled, umbilicated, arid terminated by the indurated converging calyx. The seed is a large oval berry. HISTORY. Cloves yield by distillation with water about one seventh of their weight of volatile oil $ 960 parts also gave to Neumann 380 558 CLOVE TREE. of a nauseous, somewhat astringent, watery extract. The same quantity gave only 300 of excessively fiery alcoholic extract. When the alcoholic extract is freed from the volatile oil by di¬ stillation with water, the oil that arises proves mild, and the resin that remains insipid. Its pungency, therefore, seems to depend on the combination of these principles. The Dutch oil of cloves is extremely hot and fiery, and of a reddish brown colour ; but it is greatly adulterated, both with fixed oils and resin of cloves ; for the genuine oil when recently distilled is comparatively quite mild and colourless, although it gradually acquires a yellow co¬ lour. It is heavier than water, and rises in distillation with some difficulty ; so that it is proper to use a very low-headed still, and to return the distilled water several times upon the residuum. MEDICAL USE. Cloves, considered as medicines, are very hot stimulating aro¬ matics, and possess in an eminent degree the general virtues of substances of this class. CRETAN CISTUS. CIST US CRETICUS. Class XIII. Polvandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla five-petalled : Calyx five-leaved, two of these leaves smaller : a Capsule . Spec. Char. Arborescent, without stipules: Leaves spatulate-ovate, wrinkled, and rough with veins, petioled: Calyx leaves lanceolate. DESCRIPTION. Tins is a most beautiful shrub, filled with branches. The leaves are oblong, pointed, veined, rough, viscous, in pairs, upon short footstalks, broad at the base. The flowers appear in suc¬ cession at the end of the branches in June and July, are of a light red, marked with a dark spot at the end of each petal. II ISTO R Y. This is a perennial shrub, which grows in Syria, and more especially in the Grecian islands. The resin is said to have been formerly collected from the beards of goats which browsed the leaves of the cistus : at present a kind of rake, with several straps 540 CRETAN CISTUS. or thongs of skins fixed to it, is drawn lightly over the shrub, so as to take up the unctuous juice, which is afterwards scraped off with knives. It is rarely met with pure, even in the places where it is produced ; the dust, blown upon the plant by the wind, mingling with the viscid juice, and the inhabitants also being said to mix it with a certain black sand. In the shops two sorts are met with : the best (which is very rare) is in dark- coloured, almost black, masses, of the consistence of a soft plaster, which grows still softer upon being handled ; of a very agreeable smell, and of a light, pungent, bitterish, taste : the other sort is harder, not so dark-coloured, in long rolls coiled up : this is of a much weaker smell than the first, and has a larger admixture of a fine sand, which in the ladanum examined by the French Academy made up three-fourths of the mass ; and that found in the shops seems even more sandy. What Neu¬ mann examined, however, gave him 5400 alcoholic, and 480 watery ; and inversely, 960 watery, and 4960 alcoholic extract, from 7680 parts. In distillation water carries over a volatile oil, and alcohol distilled from it becomes milky on the addition of water. PREPARATIONS. Compound Burgundy Pitch Plaster. (Emplastrum Picis Burgundicse Compositum. L.) Take of Burgundy pitch, two pounds ; —— - ladanum, one pound ; — ■ — — - yellow resin, - — — — - yellow wax, of each four ounces; - expressed oil of mace, one ounce: To the pitch, resin, and wax, melted together, add first the la¬ danum, and then the oil of mace. Compound Ladanum Plaster. (Emplastrum Ladani Compositum. L.) Take of ladanum, three ounces; - - frankincense, one ounce ; - - cinnamon, powdered, - - expressed oil of mace, of each half an ounce; - essential oil of mint, one drachm : To the melted frankincense add first the ladanum, softened by heat, then the oil of mace. Mix these afterwards with the cin- CRETAN CISTUS. 541 namon and oil of mint, and beat them together, in a warm mortar, into a plaster. Let it be kept in a close vessel. This has been considered as a very elegant stomach plaster. It is contrived so as to be easily made occasionally (for these kinds of compositions, on account of their volatile ingredients, are not fit for keeping), and to be but moderately adhesive, so as not to offend the skin, and that it may, without difficulty, be frequently renewed ; which these sorts of applications, in order to their producing any considerable effect, require to be. They keep up a perspiration over the part affected, and create a local action, which diverts inflammation. Consumption from colds in delicate habits is by such means frequently obviated. After a long continued cough in the winter a Burgundy pitch plaster should be put over the breast-bone. t GREATER CELANDINE. CHELIDONIUM MAJUS. Class XIII. Polyandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essewt. Gen. Char. Corolla four-petalled: Calyx two-leaved: Sitiqua one-celled, linear. Spec. Char. Peduncles in an umbel. DESCRIPTION. Rises from one to two feet. Leaves pinnated, terminal pinnae large, lobcd; margin deeply scolloped. Flowers yellow, in small umbels. Germen long, cylindrical, bent. HISTORY. Grows wild in uncultivated spots, flowering most part of the year. GREATER CELANDINE. 543 MEDICAL USE. The juice which distils upon breaking this plant is yellow, and has much acrimony, as such it has been employed to eat away warts, and mixed with hog’s lard as an escharotic ; also to eat away opacities in the cornea : mixed with water it has been used as an eye water, and taken internally in obstructions of the liver. Linnaeus reports, that a tea-spoonful of the juice given four times a day in water has cured an intermittent. COMMON PEONY. PJ20N1 A OFFICINALIS. Class XIII. Polyandria. Order II. Digynia. Essf.nt. Getc. Char. Calyx five-leaved : Petals five : Styles none: Capsule many-seeded. Spec. Char. Leaves oblong. DESCRIPTION. The stalk rises two feet. Leaves cut into lobes, which are oblong, or, if pinnated, terminated by an odd pinna. Capsules two, oblong, hirsute, crowned with a stigma. HISTORY. Native of Switzerland, common in our gardens, which it em¬ bellishes with its fine pompadour flowers in May and June. MED ICAL VIRTUE. The famous Willis recommends the root to be given in the form of a powder, a drachm three or four times a day, which he affirms to have cured both infants and adults labouring under epilepsy. Home gave this root to two persons suffering under that disease in the Edinburgh Infirmary, and he declares that one of them received a temporary advantage from its use. COMMON CAPER BUSH. CAPPARIS SPINOSA. Class XIII. Polyandria. Order I. Monogynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx four-leaved, coriaceous; Petals four % Sta~ mina long: Berry leathery, one-celled, pedunculate. Spec. Char. Peduncles solitary, one-flowered; Stipules spiny ; Leaves de¬ ciduous: Caps ules oval. DESCRIPTION. Leaves alternate, on short footstalks, oval, veiny, succulent, of a bright green. Flowers numerous, axillary, on long pe¬ duncles, white, with a faint blush of red. Petals waved. Fila¬ ments conspicuous, of a pale purple : anthers the same. Germen standing upon a round purple footstalk, having the appearance of a style. HISTORY. Native of the south of France, Italy, and the Levant. 2 N 546 COMMON CAPER BUSH, MEDICAL USE. The bark of the root has been used in obstructions of the liver and menstrual suppressions. CULINARY USE. The buds are made into a pickle with vinegar, and chopped up with melted butter, and eaten with boiled mutton. At first the taste is unpleasant, but after a little use becomes extremely agreeable. PALMATED LARKSPUR. DELPHINIUM STAPHISAGRIA. Class XIII. Polyandria. Order III. Trigynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx none: Petals five-. Nectary bifid, behind cor-- nuted : Siliquce three, or five. Spec. Char. Nectaries three-leaved, shorter than the petal: Leaves pal- mated, lobes obtuse. DESCRIPTION. Rises two or three feet. Leaves palmated, divided into five or seven lobes, which are ovate or lance-shaped, on very long peduncles below, shorter above, giving a conical shape to the whole plant. Flowers blue or purple. HISTORY. Stavesacre is a biennial plant, a native of the south of Eu¬ rope. The seeds are usually brought from Italy. They are large and rough, of an irregular triangular figure, of a blackish colour on the outside, and yellowish or whitish within ; they 2 n 2 548 PALMATED LARKSPUR, have a disagreeable smell, and a very nauseous, bitterish, burn- ing taste. Neumann got from 480 parts, 45 alcoholic extract, besides 90 of fixed oil, which separated during the process, and after¬ wards 44 insipid watery ; and inversely, 95 watery, and then by alcohol only one, besides 71 of oil. MEDICAL USE. Stavesacre was employed by the ancients as a cathartic ; but it operates with so much violence both upwards and downwards, that its internal use has been for some time almost laid aside. It is chielly employed in external applications for some kinds of cutaneous eruptions, and for destroying lice and other insects ; insomuch that from this virtue it has received its name in different languages. The fine powder is put into the hair each night, aud combed out the following morning. It is safe, and much used after a long sickness. WOLF’S-BANE, on MONK’S-HOOD. ACONITUM NAPELLUS. Class XIII. Polyandria. Order III. Trigynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx none: Petals five, the upper arched % Necta - ries two, pedunculate, recurved : Siliquce three or five. Spec. Char. Peduncles aggregate, terminal: Pistils four. DESCRIPTION. This grows from two to five feet, erect. The leaves are lobed, deeply laciniated, standing alternate upon long footstalks; upper leaves almost sessile, the laciniae broader than the under : the superior surface of the leaf a deep green, the under whitish. Flowers numerous, terminal, of a deep purple. The upper petal helmet-shaped, or hood-like. 550 wolf’s-bane, or monk’s-hood. HISTORY. It is a perennial plant, found in the alpine forests of Carin- thia, Carniola, and other mountainous countries in Germany, and cultivated in our gardens. The fresh plant and root are very violent poisons, producing remarkable debility, paralysis of the limbs, convulsive motions of the face, bilious vomiting, and catharsis, vertigo, delirium, asphyxia, death. The fresh leaves have very little smell, but when chewed have an acrid taste, and excite lancinating pains, and swelling of the tongue. By drying, its acrimony is almost entirely destroyed. For medical use, the plant must be gathered before the stein shoots. MEDICAL USE. When properly administered, it acts as a penetrating stimulus, and generally excites sweat, and sometimes an increased discharge of urine. On many occasions it has been found a very effectual remedy in glandular swellings, venereal nodes, spina ventosa, amaurosis, gouty and rheumatic pains, intermittent fevers, and convulsive disorders. We may begin by giving one or two grains of the dried leaves in powder, but it is commonly used in the form of an inspissated juice. As soon as the plant is gathered, the juice is expressed and evaporated without any previous clarification, to the con¬ sistence of an extract. It is to be regretted that the powers of this medicine vary very much, according to its age, and the heat employed in its preparation. When recently prepared, its action is often too violent ; and when kept more than a year, it be¬ comes totally inert. It may therefore be laid down as an uni¬ versal rule in the employment of this and of many other similar active medicines, to begin w ith very small doses, and to increase them gradually to the necessary degree ; and whenever we have occasion to begin a new parcel of the medicine, we should again commence with the smallest dose, and proceed with the same caution as at first. We may begin by giving half a grain of this extract, either formed into a powder with ten grains of white sugar, or made up w’ith any convenient addition into a pill, twice or thrice a day, and gradually increase the dose : or a tincture of aconite may be prepared by digesting. one part of the dried leaves in six wolf’s-bane, or monk’s-hood. 551 parts of spirit of wine ; the dose of which will be at first five or ten drops, and may be gradually increased to forty. PREPARATION. Inspissated Juice of Aconite. (Succus Spissatus Aconiti Napelli. E.) Bruise the fresh leaves of wolfsbane, and, enclosing them in a hempen bag, compress them strongly till they yield their juice, which is to be evaporated in flat vessels heated with boiling wa« ter, saturated with muriate of soda, and immediately reduced to the consistence of thick honey. After the mass has become cold, let it be put up in glazed earthen vessels, and moistened with alcohol. o WINTER’S BARK TREE. WINTERA AROMATICA. Class XIII. Polyandria. Order IV. Tetragynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx three-lobed : Petals six or twelve: Germen clavate : Styles none : Berry clavate. Spec. Char. Peduncles aggregate, terminal : Pistils four. DESCRIPTION. A tree rising often fifty feet. Leaves oval or elliptical, entire, obtuse, flat, shining, of a pale blue underneath, irregularly placed upon thick peduncles. Calyx thick, fleshy. Corolla petals white, small. Germen turbinate. HISTORY. This is the produce of a tree first discovered on the coast of Magellan by captain Winter in the year 1567. The sailors then employed the bark as a spice, and afterwards found it service¬ able in the scurvy ; for which purpose it is at present also some¬ times made use of in diet drinks. The true Winter’s bark is not often met with in the shops, canella alba being generally substi- winter’s bark tree. 553 tuted for it; and by some they are reckoned to be the same: there is, however, a considerable difference betwixt them in ap¬ pearance, and a greater in quality. The Winter’s bark is in larger pieces, of a more cinnamon colour than the canella, and much warmer and more pungent. Its smell resembles that of cascarilla. Its virtues reside in a very hot, stimulant, volatile oil. MEDICAL USE. This bark is a warm stomachic, and but little applied in me¬ dicine, the canella alba being generally substituted in its place, which is supposed to have nearly the same virtues. BLACK HELLEBORE, OR CHRISTMAS ROSE. JiELLEBORUS NIGER. Class XIII. Polyandria. Order VI, Polygynia. Lssent. Gen. Char. Calyx none: Petals live, or more: Nectary bilabiate, tubular: Capsule many-seeded, rather erect. Spec. Char. Scape one- or two-flowered, nearly naked : Leaves pedate. DESCRIPTION. rn 1 he scape or flowerstalk is erect, and proceeds from a bractea, or rather iuvolucrum. The flowers are white, at first conspi¬ cuous, afterwards turn green. The nectaries are eight, tubular, and bilabiate, of a green colour. The germina vary from four to eight. The leaves are compound, divided in a peculiar manner BLACK HELLEBORE, OR CHRISTMAS ROSE, 55 5 resembling a foot, fixed upon radical footstalks. The simple leaves are oval, smooth, thick, serrated towards the top. HISTORY. This plant is perennial, and grows wild in the mountainous parts of Austria, and on the Pyrennees and Appennines. The earliness of its flowers, which sometimes appear in December, has gained it a place in our gardens. The roots consist of a black furrowed roundish head, about the size of a nutmeg, from which short articulated branches arise, sending out numerous corrugated fibres, about the thick¬ ness of a straw, from a span to a foot in length, deep brown on the outside, white or yellowish white within, and of an acrid, nauseous, and bitterish taste, exciting a sense of heat and numb¬ ness in the tongue, and of a nauseous acrid smell. These fibres only are used in medicine, and the head and decayed parts are rejected. For the roots of the real black hellebore, the roots of the Adonis vernalis, Trollius Europseus, Actaea spicata, Astran. tia major, Helleborus viridis fcetidus, Veratrum album, and Aco- nitum neomontanum, are often substituted. The last is a most virulent poison, and may be distinguished by its roots being fu¬ siform, or nearly globular, sending out numerous very brittle fibres, of a grayish black or brown colour, as thick as the finger, and repeatedly divided. But the surest way to avoid mistakes, is by the apothecary cultivating the plant itself in his own garden. Neumann got from 2880 grains, 380 alcoholic, and 181 wa¬ tery extract; and inversely, 362 watery, and 181 alcoholic. Its active constituent seems to be of a volatile nature; for it loses its virtues by keeping, and water distilled from it has an acrid taste. MEDICAL USE. In large doses, hellebore is a drastic purgative; in smaller doses, it is diuretic and emmenagogue. It is principally used as a purgative in cases of mania, melancholy, coma, dropsy, wwrms, and psora, and as an emmenagogue. But its use requires very great caution, for its effects are very uncertain, and affected by many circumstances. It is commonly exhibited in the form of extract, although its activity be much dissipated by the preparation. An infusion and tincture certainly promise to be medicines of more uniform powers. 556 BLACK HELLEBORE, OR CHRISTMAS ROSE. PREPARATION. Tincture of Black Hellebore. (Tinctura Hellebori Nigri. L. D. E.) Take of black hellebore, in coarse powder, four ounces ; — — — cochineal, powdered, two scruples (half a drachm, E.); . . . . proof spirit of wine, two pints (two pounds and a half, E.): Digest with a gentle heat for seven days, and strain. This is perhaps the best preparation of hellebore, when de¬ signed for an alterative, the menstruum here employed extracting the whole of its virtues. It has been found particularly service¬ able in uterine obstructions. In sanguine constitutions, where chalybeates are hurtful, it has been said that it seldom fails of exciting the menstrual evacuations, and removing the bad effects of their suppression. A tea-spoonful of the tincture may be taken twice a day in warm water, or any other convenient vehicle. PRESCRIPTION. Take of the wrnshed flowers of sulphur ounces 2, ■■ - - black hellebore, in powder - drachms 2, - — — - — essence of bergamot - - - drachm 1 , — hog’s lard - - - - - - ounces 2: Make into an ointment; smear only the joints for three nights, and wash it off with soap and water the following morning. The itch is sure to disappear. Repeat the same process in a week, when an effectual cure will be produced. It may be as well at the same time to take night and morning a tea-spoonful of an electuary of flowers of sulphur mixed with honey or treacle. FOETID HELLEBORE. HELLEBORUS FCETIDUS. Class XIII. Polyandria. Order VI. Polygynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Same as the last. Spec. Char. Stem many-flowered, leafy : Leaves pedate. DESCRIPTION. This also rises to two feet in height. The leaves below are numerous, and stand upon long footstalks, resembling the for¬ mer : those above are narrow', lanceolate, of a dark green. The flowers are inconspicuous, green, terminal, upon long peduncles. HISTORY. This plant is found wild in England, and flowers in February. 55 8 FCETID HELLEBORE. MEDICAL VIRTUE. A decoction of about a drachm of the green leaves, or fifteen grains of the dried, is given to children, and repeated three mornings, when it seldom fails expelling the round worms; or a tea-spoonful of the juice, mixed with syrup, may be given for that purpose. Its extract, which contains mostly its gummous parts, with some of its resin, is milder than the root itself, and is used for the same purposes : it is given from five grains to a scruple. Its tincture, called tinctura melampodii , the old name given to this plant, which is drawn with one pound of proof spirit from four ounces of the root, is of the same nature. Dr. Mead recommends it as one of the most powerful medicines he knew for removing obstructions of the menses, given in the quantity of a tea-spoonful twice a day. I have often used it on Dr. Mead’s recommendation ; and though it did not succeed in every case, yet I found no medicine so efficacious in removing uterine obstructions, and restoring the natural menstrual discharge, as this tincture. UPRIGHT VIRGIN’S BOWER. CLEMATIS RECT A. Class XIII. Polyandria. Order VI. Polygynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx none: Petals four to six : Seeds caudate. Spec. Char. Leaves pinnate : Pinnce ovate-lanceolate, entire : Stem erect : Flowers four- and five-petalled. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises about two feet in height. Leaves opposite, and pinnated. Pinnae in pairs, and terminated by an odd one. Flowers terminating the stem in irregular umbels. Petals white. Seeds attached to their styles, which give them the appearance of feathered tails. HISTORY. Native of Hungary, Austria, and France, and flowers from June till August. MEDICAL USE. Dr. Stoerck recommends an infusion of two or three drachms of the leaves in a pint of boiling water, of which he gave four ounces three timhs a day. The bruised leaves were applied to ulcers as an escharotic. Given also in cutaneous affections, ul¬ cers, and venereal affections of long standing. MEADOW ANEMONY, OR PASQUE FLOWER. ANEMONE PRATENSIS. Class XIII, Polyandria. Order VI. Polygynia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx none : Petals six to nine : Seeds many. Spec. Char. Peduncle involucred : Petals reflexed at their apex: Leaves bipinnate. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises six or eight inches. Stem erect, furnished near the top with a laciniated involucre. Leaves radical, bipinnate. Segments short, linear, of a glaucous green colour. Petals six, of a beautiful purple in the inside, the outside covered with soft hairs, reflexed. The seeds retain their styles, which appear like downy tails. HIS T O R Y. Native of Germany, and flowers in May. MEDICAL USE. This medicine resembles the last in active powers, and, besides the diseases mentioned in that history, has been tried with success in several of the most incurable diseases of the eyes; as amau¬ rosis, cataract, and opacity of the cornea. Dose the same as with the last. UPRIGHT MEADOW CROWFOOT. RANUNCULUS ACRIS. Class XIII. Polyandria. Order VT. Polygynia. Ess ent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-leaved : Petals five, with a melliferous scale at each unguis. Spec. Char. Calyx spreading : Peduncles smooth : Lower leaves tripartite- multifid : Upper leaves linear. DESCRIPTION. *1 his plant rises two feet. Lower leaves on upright peduncles, trifid, subdivided into smaller laciniated lobes, marked underneath with small prominent reticular veins. Flowers of a fine yellow, as if glazed. MEDICAL USE. The leaves have been pounded and applied as a poultice, when it produces a vesication like a blister. Rheumatic affections have often readily given way to its use. It has been used in¬ ternally for worms ; and it may be remarked, that if a decoction of this plant be poured on ground containing worms, they will be forced to rise from their concealments, and may be taken in abundance for fishing with, although we cannot but condemn such bait as a wicked and barbarous practice. 2 o SPEARMINT. MENTHA VIRIDIS. Class XIV. Didynamia. Order I. Gymnospermia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla sub-equal, four-cleft : the broader lacinia emarginate : Stamens erect, distant. Spec. Char. Spikes oblong: Leaves lanceolate, naked, serrate, sessile: Stamina the length of the corolla. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises two feet. Leaves large, elliptic, serrate, pointed, of a green colour, in pairs, seated on a short foot¬ stalk. Flowers small, purple, produced in terminal spikes. HISTORY. Spearmint is perennial, and a native of Britain ; flowers in August. MEDICAL VIRTUE. It is not so warm as peppermint, and has an agreeable flavour; it is therefore preferred for tea, and is considered a& stomachic and carminative. SPEARMINT. 563 PREPARATIONS. Distilled Spearmint Water. (Aqua Menthae Viridis.) Take of spearmint, pound 1-|, - water, as much as to prevent empyreuma : Distil off one gallon. Spirit of Spearmint. *(Spiritus Menthae Viridis.) Take of spearmint, Impound; — - - diluted alcohol, 9 pounds, E. ; • - proof spirit, one gallon, L. : Macerate for two days in a close vessel; then pour on as much water as will prevent empyreuma, and draw off by distillation nine pounds. Volatile Oil of Spearmint. (Oleum Volatile Menthae Viridis.) Volatile oils are prepared nearly in the same manner as th© distilled waters, except that less water is to be added. Substances which differ in volatility may be separated from each other by applying a degree of heat capable of converting the most volatile into vapour, and by again condensing this va¬ pour in a proper apparatus. Water is converted into vapour at 212°, and may be separated by distillation from the earthy and saline matters which it always contains in a natural state. But, it is evident, that if any substances which are as volatile as wa¬ ter be exposed to the same degree of heat, either by immersing them in boiling water, or exposing them to the action of its steam, they will rise with it in distillation. In this way the camphor and volatile oils of vegetable substances are separated from the more fixed principles. Volatile oils are obtained only from odoriferous substances ; but not equally from all of this class, nor in quantity propor¬ tional to their degree of odour. Some which, if we were to reason from analogy, should seem very well fitted for this pro¬ cess, yield extremely little oil, and others none at all. Roses and chamomile flowers, whose strong and lasting smell pro¬ mises abundance, are found to contain but a smail quantity of oil : the violet and jessamine flower, which perfume the air with their odour, lose their smell upon the gentlest coction, and do not afford any oil on being distilled, unless immense quantities 2 o 2 564 SPEARMINT. are submitted to the operation at once 5 while savin, whose dis¬ agreeable scent extends to no great distance, gives out the largest proportion of volatile oil of almost any vegetable known. Nor are the same plants equally fit for this operation, when produced in different soils or seasons, or at different times of their growth. Some yield more oil if gathered when the flowers begin to fall off* than at any other time. Of this we have ex¬ amples in lavender and rue ; others, as sage, afford the largest quantity when young, before they have sent forth any flowers ; and others, as thyme, when the flowers have just appeared. All fragrant herbs yield a larger proportion of oil, when produced in dry soils and in warm summers, than in opposite circum¬ stances. On the other hand, some of the disagreeable strong- scented plants, as wormwood, are said to contain most oil in rainy seasons, and when growing in moist rich grounds. Several chemists have been of opinion, that herbs and flowers, moderately dried, yield a greater quantity of volatile oil than if they were distilled when fresh. It is, however, highly improba¬ ble that the quantity of volatile oil will be increased by drying; on the contrary, part of it must be dissipated and lost. But drying may sometimes be useful in other ways, either by dimi¬ nishing the bulk of the subject to be distilled, or by causing it to part with its oil more easily. The choice of proper instruments is of great consequence for the performance of this process to advantage. There are some oils which pass freely over the swan-neck of the head of the common still : others, less volatile, cannot easily be made to rise so high. For obtaining these last, we would recommend a large low head, having a rim or hollow canal round it : in this canal the oil is detained in its first ascent, and thence conveyed at once into the receiver, the advantages of w hich are sufficiently obvious. We cannot separate the volatile oils from aromatic substances by distilling them alone, because the proportion of these oils is so small that they could not be collected ; and besides, it w ould be impossible to regulate the heat so as to be sufficient, and yet not to burn the subject, and destroy the product. Hence it is necessary to distil them with a proportion of w ater, which an¬ swers extremely well, as the oils are all more volatile in water, and soluble in it only to a certain extent. ; With regard to the proportion of water to be employed ; if SPEARMINT. 565 whole plants, moderately dried, are used, or the shavings of woods, as much of either may be put into the vessel as, lightly pressed, will occupy half its cavity ; and as much water may be added as will fill two-thirds of it. When fresh and juicy herbs are to be distilled, thrice their weight of water will be fully sufficient; but dry ones require a much larger quantity. In ge¬ neral, there should be so much water, that, after all intended to be distilled has come over, there may be liquor enough left to prevent the matter from burning to the still. The water and ingredients, altogether, should never take up more than three- fourths of the still ; there should be liquor enough to prevent any danger of any empyreuma, but not so much as to be apt to boil over into the receiver. The subject of distillation should be macerated in the water until it be perfectly penetrated by it. To promote this effect, woods should be thinly shaved across the grain, or sawn, roots cut transversely into thin slices, barks reduced into coarse pow¬ der, and seeds slightly bruised. Very compact and tenacious substances require the maceration to be continued a week or two, or longer ; for those of a softer and looser texture, two or three days are sufficient; while some tender herbs and flowers not only stand in no need of maceration, but are even injured by it. The fermentation which was formerly prescribed in some instances, i§ always hurtful. The fire ought to be quickly raised, and kept up during the whole process, but to such a degree only that the oil may freely distil; otherwise the oil will be exposed to an unnecessary heat; a circumstance which ought, as much as possible, to be avoided. Fire communicates to all these oils a disagreeable impregnation, as is evident from their being much less grateful when newly distilled than after they have stood for some time in a cool place ; and the longer the heat is continued, the greater altera¬ tion it produces in them. The greater number of oils require for their distillation the heat of water strongly boiling : but there are many also which rise with a heat considerably less ; such as those of lemon and citron peel, of the flowers of lavender and rosemary, and of almost all the more odoriferous kinds of flowers. We have al¬ ready observed, that these flowers have their fragrance much injured, or even destroyed, by beating or bruising them ; it is impaired also by the immersion in water in the present process, 566 SPEARMINT. and the more so in proportion to the continuance of the lm- mersion and the heat : hence oils, distilled in the common man¬ ner, prove much less agreeable in smell than the subjects them¬ selves. For the distillation of substances of this class, another method has been contrived ; instead of being immersed in water, they are exposed only to its vapour. A proper quantity of water being put into the bottom of the still, the odoriferous herbs or flowers are laid lightly in a basket, of such a size that it may enter into the still, and rest against its sides, just above the water. The head being then fitted on, and the water made to boil, the steam, percolating through the subject, imbibes the oil, without impairing its fragrance, and carries it over into the receiver. Oils thus obtained, possess the odour of the subject in an exquisite degree, and have nothing of the disagreeable scent perceivable in those distilled by boiling them in water in the common manner. Plants differ so much, according to the soil and season of which they are the produce, and likewise according to their own ages, that it is impossible to fix the quantity of water to be drawn from a certain weight of them to any invariable standard. The distillation may always be continued as long as the liquor runs well flavoured off the subject, but no longer. The mixture of water and oil, which comes over, may either be separated immediately, by means of a separatory, or after it has been put into large narrow-necked bottles, and placed in a cool place, that the portion of oil which is not dissolved in the water may rise to the top, or sink to the bottom, according to its specific gravity. It is then to be separated, either by a se¬ paratory (Plate [. fig. 10. of Duncan’s New Edinburgh Dispen¬ satory); or by means of a small glass syringe; or by means of a filter of paper; or, lastly, by means of a woollen thread, one end of which is immersed in the oil, and the other lower end in a phial : the oil will thus pass over into the phial by capillary attraction ; and the thread is to be squeezed dry. The water employed in the distillation of volatile oils always imbibes some portion of the oil, as is evident from the smell, taste, and colour, w'hich it acquires. It cannot, however, re¬ tain above a certain quantity ; and therefore such as has been already used, and therefore almost saturated, may be advan¬ tageously employed, instead of common water, in a second, third, or any future distillation of the same subject. SPEARMINT. 567 After the distillation of one oil, particular care should be had to clean the worm perfectly before it be employed in the distil® lation of a different substance. Some oils, those of wormwood and aniseeds for instance, adhere to it so tenaciously as not to be melted out by heat, or washed off by water : the best way of removing these is to run a little spirit of wine through it. Volatile oils, after they are distilled, should be suffered to stand for some days, in vessels loosely covered with paper, till they have lost their disagreeable fiery odour, and become limpid; then put them up in small bottles, which are to be kept quite full, closely stopped in a cool place. With these cautions they will retain their virtues in perfection for many years. Most of the oils mentioned above are prepared by our che¬ mists in Britain, and are easily procurable in a tolerable degree of perfection ; but the oils from the more expensive spices, though still introduced among the preparations in the foreign pharmacopoeias, are, when employed among us, usually im¬ ported from abroad. These are frequently so much adulterated, that it is not easy to meet with such as are at all fit for use : nor are these adul¬ terations easily discoverable. The grosser abuses, indeed, may be readily detected. Thus, if the oil be mixed with alcohol, it will turn milky on the addition of water ; if with expressed oils, alcohol will dissolve the volatile, and leave the other behind; if with oil of turpentine, on dipping a piece of paper in the mix¬ ture, and drying it with a gentle heat, the turpentine will be betrayed by its smell. But the more subtle artists have contrived other methods of sophistication, which elude all trials of this kind. Some have looked upon the specific gravity of oils as a certain criterion of their genuineness. This, however, is not to be ab¬ solutely depended on ; for the genuine oils, obtained from the same subjects, often differ in gravity as much as those drawn from different ones. Cinnamon and cloves, whose oils usually sink in wafer, yield, if slowly and carefully distilled, oils of great fragrancy, which are specifically lighter than fhe aqueous fluid employed in their distillation ; whilst, on the other hand, the last runnings of some of the lighter oils prove sometimes so ponderous as to sink in water. As all volatile oils agree in the general properties of solubility in spirit of wine, indissolubility in water, miscibility with water, by the intervention of certain intermedia, volatility in the heat of boiling water, &c., it is plain that they may be variously 568 SPEARMINT. mixed with each other, or the dearer sophisticated with the cheaper, without any possibility of discovering the abuse by any trials of this kind: and, indeed, it would not be of much advantage to the purchaser, if he had infallible criteria of the genuineness of every individual oil. It is of as much importance that they be good, as that they be genuine ; for genuine oils, from inattentive distillation, and long and careless keeping, are often weaker, both in smell and taste, than the common so¬ phisticated ones. The smell and taste seem to be the only certain test of which the nature of the thing will admit. If a bark should have in every respect the appearance of good cinnamon, and should be proved indisputably to be the genuine bark of the cinnamon tree; yet if it want the cinnamon flavour, or has it but in a low degree, we reject it ; and the case is the same with the oil. It is only from use and habit, or comparisons with specimens of known quality, that we can judge of the goodness, either of the drugs themselves, or of their oils. Most of the volatile oils, indeed, are too hot and pungent to be tasted with safety ; and the smell of the subject is so much concentrated in them, that a small variation in this respect is not easily distinguished ; but we can readily dilute them to any assignable degree. A drop of the oil may be dissolved in spirit of wine, or received on a bit of sugar, and dissolved by that in¬ termedium in water. The quantity of liquor which it thus im¬ pregnates with its flavour, or the degree of flavour which it com¬ municates to a certain determinate quantity, will be the measure of the degree of goodness of the oil. Compound Infusion of Spearmint. (Infusum Men thee Viridis Compositum.) Take of the leaves of spearmint, dried, two drachms ; — - boiling water, as much as will afford six ounces of the infusion, when filtered : Digest for half an hour, in a covered vessel ; strain the liquor when cold, and then add of Double refined sugar, two drachms ; Oil of spearmint, three drops, dissolved in Compound tincture of cardamums, half an ounce. Mix. This infusion is slightly stimulating and diaphoretic, and forms a very agreeable herb tea, which may be used in any quantity in diet, or as a vehicle for more active remedies. PEPPER M I N T. MENTHA PIPERITA. Class XIV. Didynamia. Order I. Gymnospermia. Essent. Gen. Char. Same as the last. Spec. Char. Flowers capitate : Leaves ovate, petiolate : Stamens of the corolla very short. DESCRIPTION. jRises two feet in height. Leaves egg-shaped, serrated, pointed, of a dark green, standing in pairs, upon footstalks. Flowers purple, produced in terminal spikes. HISTORY. This species of mint is also perennial, and a native of Britain, ■where it is cultivated in very great quantities, for the sake of its essential oil. It flowers in August and September. The leaves have a strong, rather agreeable smell, and an intensely pungent, aromatic taste, resembling that of pepper, and accompanied with a peculiar sensation of coldness. Its predominant constituents are essential oil and camphor, both of which rise in distillation, and are combined in what is called oil of peppermint. 570 PEPPERMINT. MEDICAL USE. Peppermint is principally nsed as a carminative and antispas, modic. The distilled water is a domestic remedy for flatulent colic, and the essential oil is often given with advantage, in doses of a few drops, in cramps of the stomach. PREPARATIONS. Peppermint Water. (Aqua Distillata Menthae Piperitae.) Take of the herb of peppermint, dried, a pound and a half ; - — — water, as much as is sufficient to prevent burning: Distil off a gallon. This has been known to allay sickness when nothing else would succeed, and is used in flatulent colics. A wine-glass may be taken, and often repeated. It is especially ordered with opening medicines, to prevent the gripings that would otherwise accompany them. Spirit of Peppermint. (Spiritus Menthae Piperitae.) Take of the herb of peppermint, dried, a pound and a half ; — - proof spirit, a gallon ; - — water, sufficient to prevent burning : Distil off a gallon. This is used for the same purposes as the last, but in a smaller dose. Note. The proof spirit usually met with in the shops is very rarely pure, or free from all unpleasant flavour, which, though concealed by means of certain additions, plainly discovers itself when employed for the preparation of distilled spirits. This nauseous flavour does not begin to arise till after the alcohol has come over, which is the very time that the virtues of the ingre¬ dients begin also to arise most plentifully ; and hence the liquor receives am ungrateful taint. To this cause principally is owing the general complaint, that the cordials of the apothecary are. less agreeable than those of the same kind prepared by the di¬ stiller; the latter being extremely curious in rectifying and puri¬ fying the spirits, which he uses for what he calls flue goods, from all unpleasant flavour. Oil of Peppermint. (Oleum Volatile Menthae Piperitae.) This is made like the other essential oils, and is frequently mixed with water, and this is passed off for the true distilled peppermint water ; but it is more pungent and heating, and has less of the virtues of the plant. PENNYROYAL MINT. MENTHA PULEGIUM. Class XIV. Didynamia. Order I. Gymnospermia. Essent. Gen. Char. Corolla subequal, four-cleft; the broader lacinia emarginate: Stamens erect, distant. Spec. Char. Flowers verticillate : Leaves ovate, obtuse, subcrenate : Stem rather smooth, repent. DESCRIPTION. T his plant rises about a foot. The leaves are ovate, obtuse, of a bright green, and stand upon short footstalks at the joints of the stem. Flowers in whorls at the joints, of a pale purple. HISTORY, This is also perennial, and a native of Britain. It flowers in September. In its sensible qualities, it is warm, pungent, and aromatic, somewhat similar to spearmint, but less agreeable. MEDICAL VIRTUE. This is seldom ordered by the faculty, but is used as a popular remedy with much confidence in obstructions of the courses, or when these are attended with pain or hysteria. The officinal preparations are the same as the last ; a simple distilled water, a spirit, and an essential oil. GROUND IVY. GLECOMA HEDERACEA. Class XIV. Didynamia. Order I. Gymnospermia. Essent. Gen. Char. The Anthers ef each pair connive with the other so as to form a cross : Calyx five-cleft. Spec. Char. Leaves kidney-shaped, crenate. DESCRIPTION. Leaves scolloped, hairy, in opposite pairs, having long petioles, which are channelled. Flowers in whorls, on short peduncles, blue, riugent, upper lip bifid, erect, lower divided into three lobes, middle one emarginate. HISTORY. Found common under hedges, and dowers in April. MEDICAL VIRTUE. This plant forms one of the cries in London, and is drunk as tea, as a purifier of the blood. Hay relates a remarkable cure of a Mr. Oldacre, who by snuffing up the juice of this plant was cured of an inveterate head-ach. His words are: u Suc.cus hujus plantse naribus attractus cephalalgiam etiam vehementissi- man et inveteratam non lenit tantiim sed penitus aufert. Medi- camentum hoc non satis potest laudari,- si res ex usu sestima- rentur, auro aequiparandum.” COMMON HOREHOUND. MARRUBIUM VULGARE. Class XIV. Didynatnia. Order I. Gymnospermia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx salver-shaped, rigid, with ten striae: Upper lip of the corolla bifid, linear, straight. Spec. Char. Teeth of the calyx setaceous, uncinate. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises a foot and a half in height. Leaves deeply serrated, veined, wrinkled, hoary, in pairs, standing upon thick, broad footstalks. Flowers white, in whorls. Calyx cut into ten segments, which are hooked at the apex. Lower lip of the corolla divided into three segments, largest segment emarginate, upper lip two-cleft. HISTORY. This is a perennial plant, which grows wild on road sides and among rubbish, and dowers in July. The leaves have a very strong, not disagreeable smell, and a roughish, very bitter taste. Neumann got from 480 grains, 270 watery, and 30 al¬ coholic extract; and inversely, 150 alcoholic, and 140 watery. 574 COMMON HOREHOUND. ' / MEDICAL VIRTUES. It has a bitter principle, and has been recommended for pi- tuitous asthma, coughs, and female weaknesses ; and Haller mentions his having cured a consumption by means of an aqueous infusion. The dose is two or three ounces of the ex¬ pressed juice, or the infusion of half a handful of the fresh leaves, in a sufficient quantity of boiling water, drunk as tea. At present the following is chiefly employed : — Candied Horehound. Boil some horehound till the juice is extracted. Boil up some sugar to a feather (see p. 330, of New London Family Cook); add your juice to the sugar, and let it boil till it is again the same height. Stir it with a spoon against the sides of your sugar pan till it begins to grow thick, then pour it into a paper case that is dusted with fine sugar, and cut it into squares. You may dry the horehound, and put it into the sugar finely powdered and sifted. Small pieces are put into the mouth, and this cer¬ tainly greatly tends to allay irritation ; and probably the bitter may have some good effect in bracing the stomach, and hence the whole system. WILD MARJORAM. ORIGANUM VULGARE. Class XIV. Didynamia. Order I. Gymnospermia. Essent. Gen. Char. Strobile tetragonal, spicate, 'collecting all the ca» lyxes. Spec. Char. Spikes subrotund, paniculate, conglomerate : Bracteas ovate, length of the calyx. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises about a foot and a half. The leaves are ovate., pointed, smooth above, beneath downy, in pairs. Flowers ter¬ minal, of a pale purple. Upper lip erect, bifid, lower trifid, segments obtuse. Filaments long, with double anthers, distant above, below forming a cross. HISTORY. Native of Britain, on dry chalky hills and gravelly soils ; flowers in July and August. MED ICAL VIRTUE. Distilled with water it yields a moderate quantity of a very acrid, penetrating, essential oil, which has been much extolled as easing toothach from a carious tooth. The dried leaves are used as tea, and to some palates it is very grateful, especially to nervous habits. SWEET MARJORAM. ORIGANUM MARJORANA. Class XIV. Didynamia. Order I. Gymrwspemiia. Essent. Gen. Char. The same as the last. Spec. Char. Leaves ovate, obtuse : Spikes subrotund, compact, pubescent. DESCRIPTION. Tins rises a foot and a half. Leaves egg-shaped, obtuse, downy, entire, of a pale green, standing in pairs upon foot¬ stalks. Flowers very small, inconspicuous, white. Bracteal leaves numerous, compact, terminal. HISTORY. Native of Britain, flowers in August. MEDICAL VIRTUE. It yields fifteen ounces of essential oil from one hundred and fifty pounds of the recent plant. This oil, if kept long, becomes .solid, and is employed also for the toothach. In a recent state it has been applied to cancer, and some report with advantage. This may obviate at any rate the fcetor attendant upon that cruel disease. It is chiefly used for culinary purposes, as in making of stuffing for veal, &c. MOTHER OF THYME. THYMUS SERPYLLUM. Class XIV. Didynamia. Order I. Gymnospermia. Essent. Gen. Char. The throat of the bilabiate Calyx enclosed with villi. Spec. Char. Flowers capitate : Stem repent: Leaves fiat* obtuse, ciliated at the base. DESCRIPTION, This rises from four inches to a foot in height. Leaves ovate, entire, smooth, covered with glands, fringed with hairs towards the base ; in pairs, upon short footstalks. Flowers purple, in whorls around the stem, also terminal. HISTORY. Native of Britain on heaths and mountainous situations; flowers in July and August. MEDICAL VIRTUE. This also is made into tea for nervous habits, and produces an essential oil ; but is chiefly employed for culinary purposes, 2 p COMMON GARDEN THYME. THYMUS VULGARIS. Class XIV. Didynamia. Order I. Gymnospermia. Bssent. Gen. Char. Same as the last. Spec. Char. Stem erect : Leaves revolute, ovate : Flowers verticillate*. spicate. DESCRIPTION. This rises a foot in height. Leaves small, narrow, elliptical, slightly indented, in pairs, standing upon short petioles. Flowers ©f a pale purple. HISTORY. Native of the south of France; flowers from May till August. MEDICAL VIRTUE. Like the last it abounds with an essential oil, also a native tamphor, but is employed chiefly for culinary purposes. C A L A M I N T. THYMUS CALAMINTA. Class XIV. Didynamia. Order I. Gymnospermia. Essent. Gex. Char. The same as the last. Spec. Char. Peduncles many-flowered s Flowers axillary, as long as the leaves. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises one or two feet, with an upright, quad ran* gular, hairy stem. The leaves in pairs, ovate, and serrated,, hairy on both sides. Calyx hairy. Corolla also hairy, of a light violet. Upper lip lilac-coloured within, lower lip pale within, but marked with three round dots, and a few short streaks of a deeper hue. HISTORY. It is a melissa according to Woodville, but a thymus accord¬ ing to Dr. Smith. It is native of England, and flowers during July and August. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The same as the last. 2 p 2 COMMON BALM. MELISSA OFFICINALIS. Class XIV. Didynamia. Order I. Gymnospermia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx angular, scariose, with the upper Lip ascend¬ ing, bifid. Spec. Char. Racemes axillary, verticillate : Pedicels simple. DESCRIPTION. Stem rises two or three feet. Leaves egg-shaped, spreading, rough, ribbed, veined, deeply serrated, of a bright green, placed upon long petioles. Flowers white, ringent, proceeding from the alae of the wings. HISTORY. Balm is a perennial plant, which grows wild on the Alps and Pyrennees, and is frequently cultivated in our gardens. It has a pleasant smell, and a weak, roughish, aromatic taste. The young shoots, have the strongest flavour; the flowers, and the herb itself when old, or produced in very moist rich soils or S'- , rainy seasons, are much weaker both in smell and taste. MEDICAL USE. It is principally used in the form of a watery infusion, which is drunk in the manner of tea. DITTANY OF CRETE. ORIGANUM DICTAMNUS. Class XIV. Didynamia. Order I. Gymnospermia. Kssent. Gen. Char. Strobile four-sided, spiked, collecting the calyxes. Spec. Char. Inferior Leaves tomentose : Spikes nodding. DESCRIPTION. This rises about a foot. Leaves ovate, blunt, opposite, on short footstalks, covered with soft hairs. Flowers purple. Bracteas numerous, coloured. Corolla lipped, upper straight under cut into three obtuse lobes, middle one largest. HISTORY. Flowers from June till August ; native of the island of Candia5 where tomentose plants abound. f. . • ' * * \ , MEDICAL VIRTUES. . The Latin poet makes it vulnerary, a virtue so much cele® brated in the dark ages : , - Non ilia feris incognita capris Gramina, cum tergo volucres haesere sagittae. — AEn. xii. 411. , v - It is certainly a stimulant, and thought to be emmenagogue; but its real virtues are but ill understood as yet. LAVENDER. LAVENDULA SPICA. Class XIV® Didynamia. Order I. Gymnospermia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx ovate, subdentate, supported by a bractea: Corolla resupine : Stamina within the tube. Spec. Char. Leaves sessile, lanceolate-linear, revolute at the margins: Spike interrupted. DESCRIPTION. Plant bushy, flowering stem erect, often rising four or fire feet. Leaves numerous, long, narrow, without footstalks, mostly opposite, of a whitish green colour. Flowers in ter¬ minal spikes, of a bright blue. Corolla ringent. Upper lip cut into two divisions, lower lip into three. HISTORY. Lavender is a well known, small, shrubby, perennial plant, a native of the south of Europe, but frequently cultivated in our gardens for the sake of its perfume. There are two varieties. The flowers of both have a fragrant, agreeable smell, and a warm, pungent, bitterish taste ; the broad-leaved variety is the strongest in both respects, and yields in distillation thrice as much essential oil as the other ; its oil is also hotter, and sped- LAVENDER. 588 fictlly heavier : hence, in the southern parti of France, where both kinds grow wild, this only is used for the distillation of what is called oil of lavender. The narrow-leaved is the variety commonly met with in our gardens. It flowers from July till September. MEDICAL VIRTUE. It is a warm cordial, and is used in hysteria, lowness, and other nervous affections. OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. Spirit of Lavender. From two pounds of the flowering spikes of lavender, accord, ing to the Edinburgh college, and from a pound and a half, ac¬ cording to the London, this spirit is to be formed. It is used as an analeptic perfume ; also taken inwardly, in case of faint, ing, from a drachm to half an ounce. Compound Spirit of Lavender. (Tinctura Lavendulse Composita.) Take of the spirit of lavender, three pounds ; spirit of rosemary, one pound ; — - cinnamon, half an ounce 5 - - — » nutmeg, the same ; - — red sanders, three drachms s Digest for ten days and then strain off. This Is often taken upon sugar, and is a salutary cordial, far preferable to drams, which are too often had recourse to by persons feeling a great sinking, or depression of the spirits. Lavender Water. The common mode of preparing this is to put three drachms of the essential oil of lavender, and one drachm of the essence of ambergris, into one pint of spirits of wine. WOOD BETONY. BETONICA OFFICINALIS. Class XIV. Didynamia. Order I. Gymnospermia. Essent. Gen. Char. Superior Lip of the Corolla flat, rising : Tube cylin¬ drical i Stamina the length of the throat, Spec. Char. Spike interrupted : Upper Lip of the Corolla entire, lower DESCRIPTION. This plant rises a foot in height. The stem is square, and hairy. Upper leaves on short footstalks, the lower on long} opposite, hairy. Flowers in spikes, composed of several whorls, of a purple colour. Bracteas placed under the flowers. HISTORY. Native of Britain, common in woods and heaths, flowering in August and Sptember, MEDICAL VIRTUES, a The description of the fiefwiw) by Dioscorides,” says Dr. Woodville, (,i applies equally to many of the other verticillated plants ; he also states it to be purgative ; hence it seems doubtful If by that name he meant our plant.” But its root both vomits and purges, taken in the smallest dose. Antonius Musa, physician to the emperor Augustus, filled a whole volume with enumerating its many virtues; it cured forty- seven different disorders ; and hence the proverb still existing, distilled water, one gallon : Boil the water with the marshmallow root to one half, and press out the liquor when cold. Set it by twelve hours ; and, after the faeces have subsided, pour off the liquor. Add the sugar, and boil it to the weight of six pounds. This is merely a mucilaginous syrup, and is chiefly used in nephritic cases, for sweetening emollient decoctions, and the like. The common mallow ( malva sylvestris ) has somewhat similar xirtues. COMMON FUMITORY. FUMARIA OFFICINALIS. Class XVII. Diadelphia. Order II. Hexandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx two-leaved : Corolla ringent: Filaments two*, membranaceous, each with three anthers. Spec. Char. Pericarps with one seed : Stem branched. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises a foot. The leaves are compound, doubly pinnated ; the smaller pinnae three-lobed, of a pale green. The flowers are of a reddish purple, and grow in spikes, which arise from the axillae of the leaves. The corolla has the appearance somewhat, and is in reality ringent. HISTORY. This plant is common in our corn-fields, and usually flowers in May. MEDICAL VIRTUE. Dr. Cullen says, u This plant is a tonic ; it is omitted in the London Dispensatory, but retained in ours, and in every other that I know of. I have found it useful in many cases in which * M. M. vol. ii. p. 77. 2 s 2 62 8 COMMON FUMITORY. bitters are prescribed ; but its remarkable virtues arc those of clearing the skin of many disorders. For this it has been much commended ; and i have myself experienced its good effects in many instances of cutaneous affections, which I would call Lepra. I have commonly used it by expressing the juice, and giving that to two ounces twice a day i but I find the virtues remain in the dried plant, so that they may be extracted by infusion or de¬ coction in water; and the foreign dispensatories have prepared an extract of it, to which they ascribe all the virtues of the fresh plant.” Dr. Rutty, in his Observations on the London and Edinburgh Dispensatories, with an Account of the Virtues of various Sub¬ jects of the Materia Medica rejected by one or both of those Works, says, speaking of this plant, 44 It is justly adopted by the Edinburgh Dispensatory, being possessed of a considerable degree of bitterness and acrimony, and has the sanction of an¬ cient and modern authority for its virtues in cutaneous cases; for which purpose it ought to be given in the juice or infusion in whey* its acrimony being volatile.” © RATTLESNAKE ROOT, OR MILKWORT. POLYGALA SENEGA. Class XVII. Diadelphia. Order XII^ Octandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-leaved, two of them wing-shaped, co* loured: Legume obcordate, two-celled. Spec. Char. Flowers beardless, spiked: Stem erect, herbaceous, most simple : Leaves oblong-lanceolate. DESCRIPTION, This plant rises nearly a foot. Leaves acutely pointed, alter® nate, on short foot-stalks. Flowers small, white, papiliona¬ ceous, terminal. HISTORY. Seneka is a perennial plant, which grow s wild in North Ame¬ rica, particularly Virginia and Pennsylvania. This root is usually about the thickness of the little finger, variously bent and con¬ torted, and appears as if composed of joints, whence it is sup® 630 RATTLESNAKE ROOT, OR MILKWORT. posed to resemble the tail of the animal whose name it bears ; a kind of membranous margin runs on each side the whole length of the root. The bark is the active part of the root. Its taste is at first acrid, afterwards very hot and pungent. It has no smell. Its acrimony resides in a resin ; for it is entirely extracted by alcohol; is precipitated by water; does not rise in distillation; and is not destroyed by keeping. MEDICAL USE. It is an active stimulus, and increases the force of the circula¬ tion, especially of the pulmonary vessels. It has therefore been found useful in typhoid inflammations of the lungs ; but it is apt to disorder the stomach, and to induce diarrhoea. Dr. Brand- reth, of Liverpool, has derived great benefit, in some cases of lethargy, from an extract of seneka combined with carbonate of ammonia. Some have likewise employed this root in hydropic cases, and not without success. There are examples of its occasioning a plentiful evacuation by stool, urine, and perspiration ; and by this means removing the disease, after the common diuretics and hydragogues had failed. The Senegaro Indians are said to prevent the fatal effects of the bite of a rattlesnake by giving it internally, and by applying it externally to the wound. The usual dose of the powder is thirty grains, or more. Externally it has been advantageously used as a stimulating gargle in croup. OFFICINAL PREPARATION. Decoction of Seneka. (Decoctum Polygalas Senegas. E.) Take of seneka root, one ounce; - — — water, two pounds : Boil down to sixteen ounces, and strain the decoction. The virtues of this decoction will, be easily understood from those of the root from which it is prepared. The dose in hy¬ dropic cases, and rheumatic or arthritic complaints, is two ounces, three or four times a day, according to its effect. BASTARD CABBAGE TREE. GEOFFRCEA INERMIS. Class XVII. Diadelphia. Order IV. Decandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-cleft; Drupe ovate; Nut compressed. Spec. Char. Stem unarmed : Leaves lanceolate. DESCRIPTION. This is a large tree, sending off numerous branches. Leaves pinnated, consisting of several pair of pinnae, and ending in an odd one. Pinnae lance-shaped, acute, veined, in pairs, on short footstalks. Flowers in clusters, upon large branched spikes, papilionaceous, of a pale rose colour, terminal, on footstalks. HISTORY. The bark of this tree, which grows in the low savannahs of Jamaica, is of a gray colour externally, but black and furrowed BASTARD CABBAGE TREE. 632 on the inside. The powder looks like jalap, but is not so heavy. It has a mucilaginous and sweetish taste, and a dis¬ agreeable smell. MEDICAL USE. Its medical effects are much greater than its sensible qualities would lead us to expect. When properly exhibited, it operates as a powerful anthelmintic, especially in cases of lumbrici. It may be given in different forms, as in decoction, syrup, powder, and extract; and the manner of preparing and exhi¬ biting these is thus stated by Dr. Wright: 44 The decoction. Take fresh dried or well preserved cabbage bark, one ounce ; boil it in a quart of water, over a slow fire, till the water is of an amber colour, or rather of deep-coloured Madeira wine; strain it off, sweeten it with sugar, and let it be used immediately, as it does not keep many days. 44 Syrup of cabbage bark. To any quantity of the above de¬ coction add a double portion of sugar, and make a syrup. This will retain its virtues for years. 44 The extract of cabbage bark is made bv evaporating the strong decoction in lalneo marice to the proper consistence ; it must be continually stirred, as otherwise the resinous part rises to the top, and on this probably its efficacy depends. 44 The powder of well-dried bark is easily made, and looks like jalap, though not of equal specific gravity. 44 This bark, like most other powerful anthelmintics, has a narcotic effect ; and on this account it is always proper to begin with small doses, which may be gradually increased till a nausea is excited, when the dose for that patient is ascertained. But by frequent use we can in common determine the dose, though we choose to err rather on the safe side. 44 A strong healthy grown person may, at first, take four table-spoonfuls of the decoction or syrup, three grains of the extract, or thirty grains of the powder, for a dose. 44 A youth, three table-spoonfuls of the decoction or syrup, two grains of extract, or twenty grains of powder. 44 A person of ten years of age, two table-spoonfuls of the decoction or syrup, one grain and a half of extract, or fifteen grains of the powder. 44 Children of two or three years old, a table. spoonful of the decoction or syrup, one grain of extract, or ten grains of the powder. Children of a year old, half the quantity. BASTARD CABBAGE TREE. 633 i6 These may be increased, as above observed, till a nausea is excited, which will depend on the strength, sex, and habit of body of the patient. u Care must be taken that cold water be not drunk during the operation of this medicine, as it is in this case apt to occa¬ sion sickness, vomiting, fever, and delirium. When this hap¬ pens, or when an over large dose has been given, the stomach must be washed with warm water: the patient must speedily be purged with castor oil, and use plenty of lime juice beverage for common drink ; vegetable acid being a powerful antidote in this case, as well as in an over dose of opium. u The decoction is what is mostly given here, and seldom fails to perform every thing that can be expected from an anthelmintic medicine, by destroying worms in the intestines, and bringing them away in great quantities. By frequent use, however, these animals become familiarized, and we find it necessary to intermit jt, or have recourse to others of inferior merit. 6( The writers of the Edinburgh Medical Commentaries take notice, that the decoction of cabbage bark always excites vo¬ miting. We find no such effect from it here, and may account for it by their receiving it in a mouldy state. A syrup, there¬ fore, is given there with better effect. They observe also that it has a diuretic virtue, which we have not taken notice of here. a This bark purges pretty briskly, especially in powder, thirty or forty grains working as well as jalap by stool ; but in this way it does not seem to kill worms so well as in decoction. u Five grains of the extract made a strong man sick, and purged him several times ; but, by frequent use, he took ten grains to produce at length the same effect. u It must not be concealed that fatal accidents have hap¬ pened from the imprudent administration of this bark, chiefly from over-dosing the medicine. But this cannot detract from the merit of the cabbage bark, since the best medicines, when abused, become deleterious ; and even our best aliments, in too great quantity, prove destructive. Upon the whole, the cab¬ bage bark is a most valuable remedy, and I hope will become an addition to the materia raedica.” C O W H A G E. DOLICHOS PRURIENS. Class XVII. Diadelphia. Order IV. Decandria. Essent. Gen. Char. VexiUum with two parallel oblong callosities at the base, compressing the wings underneath. Spec. Char. Stem twining : Legumes racemed, the valves slightly cari¬ nate, and hairy : Peduncles three together. DESCRIPTION. The stem is climbing, and twists round neighbouring trees, and so rises to a great height. The leaves are in threes, and stand upon long footstalks, and are placed alternate: each pinna, or leaf, is entire, oval, pointed, smooth above, hirsute beneath. There are twro small stipules at the footstalks of the compound leaves. Flowers very large, a deep purple, placed also in threes, upon short peduncles, and form pendent spikes, which arise from the axillae of the leaves. The vexillnm, or standard, is small. The alae, or wings, extremely large. The carina, or keel, is also long, and furnished on each side with a short spur. The fruit is an oblong pod, in form of the letter f. COWHAGE. 635 HISTORY. It is a native of the West Indies, and flowers in September and October. MEDICAL USE. The following account is extracted from Mr. Chamberlaine’s admirable u Practical Treatise on the Stizolobium, or Cowhage > — When from the existing symptoms, all other circumstances considered, it is known, or suspected, that worms are the cause of disturbance in the system, it becomes our business to get rid of them as soon as we can, and with as little danger to the pa¬ tient as possible. In this view the indications are, first, to administer such me* dicines as will oblige them to let go their hold, and dislodge them from their situation ; secondly, to expel them from the body ; and, thirdly, to prevent a return of the complaint, by such me¬ dicines and regimen as will invigorate the system, and prevent the accumulation of viscid mucus in the intestines. Many and various have been the medicines exhibited, and even celebrated, for the expulsion of these intestine enemies. Bitter purgatives, oily medicines, chalybeates, preparations of tin, iron, and zinc ; garlic, hellebore, the root of the male fern, which is the basis of madam Nouffer’s celebrated Swiss remedy; drastic and resinous cathartics : the juices of plants celebrated for their anthelmintic qualities, have all had their turn. Bitters will not prove effectual; for Le Clerc tells us, that he found worms, not only in the liver, but in the gall-bladder it¬ self, of a sheep which he dissected ; which were active and lively, swimming in the gall itself, the bitterest of all the secretions. Oil, which kills all other insects, will not answer here. It is true, it may destroy a few ascarides in the vicinity of the rectum, when administered as a glyster : But how is the oil to be con* veyed into the jejunum, or ileum, unaltered, so as to drown the teres, or a tape-worm ? The tract of the intestines it has to pass through, and the changes it undergoes before it reaches the seat of worms, render it inert. But we are even told the experiment has been made of putting live teretes into common oil, in which they have lived and moved for several hours. Practitioners not attached to any particular remedy, among those generally considered as specifics, place dependence on mer¬ curials; but mercury, in all its various forms, has been exhibited 636 COWHAGE. in many millions of real worm cases, without any other effect than injuring the constitution. If mercury be given at all for the expulsion of worms, the safest way of administering it has always appeared to me to be in small doses of Dimsdale’s powder*. But even this is not al¬ ways effectual. And it is very extraordinary, that where nature has pointed out and supplied us with the noblest and safest an¬ thelmintics, the preparations of art should be substituted, and preferred, though inferior in virtue, and more hazardous in their consequences. Few or none of the European medicines are equal in efficacy to those vermifuges which the East and West Indies supply us with. The worm grass is highly commended by many, and is allowed a place among the first anthelmintics, by those who have been accustomed to give it. Its use princi pally obtains among the free black and mulatto women of Jamaica, who make a liveli¬ hood by practising physic among those of their own colour, with the medicinal herbs which nature so abundantly bestows ia that climate. It is the anthelmia of Dr. Browne, and the spigelia of Lin» naeus. The preparations of it are an infusion, decoction, and the clarified juice. Dr. Browne, who, in his Natural History of Jamaica, gives ts the best methods of preparing it, speaks very highly in its praise. Those to whom it is administered are first affected as if with a degree of intoxication. It then procures sleep almost as certainly, and in the same degree, as opium ; and the patient’s eyes, after the sleep is over, appear sparkling and distended. However, the exhibition of it is not unattended with danger; if the dose be too little it will do no good, and excess in the dose 1 have known productive of alarming effects. The asclfpias, which is the npocynum erectum folio oh Ion go &c. of Sloane, from its emetic quality called bastard or wild ipecacuanha, and by the negroes red-head, is a powerful ver¬ mifuge. The usual way of administering it is, either in a decoction or * R. calom I, compound powder of crabs claws, of each equal parts, grains 3 ; tartarized antimony, grain a or COWHAGE. 637 the expressed juice of the leaves. Of the former, half a pint is the usual dose to an adult, when intended as an emetic. In the latter form, from a tea-spoonful to three table-spoonfuls may be given as an emetic, according to the age, constitution, and strength of the patient. The expressed juice may also be made into a syrup with sugar. I have known it to bring away worms (after operating as an emetic) from patients in whom there never appeared any symptoms of them. If there are any in the sto¬ mach, it certainly dislodges them. When the crude juice is to be administered, I would recommend an addition of an equal or a double portion of lukewarm water with it, which makes it ope® rate more gently, and likewise more effectually. The bark of the bastard cabbage tree ( Gecjjrcea inermis ) stands among the first in the list of powerful vermifuges. It is the bark of a tree, very frequently to be met with in the mountainous parts of Jamaica, which grows to a considerable height. The bark is of an ash colour, sometimes spotted with reddish or iron-coloured spots : the outer thin bark, or epider¬ mis, being peeled off, the inner bark appears, when dry, of a rusty iron colour, and its interior surface of a cineritious hue. Altogether, when stripped off the tree, and kept for use, it is not unlike the eleutheria, or cascariila bark. The wood of the bastard cabbage tree is exceedingly hard and durable, and much used for the purposes of building, where strength and stability are required. The leaves are oblong, oval, smooth, and of a beautiful green colour, disposed in a pinnate form along the stem. Of this tree there are said to be two sorts, the male and the female. The bark of that only which is called the female bas¬ tard cabbage tree is applied to the purposes of medicine. This latter, in the months of April, May, June, and July, appears most beautifully adorned with very large spikes of papiliona¬ ceous blossoms, of a purple colour, which are succeeded by a fruit, of the shape, size, and appearance of a green walnut* being a drupa, containing one oval kernel, inclosed in a hard, smooth, thin shell. The most usual way of exhibiting this bark is in decoction. About an ounce, or an ounce and a half, grossly powdered, may be boiled in a quart of water, until it is reduced to half a pint. I3y this time the decoction becomes very high coloured, like old Madeira wine, or porter; but if it should not then at- COWHAGE. 638 tain that colour (which is generally looked on as the criterion of its being properly prepared) the boiling must be continued longer; for in a strong decoction only the efficacy lies. The taste of this decoction is not unpalatable, nor is it from any bitterness that the bark derives its efficacy, as some have imagined ; but from a specific quality, powerfully noxious to all kinds of worms bred in the human body. The dose to children is from a table-spoonful to a small wine glass full. Adults of a strong constitution may venture on a large wine glass full. Of this decoction a dose proportionable to the age and constitution of the patient is to be given, either simply, or sweetened with honey, sugar, or molasses, for three or four mornings successively. A dose of some medicine of the purgative kind should be then interposed; such as jalap, rhubarb, sal. glaub., or what is still better, as more immediately answering the intention, an ounce of oleum riciiii. Besides the decoction, this bark has been found efficacious when taken in substance finely powdered. From five grains to a scruple may with safety be ventured on, and even further: combined with jalap, it operates with greater certainty of suc¬ cess than when exhibited by itself. The ill success of this bark in some cases (continues Mr. Chamberlaine) induced me to make some inquiry concerning a medicine wffiich I had heard of, as being successfully given, irt many parts, to all patients afflicted with complaints arising, or supposed to arise, from worms ; and that, not only by regular practitioners, but even by ignorant negroes, at random, and without any just proportion in the dose. This was the Stizolobium, or cowhage. Satisfied, as I said before, of the general efficacy of the cab¬ bage tree bark, I had never given myself the trouble to make inquiry about any other more powerful vermifuge; nor did I think that there could be one more powerful, until the death of a negro girl, evidently occasioned, as appeared upon my open¬ ing her, from vast numbers of worms lodged in the small intes¬ tines, convinced me that I had not done my' duty, and excited me to push my inquiries in search of a more efficacious medicine still further. 1 had heard so much of the cowhage, or co witch, that I re¬ solved to make trial of it. COWHAGE. 639 The substance which is known by this name is the rigid, hairy coat, somewhat in appearance similar to the pile of velvet, or rather plush, of a reddish brown colour, which grows on, or clothes the surface of a pod, in appearance like the pod of our English scarlet bean, to which plant, indeed, the whole of the cowhage vine, both in its foliage and manner of growth, bears a very near resemblance. This hair, or pile, scraped off and mixed in some viscid vehicle, is the part to be employed. The rest of the plant is useless. But the different modes of exhibiting the cowhage were as various as the persons who took upon them that office. One administered it in molasses. Castor oil was the favourite vehicle of a second ; and a third insisted that it w as of no service unless mixed with honey. The greater number agreed in giving molasses the preference ; but there was even among these a considerable disagreement with regard to the proportions to be observed in the mixture. While some cautiously put but two pods of the cowhage into a quart of molasses, others boldly stirred up two dozen in a like quan¬ tity. Some again would have six pods to be sufficient ; and ethers imagined that some secret virtue, or charm, was to be expected from having the number neither greater nor less, than exactly nine. By some, the seta? contained on the outside of a single pod, mixed with one or two table-spoonsful of syrup, honey, or mo¬ lasses, was given for a single dose, without distinction, to young and old. By others, a quantity of each ingredient was mixed together, without bearing any exact proportion to each other further than was merely sufficient to bring the composition to the consistence of an electuary ; and one, two, or three tea- spoonsful given as a dose to children, and one, and sometimes two table-spoonsful to adults. I considered that the wonderful efficacy so generally attri¬ buted to cowhage, could not be supposed to arise from any spe¬ cific medicinal quality residing in it, so much as from the sharp¬ ness and elasticity of the setse, with which the pods are covered, which take the same effect on worms as they do when applied to our skin ; the setae piercing, vellicating, and tormenting them in such a manner as obliges them to let go their hold ; acting like so many needles, as may be plainly demonstrated by view¬ ing the setse through a microscope; which shows them to be a 640 cowhAge. number of long spieulae, needle-shaped, hollow, transparent, and armed with points exquisitely sharp and fine. The idea that their action is merely mechanical, is supported by the observations of several very judicious inquirers, who have made trial of the cowhage, who all agree in the opinion that it acts in the same manner as hair cut fine, and given with the same intention ; but much more effectually, because of its inflexibility, and the exquisite and almost inconceivable sharp¬ ness of its points. Curious to know how far the application of the setae to the ex¬ ternal coats of worms bred in the human body would affect those animals when expelled from the body, I waited not long before I had an opportunity of making the experiment. A calabash full of very large ones, of the teres kind, in full vigour, voided by a poor emaciated patient, was brought to me. Among these 1 sprinkled some of the setae. For a minute or two no visible effect was produced; but in a little time they began to writhe and twist themselves in an unusual manner, and exhibited evident signs of extreme torture. I took one of the worms, and, viewing it through a magnifying glass, perceived that several of the setaj had pierced very deep, and others were sticking loosely in various parts of its body, but that none of the spieulae which had once entered into the skin dropped off*. Convinced in a short time, both from what I had heard, and from my own experiments on the internal exhibition of cowitch, of the safety and efficacy of this incomparable medicine, I laid aside the cabbage tree bark, and for several years have used no other vermifuge than this. My usual way of preparing and administering the cowhage is in the form of an electuary, with honey, molasses, or syrup of a thick consistence. Formerly I was not in the habit of ob¬ serving any exact proportion of the quantity of the setae ; but as, since the publication of the former editions of this Treatise, the demand for it has increased beyond my expectations, I have found it necessary to adopt certain formulae for ascertaining the proportions ; which proportions, although 1 find them in general to answer very well, I nevertheless, in some particular cases, find it necessary to vary, for there never yet existed any general rule to which some exception or exceptions could not be found. After repeated trials and experiments, in the course of five-and- twenty years, (during which period I have been iu the constant COWHAGE* 64 1 constant habit of exhibiting the cowhage as an anthelmintic,) made with a viewT of finding out the best vehicle for this sub¬ stance, I cannot say that I have found any less exceptionable than the good old vehicle, common treacle, such as is to be had at every grocer’s. I have tried conserves, but children cannot be prevailed on so readily to take them. Honey would not be an incommodious vehicle, but it is not with every stomach honey will agree ; for it is well known that in some constitutions vio¬ lent colicky complaints are brought on by the smallest quantity of honey, or even by drinking any kind of vinous liquor into which honey enters as an ingredient : and there are these advan¬ tages in treacle : first, that every body knows what it is : se¬ condly, there are few children who do not like it: thirdly, it is not apt to be spoiled, or to ferment, unless kept in too warm a place: and lastly, it is gently aperient, and, in that view, an auxiliary to the principal ingredient. But if, from a dislike of treacle, some other vehicle would be preferred, raspberry jam or currant jelly will prove very good substitutes. At the request of some indulgent parents, in order to cheat into compliance such of their children as could not be prevailed on to take any thing that has the appearance of a medicine, I was induced to turn in my mind how to exhibit the cowhage in the form of a lozenge ; and after some trials succeeded in fixing on a formula that answers pretty well. It consists of a due pro¬ portion of things extremely simple, — sugar, Indian arrow-root, and gum tragacanth ; but no efficient article, except the cowhage. But though I have had many communications of the good ef¬ fects of the lozenges, I cannot say I place so much dependence on them, or recommend them in my own practice, (unless where I meet with refractory and spoiled children, that are masters and mistresses over their mammas,) as I find the simple elec¬ tuary, made with nothing but cowhage and treacle, answer every purpose. Of this electuary, a tea-spoonful is in general found to be a sufficient dose for children from infancy to the age of six or eight; from thence to fourteen, a dessert-spoonful is found to answer well, and for all above that age, a table-spoonful. For¬ merly I thought it might be sufficient if taken once a day, but experience has shown me that it answers better when taken twice; viz. at night, going to bed, and in the morning, an hour 2 T 642 COWHAGE. before breakfast ; and though little or no previous medicine is necessary, yet it is generally found to operate more effectually where a gentle emetic (provided nothing forbids it) has been pre¬ mised. The cowhage, after being begun upon, is to be continued for three or four days, after which, some brisk purgative, such as jalap, or infusion of senna, or in short whatever purging medicine is known to agree best with the patient, is to be taken ; which will in general bring away the worms, if there be any. After¬ wards the cowhage is to be continued as long as there may seem occasion, repeating the purgative at intervals of three or four days. For the tape worm, long experience has taught me, that the cowhage does not prove so effectual as against the other worms, unless the quantity of setae be doubled. In very obstinate cases I sometimes find it necessary to increase the quantity of setae even to a threefold proportion ; for they will not easily be made to let go their hold, which they are as tenacious of as they are of life. Every one that knows what cowhage or cowitch is, must be sensible, that if the least particle of it comes in contact with the skin, it causes a most intolerant itching, and sometimes, in very delicate skins, no small degree of inflammation where it fixes. A single bristle of it, so small as to be invisible to the naked eye, is sufficient to cause this inconvenience for a time, but it soon goes off. Microscopic observations show us that the setae are hollow, and conical, gradually lessening from the base, until they terminate in the finest point that can possibly be imagined. Here, then, the question may very naturally be asked, 66 If these finely-pointed spiculae, when applied externally to any part of the surface of the skin, occasion such tormenting and into¬ lerable itching, sometimes almost even to madness, may there not be danger of injury to the coats of the stomach and intestines from so many sharp swords, as it were, received into the ali¬ mentary canal?” To this I answer, not the smallest degree of danger is to be apprehended. The many thousands who have taken it without any ill effect, show its perfect safety. If a little honey, or treacle, be found sufficient to defend the tender nervous papillae of the lips, fauces, and oesophagus, from the troublesome effects of the setae, certainly the mucus of the s to- COWHAGE. 643 mach and intestines, which is the guard provided by nature to protect the villous coat of these viscera from injury, will be very sufficient to defend those parts from the irritation of the setae.— A daughter of my own, when about five years old, contrived to lay hold of a gallypot that contained between three and four ounces of the common preparation of it ; and, secreting herself in a corner, made one meal of it — but without any other in¬ convenience than a smart diarrhoea, which did her more good than harm. I can with truth aver, that I have never met with, in my own practice, any ill effects resulting even from the most liberal use of the cowhage in any form. We are not to suppose, that after worms have been expelled from the system, the patient is never again to be troubled with them. The same causes existing, which proved favourable to their multiplication in the first instance, will favour their rege¬ neration. We are not therefore to sit down, content with having got rid of our enemies for the present, and with them a great number of bad symptoms which they occasioned, but so to in¬ vigorate the constitution as to prevent, if possible, their future attacks. In cases where they have greatly debilitated the system, much attention is required, to enable the patient to recover strength. But, as no practioner whatever can be ignorant of what is necessary to be done on such occasions, to enter into any long discussion, on this part of the subject, would be su¬ perfluous. As far as medicine is concerned, the tonic plan will be proceeded on ; the Peruvian bark, quassia, and preparations of steel. The following are amongst the testimonials produced in favour of this remedy. better from Du. Thornton, Lecturer on Medical Botany at Guy's Hospital. To Mr. Chamberlaine. Sir, I perceive by an advertisement, that you propose, in the course of next month, to give the world a new edition of your mirable work, on the Stizolobium or cowhage, the Dolichos pru- riens of Linnaeus. Regularly educated as I have been to physic, and to the science of botany, I could not fail to notice effects said, by so respectable an authority, to have arisen from the use of an exotic plant ; and, not to particularize cases, I must beg 2 t 2 644 COWHAGE. leave publicly to declare, that the remedy you have introduced into this part of the world, bids, as far as my experience reaches, the most fair for success, of any, in all cases of worms. Conscious that the vitality of this tribe of beings may differ widely from our own, I have tried, among other remedies, even what others might not have ventured on, even had they sup¬ posed good could have arisen. In one case I even ventured upon arsenic to destroy the lumbrici : but the case was that of insanity. In another, to destroy the ascarides, I injected dis¬ solved ice into the rectum : but here the individual had a cancer with this other disease; and life was insupportable. But neither the intensity of cold, or the most powerful mineral poison, pro¬ duced the cure. In both these cases, other applications failing, I afterwards tried your Stizolobium with advantage. Rough pewter filings have done much good, and are in truth a very rough remedy : but your Stizolobium acts also mechanically, yet not injuriously. The stomach and intestines are sufficiently coated with mucus to be secure of their spiculae : but the worms which may come into contact with these weapons of offense, are sure to become pierced thereby ; and thus wounded, are carried by the peristaltic motion throughout the intestinal tube, and ejected. There are certain juices offensive to different animals. Thus, the expressed juice of the ranunculus, (the common butter cup,) sprinkled over the ground, w ill bring up all the worms in that spot ; and the smell of asafcetida will drive away wild fowl ; yet it is a doubt how far any hitherto discovered remedy acts as a destroyer of worms. The fern-root may be eaten in pounds, and therefore, as far as regards us, is inactive, and probably is such with respect to one species of worm, the tsenia ; but the drastic purge afterwards employed, sometimes removes the enemy. Not so your Stizolobium; — mechanical action we all understand ; — and were I sure that we had as yet arrived at the real poison of these reptiles, one not at all detri¬ mental to ourselves, as parsley kills a parrot, and other such facts known to botanists, that I should rather recommend vvliafc succeeds sua virlute than what destroys only by mechanical action. In this state of our science, however, I am happy to bear testimony in favour of your West Indian plant ; whatever worms it comes into contact with, undefended by the mucus of the bowels or its folds, these it is sure to seize upon and COWHAGE, 645 destroy ; and proves in consequence a very safe and desirable remedy, and one extremely worthy the attention of the faculty and the public in general. — I remain, Sir, With much respect and esteem, Your faithful obedient servant, Robert John Thornton, M. D. No. 1, Hind-street, Manchester-square, October 24th, 1804. Dr. Squire. I have, in my own practice, seen many instances of the happy effects of your cowhage, and have the satisfaction to report, that many more have been communicated to me by correspon¬ dents, to whom I have recommended it, as a safe and powerful anthelmintick. The case of my nephew, as communicated to you by the Rev. P. Brodie, of Winterslow, is a very striking one. That young gentleman was supposed to be subject to epileptic fits, the symptoms of that disorder and of worms being in many instances equivocal. I advised a trial of the cowhage, which I procured from you several times, and sent to Salisbury. That trial was attended with the happiest effects. To the best of my recollection, more than 150 large teretes were dislodged, and the patient recovered. I consider the cowhage, as a vermifuge, a most valuable remedy, acting mechanically ; by which operation it must be less prejudicial to the constitution than the exhibition of drastic purges. Ely-place, Holborn. Copy of a Letter from the Rev. P. B. Brodie, Rector of IVintersloiv , near Salisbury. To Mr. Chamberlaine. Sir, A young gentleman in the county of Wilts, at the age of 10 years, had manifest and violent symptoms of worms. We tried several remedies, but had the misfortune to see his body debilitated, his sight very much injured, and the vital functions in general much impaired. His case was communicated to Dr. Squire, who prescribed, and was kind enough to take the trouble of sending to us your medicine; we administered it ac¬ cording to your directions, with a previous emetic. After some days, he evacuated one worm about three inches 646 COWHAGE. Jong; and after repeated doses, five more; but besides the emetic, we had given him some physic. After this, we paused awhile, and soon after the recommencement of our operations he produced in one day no less than sixty worms (teretes) of different lengths, from three to sixteen or eighteen inches, all alive, and without any slime. We continued our mode of pro¬ ceeding, but by some circumstances we were led to imagine that the action of digging assisted our endeavours ; we gave the ex¬ periment a fair trial, and found that we were more successful when he used that exercise than when he omitted it. Upon the whole, in the course of taking three or four pots of your medicine he evacuated 165 worms, between the sizes above mentioned, but most of them above the average size, and those all alive, and the greater part of them with the spiculae of the Cowhage sticking in them ; besides a great many dead ones. We flattered ourselves he was quite relieved : but found it requisite within the year to have recourse to you again ; he evacuated twenty worms, and has been perfectly well ever since, This is, as far as I recollect, an exact and true account, and if it can serve the public or you to insert it in the next edition of your book, you are welcome to it for that purpose, and to the name also of Your most humble servant, P. B. Brodie. Rector of Winterslow, near Salisbury. July 23, 1792. Dr. Underwood. - But one of the most powerful means, long in use with country practitioners, and of late strongly recommended by Mr. Chamberlaine, is the Dolichos pruriens, variously prepared; but the most simple form, that of giving it mixed up with treacle, is, perhaps, the best of all. It should be taken night and morn¬ ing for three or four days, and then be purged off with senna tea, or jalap, and this course be repeated as occasion may re¬ quire. — Undenvood on the Diseases of Children, vol. i. p. 149. 2d Edit. 1799. COMMON LIQUORICE. GLYCYRRHIZA GLABRA. Class XVII. Diadelphia. Order IV. Decandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx two-lipped. Legumen ovate, compressed. Spec. Char. Legumes smooth. Stipules none. Pinnae petioled, ending with an odd one. DESCRIPTION. The root is round, and runs to a very considerable extent. The stems rise five feet or more. The leaves are pinnated, al¬ ternate, composed of several pair of pinnas, which are ovate, blunt, veined, of a pale green. Flowers papilionaceous, stand¬ ing nearly erect, on long spikes. HISTORY. Liquorice is a perennial plant, a native of the south of Europe, and flowers in August ; but the roots, which are raised for medical purposes in considerable quantities in England, are preferred to those imported from abroad, which are very fre- 648 COMMON LIQUORICE. quently mouldy and spoiled. The roots are very long, about an inch thick, flexible, fibrous, externally of a brown colour, internally yellow, and, when fresh, jnicy. Their taste is very sweet, combined with a slight degree of bitter when long kept in the mouth. They are prepared for use by peeling them, cutting away all the fibres and decayed parts. It is necessary to preserve them in a very dry place, as they are extremely apt to spoil. The powder of liquorice usually sold is often mingled with flour, and perhaps also with substances not so wholesome. The best sort is of a brownish yellow colour, the fine pale yellow being generally sophisticated, and it is of a very rich sweet taste, much more agreeable than that of the fresh root. Neumann got from 960 parts of dried liquorice, 300 alcoholic extract, and afterwards 210 watery; and inversely, 540 watery, and only 30 alcoholic. The original alcoholic extract is the sweetest. MEDICAL USE. Its predominant constituents being saccharine and mucila¬ ginous matter, its only action is that of a mild demulcent, and as such it is frequently used in catarrh, and in some stomach complaints, which seem to arise from a deficiency of the natural mucus, which should defend the stomach against the acrimony of the food, and the fluids secreted into it. On account of its bulk it is rarely exhibited in substance, but more frequently in infusion or decoction. OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. Extract of Liquorice. (Extractum Radicis Glycyrrhizse glabra*.) The liquorice root is to be boiled, in eight times its weight of water, to one half ; the liquor is then to be expressed, and, after the fasces have subsided, to be filtered ; it is then to be eva¬ porated, with a heat between 200° and 212°, until it becomes thickish ; and, lastly, it is to be evaporated with a heat less than 200°, and frequently stirred, until it acquire a consistence proper for forming pills. This is made into little pastils or flat cakes, oftentimes bearing the impression of the places where they are made ; and a bit now and then put into the mouth takes off the tickling of a cough. It should be sucked to make it pleasant, as much of the juice taken at the time is unpleasant. COMMON LIQUORICE. 649 Troches of Liquorice. (Trochisci Glycyrrhizse. E.) Take of extract of liquorice ; - gum arabic, of each, one part; - white sugar, two parts : Dissolve them in warm water, and strain ; then evaporate the solution over a gentle fire till it be of a proper consistence for being formed into troches. Troches of Liquorice. (Trochisci Glycyrrhizse. L.) Take of extract of liquorice ; • - double refined sugar, of each, ten ounces; - tragacanth, powdered, three ounces: Powder them thoroughly, and make them into troches with rose water. These are both agreeable pectorals, and may be used at plea¬ sure in tickling coughs. The latter of these two receipts is the easiest and best mode of making these troches. Refined extract of liquorice should be used ; and it is easily powdered in the cold, after it has been laid for some days in a dry and rather warm place. The solution and subsequent evaporation directed by the Edinburgh college is exceedingly troublesome, and apt to give them an empyreumatic flavour. Liquorice Troches with Opium. (Trochisci Glycyrrhizse cum Opio. E.) Take of opium, two drachms; - - tincture of Tolu, half an ounce; . - common syrup, eight ounces; - extract of liquorice, softened in warm water, - gum arabic, in powder, of each five ounces : Triturate the opium well with the tincture, then add by degrees the syrup and extract ; afterwards gradually mix in the powdered gum arabic. Lastly, dry them so as to form a mass, to be di¬ vided into troches, each weighing ten grains. These directions for preparing the above troches are so full and particular, that no further explanation is necessary; seven and a half, contain about one grain of opium. These troches are medicines of approved efficacy in tickling coughs depending on the irritation of the fauces. Besides the mechanical effect of the viscid matters in involving acrid humours, or lining and de¬ fending the tender membranes, the opium no doubt must have a considerable effect, by more immediately diminishing the irrita¬ bility of the parts themselves. RED SAUNDERS TREE. Pl'EROCARPUS SANTALINUS. Class XVII. Diadelphia. Order III. Decandria. Essent. Gen. CRar. Calyx five-toothed : Capsule falcated, foliaceous, varicose : Seed solitary. Spec. Char. Leaves ternate, roundish, retuse, very smooth: Petals of the corolla crenate, undulate. DESCRIPTION. A large tree. Leaves in threes, ovate, blunt, somewhat notched at the end, somewhat veined. Flowers yellow, in spikes, pa¬ pilionaceous. HISTORY. Native of the East Indies, growing on mountainous situations. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The juice of this tree affords what is styled sanguis draconis, dragon’s blood, and has been thought good in spitting of blood probably from its colour. The only use to which it seems to be generally applied, is to give a fine colour to medicines, whose aspect might otherwise nauseate a weak stomach. COMMON BROO M. SPARTIUM SCOPARIUM. Class XVII. Diadelphia. Order III. Decandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Stigma longitudinal, above villous: Filaments ad¬ hering to the germen : Calyx produced downwards. Spec. Char. Leaves ternate, and single : Branches unarmed, angular. DESCRIPTION. 1 his tree grows to six or seven feet in height. The leaves are small and downy, the inferior leaves in threes, those above single. The flowers very large, and numerous, of a bright yellow. The stamens with the pistillum have a remarkable curve. HISTORY. Native of Britain, and flowers in April and May. MEDICAL USE. The tops of the broom have a bitter, and rather disagreeable taste. Infusions, decoctions, and extracts made with them, have 652 COMMON BROOM. been recommended as powerful diuretics in dropsies, when joined with nitre, sal-diureticus, or other neutral salts; and if taken in sufficient quantity they prove likewise purgative. The infusions have been given in doses of one, two, or more ounces, frequently repeated, — the extract from half a drachm to a drachm and a half. Dr. Cullen says, (C The broom, though very little in use, I have inserted in my catalogue (of cathartics) from my own experience of it. I found it first in use among our common people : but I have since prescribed it to some of my patients in the manner following: — I order half an ounce of fresh broom tops to be boiled in a pound of water till one half of this is consumed, and of this decoction I give two table-spoonfuls every hour till it operates by stool, or till the whole is taken. It seldom fails to operate both by stool and urine, and by repeating this exhibi¬ tion every day, or every second day, some dropsies have been cured.” The seeds have been used for the same purposes as the tops. The ashes of the broom have long had the reputation of being very powerful diuretics, and they are an ingredient in most of the diuretic wines and infusions prepared fifty or sixty years ago ; but whether the alkaline salts of these ashes are rendered more powerfully diuretic by the mixture of an oil, or any other foreign substance got from the broom in burning, than the alka¬ line salts got from other vegetables, I think is much to be doubted. The seeds when roasted have been used as coffee. The bark, for tanning. FENUGREEK. TRIGONELLA FCENUM GR.ECUM. Class XVII. Diadelphia. Order III. Decandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Banner and Wings subequal, patent; the form of the corolla as if three-petalled. Spec. Char. Legumes sessile, stiff, nearly erect, somewhat falcate, pointed : Stem erect. DESCRIPTION. T his plant rises two feet in height. The leaves are oblong, serrated, veined, and stand in threes upon a common footstalk. Flowers white, papilionaceous, appearing in pairs from the alae of the leaves. The pericarp is at first a straight legume, but afterwards becomes falcated. HISTORY. Native of Montpellier, and flowers from June till August. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The seeds are imported to us from the south of France, and principally used in cataplasms and fomentations, for softening, maturating, and discussing tumors, and in emollient glysters. GOAT’S THORN, or MILK VETCH. ASTRAGALUS TRAGACANTHA. Class XVII. Diadelphia. Order III. Decandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Legumen bilocular, gibbous. Spec. Char. Caudex arborescent: Petioles a spine. DESCRIPTION. I'he plant is small, shrubbv, clothed with brown fibres, and beset with strong spines. Leaves pinnated, pinnae numerous, attached to a strong spinous footstalk. Flowers large, of a pale yellow, in close clusters. HISTORY. Gum tragacanth is the produce of a very thorny shrub, which grows on the island of Candia, and other places in the Levant. About the end of June a fluid exudes from the stem and larger branches, which dries in the sun, and is collected by the shep¬ herds on Mount Ida, from whence it is sent to Europe under the title of Tragacanth. It consists of whitish semitransparent vermiform pieces, scarcely a line in thickness, without taste or smell. There is also a dirty yellow, or brownish kind, which is not fit for medical purposes. 655 goat’s thorn, or milk vetch. Tragacanth is difficultly pulverizable, unless when thoroughly dried, and the mortar heated, or in frost. According to Neu¬ man, it gives nothing over in distillation, either to Mater or al¬ cohol : alcohol dissolves only about 10 parts of 480, and water the whole. Lewis, however, more accurately observes, that it cannot be properly said to be dissolved; for, put into water, it absorbs a large proportion of that fluid, increasing immensely in volume, and forming with it a soft, but not fluid, mucilage; and although it is easily diffused through a larger proportion of wa¬ ter, after standing a day or two, the mucilage subsides again., the supernatant fluid retaining little of the gum. Besides these remarkable differences from gum arable in regard to brittleness, insolubility, and the quantity of water which it thickens, I find, says Dr. Duncan, jun., that tragacanth is not pre¬ cipitated by silicized potash, and is precipitated by sulphate of copper, and acetate of lead. # MEDICAL USE. In pharmacy it is employed for forming powders into troches, and rendering tough cohesive substances pulverizable, by beating them with mucilage of tragacanth, and then drying the mass. For electuaries it is improper, as it renders them slimy on keeping. OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. Mucilage of Gum Tragacanth. (Mucilage Astragali Tra- gacanth®. E.) Take of gum tragacanth, in powder, one ounce j - — — boiling water, eight ounces : Macerate for twenty-four hours ; then triturate carefully, that the gum may be dissolved ; and press the mucilage through linen cloth. Mucilage of Tragacanth, (Mucilago Tragacanth®. L.) Take of tragacanth, half an ounce; Distilled water, ten ounces, by measure : Macerate them, with a gentle heat, till the tragacanth be dis¬ solved. Gum tragacanth is difficultly soluble in water. When mace¬ rated in it, it swells, but does not dissolve. To effect the solu¬ tion, it must be beaten into a paste with some of the water ; and the rest of the water must be added gradually, and incorporated with the paste, by beating them together. 656 GOAT'S THORN, OR MILK. VETCH. Compound Powder, of Tragacanth. (Pulvis Tragacanth® Compositus. L.) Take of tragacanth, powdered, - - gum arabic, - - - starch, of each an ounce and a half ; - - — double refined sugar, three ounces: Rub them together into a powder. This composition is a mild emollient; and hence becomes ser¬ viceable in hectic cases, tickling coughs, strangury, some kinds of alvine fluxes, and other disorders proceeding from a thin acri¬ monious state of the excreted fluids, or an abrasion of the mucus of the intestines ; it is supposed to soften, and give a greater de¬ gree of consistency to the former, and defend the latter from being irritated or excoriated by them. All the ingredients coin¬ cide in these general intentions. The dose is from half a drachm to two or three drachms, which may be frequently repeated. ORANGE. CITRUS AURANTIUM. Class XVIII. Polyadelphia. Order III. Icosandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-cleft: Petals five, oblong: Anthers 20: Filaments united into different bodies. Spec. Char. Petioles winged : Leaves acuminate. DESCRIPTION. This beautiful plant, which gives a refreshing shade in warm climates, and perfumes the air for miles, at the same time re¬ galing the delicate taste with a sweet luxuriant juice, equally grateful as wholesome, and which is imported in immense abun¬ dance to us from abroad, is found adorning our green-houses, and in the height of summer our gardens, in large tubs, or pots, and they often have the appearance of handsome trees. The leaves are nearly elliptical, smooth, entire, of a shining green colour, and the footstalk is winged, that is, it has the appearance of a small leaf. The flowers appear during the whole of summer, and some branches are in full bloom whilst others are just going off, and on others appear the young or fully grown oranges. The calyx is salver-shaped, and cut into five small teeth. The petals are five, oblong, white, fleshy, and beset with small 2 u 658 CHANGE. glands. Filaments twenty, united at the base into three or more distinct portions, furnished with yellow anthers. Stigma globular. H I S T O RY, The orange tree is a beautiful evergreen, a native of Asia, but now abundantly cultivated in the southern parts of Europe and in the West India islands. There are several varieties of this species, but they may be all referred to the bitter or Seville orange, and the sweet or China orange. The leaves are neither so aromatic nor so bitter as the rind of the fruit. The flowers are highly odoriferous, and have been long in great esteem as a perfume ; their taste is somewhat warm, ac¬ companied with a degree of bitterness. They yield their flavour by infusion to rectified spirits, and in distillation both to spirit and water : the bitter matter is dissolved by water, and on eva¬ porating, the decoction remains entire in the extract. A very fragrant red-coloured oil, distilled from these flowers, Is brought from Italy, under the name of oleum or essentia ne- roll ; but oil of behen, in which orange flowers have been di¬ gested, is frequently substituted for it : the fraud, however, is easily detected, as the real oil is entirely volatile, and the adul¬ terated is not. The juice of oranges is a grateful acid liquor, consisting prin¬ cipally of citric acid, syrup, extractive, and mucilage. The outer yellow rind of the fruit is a grateful aromatic bitter. The unripe fruit, dried, are called Curacoa oranges. They vary in size, from that of a pea to that of a cherry. They are bitterer than the rind of ripe oranges, but not so aromatic, and are used as a stomachic. MEDICAL USE. The juice of the fruit is of considerable use in febrile or in¬ flammatory distempers, for allaying heat, quenching thirst, and promoting the salutary excretions : it is likewise of use in ge¬ nuine scorbutus, or sea scurvy. Although the Seville, or bitter orange, as it is called, has alone a place in our pharmacopoeias, yet the China, or sweet orange, is much more employed. Its juice is milder, and less acid; and is very frequently used in its most simple state with great advantage. ORANGE. m CULINARY PREPARATIONS. Method of obtaining the fragrant Essences from the fresh Rinds of Citrons, Oranges , &c. Procure as many fresh citrons from the Italian warehouses as will supply the required stock of essence; after cleaning off any speck in the outer rinds of the fruit, break off a large piece of loaf sugar, and rub the citron on it till the yellow rind is com® pletely absorbed, lliose parts of the sugar which are impreg¬ nated with the essence, are from time to time to be cut away with a knife, and put in an earthen dish. The whole being thus taken off, the sugared essence is to be closely pressed, and put by in pots ; where it is to be squeezed down hard, have a bladder over the paper by which it is covered, and tied tightly up. It is at any time fit for use, and will keep for many years. Exactly in the same manner may be obtained and preserved, at the proper seasons, from the fresh roots, the essences of the rinds of Se¬ ville or China oranges, lemons or limes, bergamots, &c., some of which are often unattainable, in a fresh state, at any price. This mode of extracting and preserving these essences is superior to the common practices of peeling, rasping, or grating off the rind, and afterward mixing it up with powdered sugar, &c. Orange Wine. Put twelve pounds of powdered sugar, with the whites of eight or ten eggs well beaten, into six gallons of spring water, boil them three quarters of an hour ; when cold, put into it six spoonfuls of yeast, and the juice of twelve lemons, which, being pared, must stand with two pounds of white sugar in a tankard, and in the morning skim off' the top, and then put it into the water; add the juice and rinds of fifty oranges, but not the white or pithy parts of the rinds ; let it work all together two days and two nights ; then add two quarts of Rhenish or white wine, and put it into your vessel. Orange or Lemon Pie. Rub six oranges or lemons with salt, and put them into wa¬ ter, with a handful of salt in it, for two days. Put every day fresh water without salt, for a fortnight. Boil them tender, cut them into half quarters corner-ways, quite thin. Boil six pip¬ pins pared, cored, and quartered, in a pint of water till they break ; then put the liquor to the oranges or lemons, with half 2u2 660 ©RANGE. the pulp of the pippins well broken, and a pound of sugar. Boil them a quarter of an hour, then put them into a pot and squeeze in two spoonfuls of the juice of either orange or lemon, accord¬ ing to the kind of tart. Put puff paste, very thin, into shallow patty-pans. Take a feather, or brush, and rub them over with melted butter, sift double refined sugar over them, which will form a pretty iceing, and put them in the oven. Orange Tarts. Grate a little of the outside of a Seville orange, squeeze the juice into a dish, put the peel into water, and change it often for four days. Then put them into a saucepan of boiling water ©n the fire. Change the water twice to take out the bitterness, and when tender, wipe, and beat them fine in a mortar. Boil their weight in double refined sugar into a syrup, and skim it. Then put in the pulp, and boil all together till clear. When cold, put it into the tarts, squeeze in the juice, and bake them in a quick oven. Conserve of oranges makes good tarts. Orange Puffs. Pare off the rinds from Seville oranges, then rub them with salt: let them lie twenty-four hours in water; boil them in four changes of water, make the first salt ; drain, and beat them to a pulp : bruise in the pieces of all that you have pared, make it ¥ery sweet with loaf sugar, and boil it till thick ; let it stand till cold, and then put it into the paste. LEMON. CITRUS MEDICA. Class XVIII. f^olyadelphia. Order III. Icosandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Same as the preceding. Spec. Char. Petioles linear. DESCRIPTION. This evergreen resembles the orange, to which it is closely allied, but the leaves are commonly larger, slightly indented at the edges, and the footstalk without having the remarkable ap¬ pendage of the other. The flowers are very like the other, but have a purplish tinge on the outer side of the petals. The fruit is less round, and has a prominent apex. The fruit is divided into nine cells. HISTORY. This tree is a native of the upper parts of Asia, from whence it wras brought to Greece, and afterwards by Paladius to Italy * Etenim citrus apud Medos et Persas imprimis frequens, dein Paladii diligentia in Italiam translata fnit : postea in Hispania in usutn devenit, u t nemora et campos occuparit. — Rauh. Pin. p. 435. 662 LEMON. Although it has been doubted whether Paladins was really the first cultivator of this tree in Italy, yet it is evident it could not have been propagated there long before his time, as appears by the w ritings of Pliny nor is its cultivation noticed by Varro, Cato, or Columella. After its introduction into Europe, we find Spain, Portugal, and France, became successively possessed of this valuable plant, with its congeners ; and the Hesperian fruits are now produced in such abundance, that their exportation gives rise to a lucrative branch of commerce. The lemon tree, like the orange, is common in our green¬ houses ; and, according to the Hortus Kewensis, was first culti¬ vated in Britain in the Oxford garden, previous to the year 1648 f. MEDICAL VIRTUE. Lemon juice is a powerful and agreeable antiseptic. Its powers are much increased, according to Dr. Wright, by saturating it with muriate of soda. This mixture he recommends as possess¬ ing very great efficacy in dysentery, remittent fever, the belly- ach, putrid sore throat, and as being perfectly specific in dia¬ betes and lientery. Citric acid is often used with great suc¬ cess for allaying vomiting : with this intention it is mixed with carbonate of potass, from which it expels the carbonic acid with effervescence. This mixture should be drunk as soon as it is made; or the carbonic acid gas, on which actually the anti¬ emetic power of this mixture depends, may be extricated in the stomach itself, by first swallowing the carbonate of potass dis¬ solved in water, and drinking immediately afterwards the citric acid properly sw eetened. The doses are about a scruple of the carbcnafe dissolved in eight or ten drachms of water, and an Ounce of lemon juice, or an equivalent quantity of citric acid. Lemon juice is also an ingredient in many pleasant refrigerant drinks, which are of very great use in allaying febrile heat and thirst. Of these, the most generally useful is lemonade, or di¬ luted lemon juice, sweetened. We are now to speak to the cure of scurvy. — From what we ourselves have seen of the disease, or learned from the wri- * tings of authors, we believe that fresh esculent vegetables of all kinds will cure it ; but that those fruits abounding with an acid, * See Hist. Nat. 1. 12. c. 3. + See Hort. Oxon. ed. i. LEMON. 663 such as the citric class, are more effectual than others. Most vegetables possess in their recent state a portion of acid, though so small as not always to be perceived, and in proportion as it abounds in them, and perceptible to our taste, they have a su¬ perior antiscorbutic quality. The lemon, lime, shaddock, and orange, in the order we have set them down, give out the citric acid in different degrees of purity. This genus of fruit has ad¬ vantages above all others ; for as it approaches to maturity the acid is not altered for the worse, but rather purer than before. The unripe gooseberry has the citric and oxalic acids combined in its juice, and there can be no doubt but it is equally as effec¬ tual as the lemon. I recommended this, says Dr. Trotter, to be carried to sea ; and have since seen in a newspaper, where a number of scorbutic sailors in an East Indiaman were cured in their passage outwards by some unripe gooseberries that were preserved for making tarts. The malic acid is pure in the apple just before it is ripe, but it has less afterwards. The last case of scurvy which I treated was cured by apples. This, with the recovery of the seamen in the Berwick, at Torbay, sufficiently proves that apples are valuable antiscorbutics. The cases in which I last administered the juice of lemons and oranges for the cure of scurvy are worth narrating. Some time in November, 1789, eighty Irish convicts came from Newfound¬ land in company with the ships returning from that station to England. These convicts, to the number of 130 or 140, had been shipped at Dublin some time before. The master of the vessel in which they sailed, had orders to land or dispose of them somewhere in the territories of the United States of America. Instead, however, of fulfilling his contract with government, and obeying orders, he resolved upon making the best bargain with his prisoners. Those who had cash paid it to him for their li¬ berty ; among the rest was a noted Roman catholic priest, who had been convicted of forgery. When he had stript them of all the money and clothes which they had, they were, men and wo- men, turned on shore in the island of Newfoundland. Here, with the little provision he had given them, they were to make the best of it. Some perished in the woods from hunger and fatigue, and others reached different settlements in the island. The circumstances of their situation soon reached vice-admiral Milbank, then commander in chief on that station, who ordered them to be collected and secured, and a ship fitted to carry them 664 LEMON. to England. They remained in Portsmouth harbour till the Deptford, a navy transport, was ordered to convey them to Dublin, under convoy of his majesty’s sloop Drake. The sloop and transport went to sea, and were obliged to put back to Cowes Road in distress of weather about the 20th of December. The master of the transport, at this time, complained to captain Countess of the Drake, that the convicts were in a very un¬ healthy state, and begged he would order his surgeon’s mate to visit them, the surgeon of the Drake being then absent. The young gentleman had been a stranger to the diseases of seamen, and immediately pronounced that the gaol fever had broke out among them. This opinion he conceived from the debilitated state, the fetor about them, but particularly the large livid spots which appeared in different parts of their bodies, and the desire which many of them expressed for acid fruits and vegetables. Captain Onslow, then commanding at Portsmouth in the room of vice-admiral Roddam, transmitted captain Countess’s report to the lords commissioners of the admiralty, who, by return of post, ordered two surgeons to survey the convicts, and report their situation. The surgeon of the Magnificent, with myself, was ordered on this business. The first man who made his ap¬ pearance plainly showed that the disease was scurvy ; and when we came to inquire more particularly into their history, as re¬ lated above, there could be little doubt that the complaint was general. From the time that they embarked at St. John’s, in the island of Newfoundland, till now, they had lived on ship’s provisions, .without any fresh vegetables whatever, at the rate of two-thirds allowance. Never did I behold together so many wretched fellow-creatures. Those that were clothed had not shifted for many months ; but the greater part of them were naked, even without a shirt; a hammock tied round their shoul¬ ders by a rope-yarn was their only shelter from the cold, and at the same time without a bed to lie upon. It ought to be re¬ membered it was now the middle of winter, and the weather for some time before had been wet and boisterous. In our report to the commanding officer of the port, we re¬ commended an immediate supply of recent vegetables, clothing, and bedding; all of which, much to the credit and humanity of the admiralty board, were granted, with a surgeon, and what assistance he chose to call in to attend them. Few of them were without some symptom of scurvy; such as LEMON. 665 spongy gums, livid spots on different parts, and contractions of the hams, &c. This last symptom has generally been accounted for from blood effused in the interstices of the muscles, or into the cellular texture. Such an explanation is, indeed, very me¬ chanical, but it is not a good one. Had this rigidity and con¬ traction been owing to pieces of coagulated blood, there must have been some perceptible swelling or distention of the parts; but none is to be observed : the thigh is shrivelled and less in cir¬ cumference than in a healthy state; the tendinous fibres are also to be traced by their hardness, till they are gradually lost in the belly of the muscles. Besides, if that explanation could be admitted, we might with equal propriety say, that the Trismus and Tetanus, which were met with among the black people, were produced by the same means, viz. lumps of clotted blood, distending the temporal, masseter, and other muscles, which move the lower jaw upwards. And in tetanus how can it be supposed that the whole muscles of the body could be thrown into a rigid contraction from any cause of this kind ? These conditions of the muscular fibre are certainly much better ex¬ plained from the diminished nervous energy : it is this torpor of the vis vitce , which produces the hehetudo animi , and renders the mind as well as the body so little disposed to be affected by the usual stimuli; and is a state of the nervous influence more pe¬ culiar to scurvy than any other disease*. Bedding and clothing being immediately furnished to the con¬ victs by their lordships’ orders, the cure of scurvy was begun with lemons and oranges. At the same time they had beef arid mutton broth, in which were boiled cabbages, onions, &c. In distributing the fresh fruit among them, the only rule that I went was to give most to those who had the worst symptoms of the disease. Their recovery, as is commonly remarked in the scurvy, when plentifully served with acid fruits, was astonish¬ ingly rapid ; for on the eighteenth day of my attendance they sailed for Dublin, where they arrived in ten days after, in per¬ fect health and spirits. The great desideratum in long sea voyages is some prepara¬ tion of the citric acid, that preserves all its virtues for a length of time. Different forms have been tried for this purpose. The * Dr. Blane says, he dissected some subjects, and found no ecchymosis. 666 LEMON. extract recommended so warmly by Dr. Lind, has been found by captain Cook and others of little or no effect. It could scarcely, indeed, be expected that any preparation of this kind could re¬ tain the virtues of the recent fruit. It is not only the water that evaporates, but the acid is carried off with it, and the taste of the remaining juice has manifestly less acidity than when it was squeezed from the lemon ; its powers were not, therefore, concentrated by that process. A much better method is to bottle up the juice immediately as it is squeezed and strained. By let¬ ting it stand to clear, it is said that the mucilage may be sepa¬ rated, which is the cause of its acquiring a mouldiness and dis¬ agreeable taste: but what we gain in one way by these means we lose in another; for during the depuration and precipitation of the mucilage, a fermentation begins, which very materially alters the acidity of the juice, and destroys its antiscorbutic qua¬ lities. If, therefore, the lemons are fresh, as they ought to be, with their rind hard and full of aroma, the liquor may be corked up instantly, to preserve it in perfection. The best method of giving the lemon or orange juice, is to allow the patient to suck it from the fruit. With little trouble the entire lemon maybe preserved for the longest cruize in tight casks ; and this is, of all others, the surest way of securing the virtues of the citric acid. But other methods of concentrating and preserving the citric acid have been lately practised by different chemists. The fol¬ lowing process for concentrating the acid juice of citrons, and rendering it unalterable, was published some time ago by Mr. Georgius, in the Acts of the Academy of Stockholm. He directs the juice to be kept for some time in the cellar (I suppose where it may be cool, and not liable to fermentation) in inverted bot¬ tles, in order to separate from it a part of the mucilage, and then to expose it to a cold from 21° to 23° of Fahrenheit’s ther¬ mometer. The aqueous part freezes, carrying with it, as it would appear, a portion of (he mucilaginous matter : care must be taken, as the ice forms, to separate the liquid from it, and the congelation must be carried on till the ice becomes acid. The acid thus concentrated is reduced to about one-eighth part of its original bulk. This preparation has not yet been tried in practice for the cure of scurvy, but there can be no doubt of its good effects. It is much to be w ished that government should patronize a trial LEMON. 667 of the acid concentrated in this manner; for, when prepared as it ought to be, it will keep for ages. The juice of lemons and limes has been often recommended by some of the oldest writers to be used externally to the swellings, rigid limbs, and ulcers of scorbutic patients. A surgeon in lord Rodney’s fleet last w7ar, we are informed by Dr. Blane, found much benefit from it, applied to sores in the form of a poultice. Lemon juice also counteracts the powers of opium. Letter from, General Sir George Brathivaite Boughton, Bart ., to Dr. Beddoes *. Poston Hall, July 24, 1795. Sir, Having for a considerable time been troubled with rheu¬ matic pains, it was recommended to me to take a mild opiate every night on going to bed, and in the event of that dose not proving sufficiently soporific, I was to add to it a few drops of laudanum, for which purpose I had procured a three-ounce phial of laudanum. Nevertheless, being unwilling to accustom myself to the use of opium, I generally postponed taking the opiate till extreme pain and want of sleep rendered it absolutely necessary. In one of these moments, about four o’clock in the morning, I reached out my hand to the table, on which, by mis- take, my servant had placed the phial containing the laudanum ; and believing this to be my usual night draught, I poured out the contents into a tumbler glass, and drank it off. I soon per« ceived my mistake by the taste of the laudanum ; but from ray immediate relief from pain, accompanied by a certain pleasing languor, it was some time before I could rouse myself so as to call assistance. Being, however, perfectly convinced that I must Soon beat a quick march to the other world, unless my stomach was eased of the poison it contained, I rang the bell, and or¬ dered some warm water. It was some time before this could be got ready. As soon as it w7as brought, I drank large quantities, but without any effect. The apothecary was then sent for, who gave me three several doses of vitriolated zinc f , when at last they succeeded so well, that I brought up a considerable quan- • * This is published in “ Observations on the Medicinal Use of Factitious Airs, and their Production;” by Dr. Beddoes. + This metal, like the rest, has no power until it be combined with ox¬ ygen. 668 LEMON. tity of the laudanum. In the morning early I sent for Dr. Thornton, who administered the vital air*, and ordered me le- monade+, which, from the weak state of my stomach, was al¬ most as speedily returned, but perfectly sweet to the taste, and so deprived of all acidity + , as to be like sugar and water, and did not effervesce with alkali. This was frequently repeated ; when in the evening I ate my dinner, without any sensible dif¬ ference, and felt the next day much as usual. This is the simple fact, to the best of my remembrance ; if it can be of any use in a science which has for its object the ease and happiness of man¬ kind, I shall always look back with pleasure to an accident which has afforded me an opportunity of giving you this detail. —I have the honour to be, Sir, Your most obedient servant, G. C. Brathwaite Boughton. P. S. Among the Indians, who take great quantities of solid opium, when they wish to remove the effects of stupefaction they drink plenty of lime juice, which they know, from expe¬ rience, produces that effect. Lemonade has been known to cure also putrid fever, and is always a refreshing drink in that disorder. OFFICINAL PREPARATION. Syrup of Lemon Juice. (Syrupus e Succo Limonis.) Take of lemon juice, strained, after the dregs have subsided, two pints ; — - of double refined sugar, fifty ounces : Dissolve the sugar, to make a syrup. In the same manner are made the syrups of mulberries, of raspberries, and of black currants. CULINARY PREPARATIONS. Candied Lemon Feel Is made by boiling lemon peel with sugar. * Dr. Thornton, in his observations on this case, remarks that the vital air was very rapidly consumed ; which must recall to the reader’s mind the celebrated experiment of Spalding, recorded in Phil, of Med. vol. i. p. 89. + A mixture of lemon, sugar, and water. + The acid principle has been before proved to be derived from the oxygen or vital air. LEMON. 669 Lemon Pudding. Cut off the rind of three lemons, and boil them tender. Pound them in a mortar, and have ready a quarter of a pound of Naples biscuits boiled up in a quart of milk or cream. Mix them and the lemon rind with it, and beat up twelve yolks and six whites of eggs. Melt a quarter of a pound of fresh butter, and put in half a pound of sugar, and a little orange-flower water. Mix all well together, put it over the fire, stir till thick, and then squeeze in the juice of half a lemon. Put puff paste round your dish, then pour in your pudding, cut candied sweetmeats and strew over, and bake it three quarters of an hour. Or make it thus : — Blanch and beat eight ounces of Jordan al¬ monds with orange-flower water; add to them half a pound of cold butter, the yolks of eight or ten eggs, the juice of a large lemon, and half the rind grated. Work them in a marble mortar till they look w hite, then put puff paste on your dish, pour in your pudding, and bake half an hour. How to keep Lemons. Take fruit that are quite sound and good, and run a fine pack¬ thread, about a quarter of a yard long, through the hard nib at the end of the lemon ; then tie the string together, and hang it on a hook in an airy dry place: be sure they do not touch one another, nor any thing else, but hang them as high as you can. PERFORATED ST. JOHN’S WORT. HYPERICUM PERFORATUM. Class XVIII. Polyadelphia. Order IV. Polyandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-parted, inferior : Petals five : Filaments nu¬ merous, in three or five parcels, united at the base : Capsule many- seeded. Spec. Char. Styles three : Stem two-edged : Leaves obtuse, with pellucid dots; divisions of the Calyx linear-lanceolate, acute. DESCRIPTION. Rases to a foot and half in height. Branches opposite, flower¬ bearing. Leaves sessile, in pairs, entire, beset with a great number of minute transparent vesicles, which have the appear¬ ance of perforations. Flowers numerous, elegant, fire-petalled, of a beautiful yellow. Stamina in three parcels. Anthers yellow, with a small black gland to each. PERFORATED ST. JOHN’S WORT. 67 1 HISTORY. Native of Britain ; common in woods and uncultivated grounds, and flowers in July. MEDICAL VIRTUE* Formerly it was supposed, and not without reason, that madmen were possessed of the devil, and this plant was found so successful in that disorder, that it had the title of Fuga dee - monum , as curing demoniacs. Matthiolus writes, u Scripsere quidem Hypericum adeo odisse daemones, ut ejus suffitu statim avolent.” It has not been tried in modern practice, except in hysteria and suppressed menses in a decoction. The colouring matter gives a good dye to wool. And oil reddened with this plant is kept in some shops against burns. CAJEPUT TREE, OR AROMATIC MELALEUCA. MELALEUCA LEUCADENDRON. Class XVIII. Polyadelphia. Order IV. Polyandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-parted, half superior : Petals fire : Filaments numerous, united into five bodies : Style one : Capsule half in¬ verted by the calyx, thee-celled. Spec. Char. Leaves alternate, pointed, oblique in a falcate manner, five-nerved : Branchlets and Petioles glabrous. DESCRIPTION. A moderate-sized tree. Leaves linear-lanceolate, ash-coloured, odorous, on short footstalks. Flowers white, sessile, on long terminal spikes. Capsule round. HISTORY. The tree which furnishes the cajeput oil is frequent on the mountains of Amboyna, and the other Molucca islands. It is CAJEPUT TREE. 673 obtained by distillation from the dried leaves of the smaller of two varieties, and is prepared in great quantities, especially in the island of Banda, and sent to Holland in copper flasks. As it comes to us it is of a green colour, very limpid, lighter than water, of a strong smell, resembling camphor, and a strong, pungent taste, like that of cardamoms. It burns entirely away, without leaving any residuum. It is often adulterated with other essential oils, coloured with the resin of milfoil. In the genuine oil, the green colour depends on the presence of copper ; for when rectified it is colourless, MEDICAL USE. Like other aromatic oils it is highly stimulating, and is prin¬ cipally recommended in hysteria, epilepsy, flatulent colic, and paralysis of the tongue. The dose is from one to four drops on a lump of sugar. It is applied externally where a warm and peculiar stimulus is requisite ; and is employed for restoring vigour after luxations and sprains; and for easing violent pain in gouty and rheumatic cases, in toothach, and similar affections. 2 x ARTICHOKE. CYNARA SCOLYMUS. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order I. Polygamia aequalis. Essent. Gen. Char. Receptacle bristly: Calyx dilated, imbricate, the scales fleshy at the base, emarginate with a small point : Down sessile, feathery. Spec. Char. Leaves prickly or unarmed, pinnate and undivided : Scales of the calyx ovate. DESCRIPTION. 1 ms plant rises three or four feet. Leaves large, on the upper part smooth, beneath reticulate, hoary, and downy. Flowers terminal. Calyx common, globular, composed of numerous scales, at the base thick and fleshy, the part we eat, and above mem¬ branous, notched, with a spinous point in the centre. Florets of the corolla blue, each cut in five thin segments, tubular at bottom. Seeds oblong, furnished with a feathery pappus, on a fleshy receptacle, a part we eat, called the bottom ; the young flower we call the choke. HISTORY. Native of the south of Europe, flowering in August. ARTICHOKE. 675 MEDICAL USE. The leaves and stalks of the artichoke contain a bitter juice, which is very diuretic, and has long been esteemed a good re¬ medy for evacuating the water of dropsies by urine. This juice is got by mashing the leaves and stalks, and then squeezing them in a press ; and afterwards by straining it through a cloth : it is commonly ordered to be mixed with white wine, and is given from half an ounce to an ounce for a dose ; which is repeated twice or thrice in the day, as the stomach will bear it. The leaves and stalks enter as an ingredient into many of the diuretic decoctions, which are prepared by the country people in many of the counties. The following decoction, the prepara¬ tion of which was long kept as a secret by a person at Ando¬ ver, is said to have carried off the water from several people labouring under the dropsy : — Take of artichoke leaves and stalks, three handfuls; of bruised juniper berries, one quart; of scraped horse-radish, one handful; of green fir tops, two handfuls; of bruised white mustard seed, two table spoonfuls: mix the wrhole, and boil them in two gallons of water to one, and strain the liquor through a cloth. A grown person is to take half a pint morning and evening, adding a little syrup or sugar if agreeable. GeofFroy, in his Materia Medica, mentions the root of the artichoke as a powerful diuretic ; and recommends decoctions or broths made with it as good for promoting a discharge by urine. 2x2 DANDELION. LEONTODON TARAXACUM. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order I. Polygamia aequalis. Essent. Gen. ChAR. Receptacle naked : Calyx double : Down simple, pe« dicelled. Spec. Char. Outer Calyx reflexed : Scape one-flowered : Leaves runcinate, smooth, with lanceolate toothed lobes. DESCRIPTION. This is a small plant, and common in every field; the flowers stand upon a scape, and are all ligula.e, that is sfrap»shaped, and have five stamina with united anthers, round a pistillum, possessing a bifid stigma. The seed, when mature, has a fine circular feathery crown, by which it flies to distant parts. HISTORY. Native of England, and every where to be found, flowering during April, June, and July. DANDELION. 677 MEDICAL USE. The young leaves of this plant in a blanched state have the taste of endive, and make an excellent addition to those plants eaten early in the spring as sallads*. At Gottingen the roots are roasted, and substituted for coffee, by the poorer inhabitants; who find that an infusion prepared in this way can hardly be distinguished from that of the coffee berry +. The origin of its name is curious. Leontodon, Greek, Lion’s Tooth, from the toothed-like appearance of the leaf; Leonis Dens, Latin, from the Greek; Dentde Lion, French, from the Latin; and hence our word from the French, Dan-de-lion; also called Piss-a-bed, from its diuretic quality, which children experience who eat the young plant J. The leaves and roots of this plant are bitter, and contain a bitter milky juice. They have been esteemed to be diuretic, sapona¬ ceous, and resolvent, and to be powerful remedies for removing obstructions of the liver, and of the other viscera. Their pu¬ rified expressed juice has been given from two to six ounces, tw ice, thrice, or oftener in the day ; and infusions and decoc¬ tions of the herb and root have been used for the same purposes. Boerhaave had such a great opinion of the continued use of the juice, or of the infusions of this plant, that he believed they were capable of removing most obstructions of the viscera that w ere to be relieved by medicine. Bergius likewise speaks much in the praise of this simple; and says, u That he has often seen it prove of service after other remedies had failed ; and that he has seen hardnesses of the liver removed, by patients eating daily, for some months, of a broth made with dandelion root, the leaves of sorrel, and the yolk of an egg with water; while they took, at the same time, cream of tartar, to keep their bodies open and he adds, u that he has seen a similar course of service, in the ascites, and in cases of gall stones.” * Withering’s Bot. Arrang. p. 839. + Murray’s Apparat. p. 107. J When a swarm of locusts had destroyed the harvest in the island of Minorca, many of the inhabitants subsisted upon this plant. — Withering. BURDOCK. ARCTIUM LAPPA. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order I. Polygamia sequalis. Ess ent. Gen. Char. Receptacle chaffy : Calyx globular, the scales ending in an incurved hook : Seed crowned with chaffy bristles. Spec. Char. Stem-leaves heart-shaped, petioled, denticulate : Calyx smooth. DESCRIPTION. T- his plant rises three feet. Stem purplish : branches alter¬ nate. Leaves also alternate, heart-shaped, veiny ; above of a dark green, beneath whitish. Lower leaves very large, stand¬ ing upon long footstalks, grooved like the stem. Flowers nu¬ merous, generally ending in pairs. HISTORY. This plant is common in waste grounds and road sides ; it flowers in July and August, and is well known by the burs, or BURDOCK. 679 scaly heads, which stick to the clothes, a circumstance from which the word Lappa is supposed to be derived*. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The pharmacopoeias direct the root for medical use : it has no smell, but tastes sweetish, and mixed as it were with a slight bitterishness and roughness. Its virtue, according to Bergius, is mundificans, diuretica, diaphoretica f ; and many instances are upon record in which it has been successfully employed in a great variety of chronic diseases, as scurvy, rheumatism, gout, lues venerea +, and pulmonic complaints. We have never had an opportunity of observing the effects of this root, except as a diuretic, and in this way we have known it succeed in two drop¬ sical cases, where other powerful medicines had been ineffectu¬ ally used: and as it neither excites nausea nor increases irrita¬ tion, it may occasionally deserve a trial where more active re¬ medies are improper. The seeds also possess a diuretic quality, and have been given with advantage in the dose of a drachm in calculous and nephritic complaints, and in the form of emulsion as a pectoral. The root is generally used in decoction, which may be made by boiling two ounces of the fresh root in three pints of water to two, which, when intended as a diuretic, should be taken in the course of two days, or if possible in twenty-four hours. — Woodville. * Lappa dici potest vel «5 ro m ’ka.Zut prehendere, vel Xatfruv lambere, Ray, 1. c. + Mat. Med. 653. J Henricus III. Galliarum Rex, a Petro Pena decocto radicum Lapp® ab hac lue sanatus fuit. Vide Reverius, Obs. 41. The young stems of this plant, stripped of their rind, are boiled and eaten like asparagus. When raw, they are good with oil and vinegar. — Wither¬ ing, 864. 1. c. WILD SUCCORY. CICHORIUM INTYBUS. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order I. Polygamia a?qualis. Ersent. Gev. Char. Receptacle somewhat chaffy: Calyx invested with scales : Seeds crowned w ith numerous short teeth. Spec. Char. Flowers in pairs, axillary, nearly sessile : Leaves runcinate. r 4 DESCRIPTION. This beautiful plant rises three or four feet high. Leaves nu¬ merous, pinnatifid, cut into irregular teeth like the dandelion, alternate, somewhat hairy, sessile. Flowers compound, large, blue. Corolla Iigulate, cut into five teeth at the extremities. HISTORY. Native of Britain ; common about the borders of corn-fields; and flowers in July and August. The leaves, when blanched, are eaten early in the spring in sallads. They lose their bitter¬ ness by cultivation. The roots, gathered before the stem shoots WILD SUCCORY. 681 np, are eatable, and when dried will make bread. Thus the Roman poet : - — - Me pascunt olivse, Me cichorea, levesque malvse. Hor. Lib. I. Od. 31. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The virtues of the succory, like those of the dandelion, reside in its milky juice ; and in many of the plants of this natural tribe a juice of a similar nature is to be found: therefore what is observed of the effects of the taraxacum applies also to the cichorium : u and we are warranted in asserting,” says Dr.Wood- vilie, “that the expressed juice of both these plants, taken in large doses, frequently repeated, has been found an efficacious remedy in consumption, as well as jaundice, and other visceral obstructions.” WILD LETTUCE. LACTUCA VIROSA. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order I. Polygamia cequalis. Essent. Gen. Char. Receptacle naked : Calyx imbricated, cylindrical, with a membranous margin : Down simple, pedicelled: Seeds unarmed. Spec. Char. Leaves horizontal, prickly on the keel, obtuse at top, arrow- shaped at the base, oblong-lanceolate ; the lower ones sinuate and den¬ ticulate. DESCRIPTION. 1 his plant rises four feet. It has three different kinds of leaves. Those proceeding from the root are slightly toothed ; those from the stem are cut into pinnated lobes ; and those at¬ tached to the flower-stalks are arrow-shaped, pointed, entire, and minute. The florets are yellow, and small. HISTORY. This plant flowers in August and September, is biennial, and grows wild on rubbish and rough banks, in mauy places in this country. It smells strongly of opium, and resembles it in some of its WILD LETTUCE. 683 effects ; and its narcotic power, like that of the poppy, resides in a milky juice. The garden lettuce, when in flower, is also very bitter, and abounds with a milky juice, in its taste and smell remarkably like opium, for which, when dried, it has been proposed and used with success as a substitute by Dr. Coxe of Philadelphia. Before it begins to shoot it has none of that bitterness, and con¬ tains no milky juice, and probably has not those soporific ef¬ fects which are commonly ascribed to the use of lettuce. MEDICAL USE. An extract prepared from the expressed juice of the leaves of the plant, gathered when in flower, is recommended in small doses in dropsy. Two grains must be begun with four times a day, and gradually increased, till two scruples or more are given daily. In dropsies of long standing, proceeding from vis¬ ceral obstructions, it has been given to the extent of half an ounce a day. It. is said to agree with the stomach, to quench thirst, to be gently laxative, powerfully diuretic, and somewhat diaphoretic. Plentiful dilution is allowed during its operation® Dr. Collin, of Vienna, asserts, that out of twenty-four dropsical patients, all but one were cured by this medicine. COMMON TANSY. TANACETUM VULGARE. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order IT. Polygamia superflua. Essent. Gen. Char. Receptacle naked : Seeds crowned with a slight mar¬ gin : Calyx imbricated, hemispherical: Florets of the ray obsolete, or three-cleft, sometimes wanting. Spec. Char. Leaves doubly pinnatifid, deeply serrate. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises three feet. The flowers are yellow, and small, resembling a flat hemisphere: florets of the disk bisexual, of the ray female. HISTORY. Native of Britain, growing in moist pastures, borders of corn¬ fields, and flowering in July and August. MEDICAL USE. Tansy is an aromatic strong bitter, that has been long esteemed as an anthelmintic, and has been principally used for that pur¬ pose ; it was likewise esteemed a good anti-hysteric remedy, and useful for removing uterine obstructions, and recommended in Culpepper’s London Dispensatory, in the year 1659, in gouty cases. In the year 1771, the late Dr. David Clarke, of Edin- COMMON TANS T. 685 burgh, published, in the third volume of the Edinburgh Essays Physical and Literary, a paper on the gout, in which he recom¬ mends the use of an infusion of tansy in that disorder; and he mentions two cases in which it was of use : — 1. A gentleman, under fifty years of age, who had been sub¬ ject to the gout for about fifteen years, on finding his disorder increase, he about seven years ago had recourse to an infusion of tansy to remove it ; he filled every morning a tea-pot, capable of holding an English pint of liquor, with the dried flowers, leaves, and stalks of tansy, and then poured as much boiling water over them as the pot would hold, and let it stand till night, when he drank, at going to bed, the whole of the cold infusion : by following constantly this method he has remained free of the gout for seven years, excepting a slight fit which he had after spraining his ancle. He was not sensible of its operating by stool, by perspiration, or by urine; though Dr. Clarke thought that it acted on his bowels, as he had regularly two stools in the day. 2. Another person, fifty-two years of age, had remained free from the gout for three years, by drinking near a pint of the infusion of tansy daily, and by eating some of the fresh tansy in the morning, while it was in season : before using this remedy he had regularly a fit of the gout, which confined him from one to four months in the winter. The young tops of tansy in decoction have proved an admira¬ ble vermifuge, as also the seeds. CULINARY PREPARATION. Tansy Pudding. Blanch and pound a quarter of a pound of Jordan almonds ; put them into a stewpan, add a gill of the syrup of roses, the crumb of a French roll, some grated nutmeg, half a glass of brandy, two table spoonfuls of tansy juice, three ounces of fresh butter, and some slices of citron. Pour over it a pint and a half of boiling cream or milk, sweeten, and when cold mix it; add the juice of a lemon, and eight eggs beaten. It may be either boiled or baked. SOUTHERNWOOD. ARTEMISIA ABROIANUM. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order II. Polygamia superflua. Essent. Gen. Char. Receptacle subvillous, or naked: Pappus none: Calyx imbricated, with roundish scales, conniving : No ray to the Corolla. Spec. Char. Fruticose : Leaves very branchy. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises three feet. Branches vertical. Leaves nume¬ rous, irregularly bipinnate. Pinnae long, linear, narrow, en¬ tire. Flowers very minute, of a greenish yellow, in close ter¬ minal spikes, intermixed with leaves. HISTORY. This is a perennial shrub, which grows readily in our gardens, though a native of the south of Europe. Southernwood has a strong smell, which to most people is not SOUTHERNWOOD, 687 disagreeable; it has a pungent, bitter, and somewhat nauseous taste. These qualities are very completely extracted by alcohol, and the tincture is of a beautiful green colour. They are less perfectly extracted by watery liquors, the infusion being of a light brown colour. MEDICAL USE. Southernwood, as well as some other species of the same genus, has been recommended as an anthelmintic ; and it has also been sometimes used as stimulant, detergent, and sudorific. Exter¬ nally it has been employed in discutient and antiseptic fomenta¬ tions ; and under the form of lotion and ointment, for cutaneous eruptions, aud for preventing the hair from falling off. But it is at present very rarely used in any way. OFFICINAL PREPARATION. Decoction for Fomentations. (Decoctum pro Fomento. L.) Take of the leaves of southernwood, dried, — the tops of sea wormwood, dried, - - camomile flowers, dried, of each one ounce; < - bay leaves, dried, half an ounce ; - — distilled water, six pints : Boil them a little, and strain. These decoctions are merely solutions of a bitter extractive, combined with a little mucilage, and in the others with essential oils. In making them the aromatic substances should not be added until the decoction is nearly completed, for otherwise their flavour would be entirely dissipated. As fomentations, their virtues depend, in a great measure, on the warm water, which relaxes as a bath; and when the herbs themselves are applied, they act only as retaining heat and mois¬ ture for a longer time, and operate on the mind of the patient ; but are a less convenient, and hardly more useful fomentation, thau cloths wrung out of hot water. WORMWOOD. ARTEMISIA ABSINTHIUM. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order II. Polygamia superflua. Essent. Gen. Char. Same as the first. Spec. Char. Leaves compound, multifid: Flowers sub-globular, pendent : Receptacle villous. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises three feet, and sends off several branches. The leaves are divided into many bluntish segments in a pinnated order, under side downy, of a pale green, and silky softness. Flowers of a brownish yellow, placed in numerous spikes, from the alae of the leaves, placed alternate. HISTORY. This perennial herb grows by the road sides, and on rubbish, in many parts of Britain ; and about London it is cultivated for medical use. MEDICAL USE. Its smell is strong and disagreeable; its taste intensely bitter, so as to become a proverb. Its active constituents are a bitter WORMWOOD. 689 extractive and essential oil. It is used in stomach complaints, and is of great service to persons labouring under hypochondria. It is also employed in intermittent fevers, in cachectic and hy¬ dropic atfections, in jaundice, and against worms. The extract is a pure and simple bitter. The essential oil is of a dark green colour, and contains the whole flavour of the plant. It is sti¬ mulating, and is supposed to be a powerful antispasmodic and anthelmintic. Wormwood was formerly much used for the pre¬ paration of medicated wine and ales, and forms purl when in¬ fused with the last, which hard drinkers are in the habit of taking in the morning to go through their hard day’s labours. Withering says, the leaves and flowers are very bitter ; the roots are warm and aromatic. A considerable quantity of essen¬ tial oil rises from it in distillation. This oil is used both exter¬ nally and internally to destroy worms. The leaves, put into sour beer, soon destroy the acescency. They resist putrefaction, and are therefore a principal ingredient in antiseptic fomenta¬ tions. An infusion of them is a good stomachic, and, with the addition of fixed alkaline salt, a powerful diuretic in some drop¬ sical cases. The ashes afford a more pure alkaline salt than most other vegetables, excepting bean-stalks, broom, and the larger trees. In the Amoen. Acad. vol. ii. p. 160, Linnseus mentions two cases, wherein an essence prepared from this plant, and taken for a considerable time, prevented the formation of stones in the kidneys or bladder; the patients forbearing the use of wine and acids. It might be suspected that, like other bitters, its long continued use must weaken the action of the nervous system, but in these instances no such effect took place. An infusion of it given to a w oman that suckles, makes her milk better. It gives a bitterness to the flesh of sheep that eat it.— Horses and goats are not fond of it; cows and swine refuse it. Linn. Turkeys are fond of it. — Mr. Hollefear. A horse ate it. The plant steeped in boiling water, and repeatedly applied to a bruise, will remove the pain in a short time, and prevent the swelling and discoloration of the part. — St. The great Haller says, that Charles V. used this plant for the gout ; and for the same purpose I have employed a decoction of wormwood, and finally by a long use conquered this disease in myself, so that [ have had no return. This testimony merits the attention of English physicians. M U G W O R T. ARTEMISIA VULGARIS. ^qsa— — — - Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order II. Polygamia superflua. Essent. Gen. Char. Same as the last. Spec. Char. Leaves pinnatifid, flat, incised, beneath tomcntose t Racemes- simple, recurved: Five Florets in the ray. DESCRIPTION. T he stalk rises three feet. The leaves are deeply divided into several segments, which are pointed, on the upper side of a deep green, and on the under downy, or covered with a cotton-like substance. Flowers small, purplish, in spikes, alternate, from the alae of the leaves, which here appear haibert-shaped. HISTORY, Native of Britain, flowers from August to September. MEDICAL VIRTUE. Jn some countries it is used as a culinary aromatic. A decoc¬ tion of it is taken by the common people to cure the ague. The Chinese make use of it in healing wounds, applying the fresh plant bruised. — Osbeck, i. 394. A drachm of the leaves, pow- MtlGWOIiT* 691 tiered, was given four times a day, by Dr. Home, to a woman who had been affected with hysteric fits for many years. The fits ceased in a few days. In this patient assafoetida and aather had been given to no purpose. Moxa is a substance prepared in Japan from the dried tops and leaves of mug wort* * * §, by beating and rubbing them betwixt the hands till only the fine internal lanuginous fibres remain, which are then combed and formed into little cones. These, used as cauteries, are greatly celebrated in eastern countries for preventing and curing many disorders + ; but chronic rheuma¬ tisms, gouty, and some other painful affections of the joints, seem to be the chief complaints for which they can be rationally employed. The manner of applying the moxa is very simple: the part affected being previously moistened, a cone of the moxa is laid, which being set on fire at the apex, gradually burns down to the skin, where it produces a dark- coloured spot: by repeat¬ ing the process several times, an eschar is formed of any desired extent, and this on separation leaves an ulcer, which is kept open or healed up as circumstances may require. It is said that the use of the moxa was originally introduced by the Jesuits J ; but it is probably of still greater antiquity. From remote times it has been the practice to cauterize the af¬ fected parts by various means. Hippocrates for this purpose not only used iron but tlax, also a species of fungus § ; and the Laplanders still prefer the agaric (Boletus igniarius), which they prepare and use in a similar way as the Japanese do their moxa [[. The ./Egyptians produced the same effects by means of cotton, or linen cloth f ; and in Spain a moxa is prepared from a spe¬ cies of the echinops. * This, however, is not the species of artemisia from which the eastern moxa is made ; but that prepared from this plant in Germany was found to answer very well. See Eph. Nat. Cur. Dec. 3. A. 7* 8. App. 141. It has also been made from the down of verbascum. + For a full account of these see Ksempfer, Amcen. Exot. p. 502, &c. Also abbe Crosier (Hist, of China), from whom it appears that mirrors of ice or metal were used for the purpose of igniting the moxa; and that the ancient Chinese made paper, and a kind of cloth, of the down of artemisia. + See Recueil d’Observations Curieuses, tom, ii. p. 114. § Lib. de Affect. § 30. || Harmens and Fiellstrom Diss* Med. Lapp, in Hall. Collect. Diss. Pract* tom. vi. p. 728. £ Prosper Alpinus, lib. iii. c. 12. p. 209. % y 2 692 MUG WORT, Extract from Sir William Temple, on Moxa . Nimeguen, June 18, 1677. I never thought it would have befallen me to be the first that should try a new experiment, any more than to be author of any new invention ; being little inclined to practise upon others, and as little that others should practise upon me. The same warmth of head disposes men to both, though one be commonly esteemed an honour, and the other a reproach. I am sorry the first, and the worse of the two, is fallen to my share, by which all a man can hope is to avoid censure, and that is much harder than to gain applause ; for this may be done by one great or wise action in an age, but to avoid censure a man must pass his life with¬ out saying or doing one ill or foolish thing. This might serve the turn, if all men were just; but as they are, I doubt nothing will, and that it is the idlest pretension in the world to live without it ; the meanest subjects censuring the actions of the greatest prince ; the silliest servants, of the wisest master ; and young children, of the oldest parents. Therefore I have not troubled myself to give any account of an experiment I made by your perswasion, to satisfy those who imputed it to folly, rashness, or impatience; but to satisfy you who proposed the thing in kindness to me, and desired the relation of it in kindness to other men. I confess your engaging me first in this adventure of the moxa, and desiring the story of it from me, is like giving one the tor¬ ture, and then asking his confession ; which is hard usage to an innocent man, and a friend. Besides, having suffered the first, I believe myself to have a right of refusing the other. But I find your authority with me is too great to be disputed in either ; and the pretence of public good is a cheat that will ever pass in the world, though so often abused by ill men, that I wonder the good do not grow ashamed to use it any longer. Let it be as it will, you have what you asked, and cannot but say that I have done, as well as suffered, what you had a mind to engage me in. 1 have told you the story with the more circumstance, because many questioned the disease, that they might not allow of the cure; though the certainty of one, and force of the other, has been enough evidenced by two returns since I left you at the Hague, which past writh the same success. The reasonings upon this method, which seem to confirm the experiment, and other remedies for the gout here reflected on, are aimed at the same MUGWORT. 69 $ end for which you seemed so much to desire this relation. The digressions I cannot excuse otherwise than by the confidence that no man will read them who has not at least as much leisure as I had when I writ them ; and whosoever dislikes, or grows weary of them, may throw them away. For those about tem¬ perance, age, or their effects and periods in reference to public business, they could be better addrest to none than to you, who have past the longest life with the most temperance, and the best health and humour of any man I know ; and having run through so much great and public business, have found out the secret so little known, that there is a time to give it over. Among all the diseases to which the intemperance of this age disposes it (at least in these northern climates), I have observed none to increase so much within the compass of my memory and conversation as the gout, nor any, I think, of worse consequence to mankind ; because it falls generally upon persons engaged in public affairs and great employments, upon whose thoughts and cares (if not their motions and their pains) the common good and service of their country so much depends ; the general of¬ ficers of armies, the governors of provinces, the public ministers in counsels at home, and embassies abroad (that have fallen in my way), being generally subject to it in one degree or other. I suppose the reason of this may be, that men seldom come into those posts till after forty years old, about which time the na¬ tural heat beginning to decay, makes way for those distempers they are most inclined to by their native constitutions, or by their customs and habits of life. Besides, persons in those posts are usually born of families noble and rich, and so derive a weak¬ ness of constitution from the ease and luxury of their ancestors, and the delicacy of their own education ; or if not, yet the plenty of their fortunes from those very employments, and the general custom of living in them at much expense, engages men in the constant use of great tables, and in frequent excesses of several kinds, which must end in diseases when the vigour of youth is past, and the force of exercise (that served before to spend the humour) is given over for a sedentary and unactive life. These I take to be the reasons of such persons being so gene¬ rally subject to such accidents more than other men ; and they are so plain, that they must needs occur to any one that thinks. But the ill consequence of it is not so obvious, though perhaps 694 MUG WORT. as evident to men that observe ; and may be equally confirmed by reasons and examples. It is that the vigour of the mind de- cays with that of the body, and not only humour and invention, but even judgment and resolution, change and languish with ill constitution of body and of health ; and by this means public business comes to suffer by private infirmities, and kingdoms or states fall into weaknesses and distempers by the diseases or de¬ cays of those persons that manage them. Within these fifteen years past, I have known a great fleet disabled for two months, and thereby lose great occasions, by an indisposition of the admiral, while he was neither well enough to exercise, nor ill enough to leave the command. I have known two towns of the greatest consequence lost contrary to all forms, by the governor’s falling ill in the time of the sieges. And I remember one great minister that confessed to me, when he fell into one of his usual fits of the gout, he was no longer able to bend his mind or thoughts to any public business, nor give au¬ diences beyond two or three of his own domestics, though it were to save a kingdom ; and that this proceeded, not from any violence of pain, but from a general languishing and faintness of spirits, which made him in those fits think nothing worth the trouble of one careful or solicitous thought. And if intempe¬ rance be allowed to be the common mother of gout, or dropsy, and of scurvy, and most other lingering diseases, w hich are those that infest the state, I think temperance deserves the first rank among public virtues, as well as those of private men ; and doubt whether any can pretend to the constant steady exercise of pru¬ dence, justice, or fortitude, without it. Upon these grounds wdioever can propose a way of curing or preventing the gout (which entered chiefly into those examples I have mentioned of public affairs suffering by private indisposi¬ tions) would perhaps do a service to princes and states, as well as to particular men ; w hich makes me the more willing to tell my story, and talk out of my trade, being strongly possessed with a belief, that what I have tried, or thought, or heard upon this subject, may go a great way in preventing the growth of this disease where it is but new, though perhaps longer methods arc necessary to deal with it when it is old. From my grandfather’s death I had reason to apprehend the stone, and from my father’s life the gout, who has been for this MUCWORT. 695 many years, and still continues much afflicted with it The first apprehension has been, I confess with me, ever the strongest, and the other hardly in my thoughts, having never deserved it by the usual forms ; nor had I ever, I thank God, the least threat from either of them, till the last year at the Hague, being then in the seven-and-fortieth of my age, when, about the end of February, one night at supper, I felt a sudden pain in my right foot, which from the first moment it began, increased sensibly, and in an hour’s time to that degree, that though I said nothing, yet others took notice of it in my face, and said they were sure I was not well, and would have had me go to bed. I confessed I was in pain, and thought it was with some sprain at tennis : I pulled off my shoe, and with some ease that this gave me, stirred not till the company broke up, which was about three hours after my pain began. I went away to bed, but it raged so much all night, that I could not sleep a wink. I endured it till about eight next morning, in hopes still of stealing some rest ; but then making my complaints, and showing my foot, they found it very red and angry ; and to relieve my extremity of pain, began to apply common poultices to it; and by the frequent change of them I found some ease* and continued this exercise all that day, and a great part of the following night, which 1 passed with very little rest. The morn¬ ing after my foot began to swell, and the violence of my pain to assuage, though it left such a soreness that 1 could hardly suffer the clothes of my bed, nor stir my foot but as it was lifted. By this time my illness being inquired after about the town, was concluded to be the gout ; and being no longer feverish, or in any extremity of pain, I was content to see company. Every body that came to visit me, found something to say upon the occasion ; some made a jest of it, or a little reproach ; others were serious in their mirth, and made me compliments as upon a happy accident and sign of long life : in short, none of the company was in ill humour but I, who had rather by half have had a fever, or a worse disease at that time, where the danger might have been greater, but the trouble and the melancholy would, I am sure, have been less. Though I had never feared the gout, yet I had always scorned * The late Dr. Darwin says that intemperance in eating or drinking brings on gout, and this passes from father to son, and can, only be eradi¬ cated out of the family by temperance. 696 MBGWORf. it as an effect commonly of intemperance ; and hated it, as that I thought it made men unfit for any thing after they were once deep engaged in it: besides, I was prest in my journey at that time to Nimeguen by his majesty’s commands, to assist at the treaty there. Most of the ambassadors from the several parts Christendom were upon their way ; one of my colleagues was al¬ ready upon the place, and I had promised immediately to follow; for by our commission we were to be two to act in that media¬ tion ; and to help at this pinch, I had always heard that a fit of the gout used to have six weeks at the least for its ordinary pe¬ riod. With these comforts about me, and sullenness enough to use no remedy of a hundred that were told me, Dr. Zulichem came to see me (among the rest of my friends), who, I think, never came into company without saying something that was new, and so he did upon this occasion. For talking of my ill¬ ness, and approving of my obstinacy against ail the common prescriptions, he asked me whether I had never heard the Indian way of curing the gout by moxa. I told him no, and asked him what it was. He said it was a certain kind of moss that grew in the East Indies ; that their way was, whenever any body fell into a fit of the gout, to take a small quantity of it, and form it into a figure broad at bottom as a twopence, and pointed at top; to set the bottom exactly upon the place where the violence of the pain was fixed ; then with a small round perfumed match (made likewise in the Indies) to give fire to the top of the moss, which burning down by degrees, came at length to the skin, and burnt till the moss was consumed to ashes ; that many times the first burning would remove the pain; if not, it was to be renewed a second, third, and fourth time, till it went away, and till the person found he could set his foot boldly to the ground and walk. I desired him to tell me how he had come acquainted with this new operation. He said by the relation of several who had seen and tried it in the Indies, but particularly by an ingenious little book*, written of it by a Dutch minister at Batavia, who being extremely tormented with a fit of the gout, an old Indian * I suppose Busschof ’s Treatise of the Gout. This cure is also treated of at large by Wilhelm, ten Rhynd, De Arthrit. p. 106, &c. See also Ephemerid. Germ. Decad. 1 ; an. 6,7 ; obs. 218 and 224 ; an. 9, 10 ; obs. 128 ; and dec. 2, an. 1, obs. 6 and 27. Ettmull. vol. i. p. 299. MUGWORT. 697 woman coming to see him, undertook to cure him, and did it immediately by this moxa ; and after many experiments of it there, had written this treatise of it in Dutch for the use of his countrymen, and sent over a quantity of the moss and matches to his son at Utrecht, to be sold, if any would be persuaded to use them. That though he could not say whether experiment had been made of it here, yet the book was worth reading ; and for his part he thought he should try it if ever he should fall into that disease. I desired the book, which he promised to send me the next morning ; and this discourse of Dr. Zulichem busied my head all night. I hated the very name of the gout, and thought it a re¬ proach : and for the good sign people called it, I could not find that mended an ill thing ; nor could I like any sign of living long in weakness or in pain. I deplored the loss of my legs, and confinement to my chamber, at an age that left me little pleasure but of walking and of air ; but the w orst circumstance of all, was the sentence passed upon it of being without cure. I had past twenty years of my life, and several accidents of danger in my health, without any use of physicians ; and from some experiments of my own, as well as much reading and thought upon that subject, had reasoned myself into an opinion, that the use of them and their methods (unless in some sudden and acute disease) was itself a very great venture ; and that their greatest practisers practised least upon themselves or their friends. But for the common remedies of the gout, I found exceptions to them all ; the time of purging was past with me, which other¬ wise I should certainly have tried upon the authority of the great Hippocrates, who says it should be done upon the first motion of the humour in the gout. For poultices, I knew they allayed pain ; but withal, that they drew down the humours, and suppled the parts, thereby making the passages wider, and apter to re¬ ceive them in greater quantity ; and I had often heard it con¬ cluded, that the use of them ended in losing that of one’s limbs, by weakening the joint upon every fit. For plasters that had any effect, I thought it must be by dispersing or repelling the humours, which could not be done without endangering per¬ haps some other disease of the bowels, the stomach, or the head. Rest, and warmth either of clothes or bathings, I doubted would in a degree have the effects of poultices ; and sweating was proper for prevention rather than remedy. So that all I could end in 698 MUG WO RT. with any satisfaction was patience ; and though I easily resolved of it, yet it was hard to be found in the circumstances of my business as well as of my health. All this made me rave upon Dr. Zulichem’s new operation ; and for the way of curing by lire, I found twenty things to give me an opinion of it. 1 remembered what I had read of the ./Egyptians of old, who used it in most diseases ; and what I had often heard of that practice still continuing among the Moors of Afric; so that a slave is seldom taken (as both Spa¬ niards and Portuguese affirm) who has not many scars of the hot iron upon his body, which they use upon most distempers, but especially those of the head, and consequently in physic as well as in surgery. In the time of the Incas’ reign in Peru (which I take, to have been one of the greatest constitutions of absolute monarchy that has been in the world) no composition was al¬ lowed by the laws to be used in point of medicine, but only simples proper to each disease. Burning was much in use either by natural or artificial fires ; particularly for all illness of teeth, and soreness or swelling of the gums (which they were subject to from their nearness to the sea), they had an herb which never failed of curing it, and being laid to the gums, burnt away all the flesh that was swelled or corrupted, and made way for new that came again as sound as that of a child. I remembered to have had myself, in my youth, one cruel wound cured by scald¬ ing medicament, after it was grown so putrefied as to have (in the surgeon’s opinion) endangered the bone; and the violent swelling and bruise of another, taken away as soon as I received it, by scalding it with milk. I remembered the cure of chil- blanes, when I was a boy, (which may be called the children’s gout,) by burning at the fire, or else by scalding brine, that has, I suppose, the same effect. I had heard of curing the stings of adders, and bites of mad dogs, by immediately burning the part with a hot iron, and of some strange cures of frenzies by casual applications of fire to the lower parts ; which seems reasonable enough, by the violent revulsion it may make of humours from the head, and agrees with the opinions and practice I mentioned before of /Egypt and Africa. Perhaps blistering in the neck, and hot pidgeons, may be in use among us upon the same grounds; and in our methods of surgery nothing is found of such effect irj the case of old ulcers as fire, which is certainly the greatest drawer and drier, and thereby the greatest cleanser that can be MUG WORT. 699 found. I knew very Avell that in diseases of cattle there is no¬ thing more commonly used, nor with greater success, and con¬ cluded it was but a tenderness to mankind that made it less in use amongst us, and which had introduced corrosives and caus¬ tics to supply the place of it, which are indeed but artificial fires. 1 mention all these reflections to show that the experiment I resolved to make was upon thought, and not rashness or impa¬ tience (as those called it that would have dissuaded me from it); but the chief reason was that 1 liked no other, because I knew they failed every day, and left men in despair of being ever well cured of the. gout. Next morning I looked over the book which Dr. Zulichem. had promised me, written by the* minister at Batavia. I pre¬ tended not to judge of the Indian philosophy or reasonings upon the cause of the gout ; but yet thought them as probable as those pf physicians here; and liked them so much the better, because it seems their opinion in the point is general among them, qs well as their method of curing; whereas the differences among ours are almost as many in both as there ere physicians that reason upon the causes or practice upon the cure of that disease. They hold that the cause of the gout is a malignant vapour that falls upon the joint between the bone and the skin that covers it, which being the most sensible of ail parts of the body, causes the violence of the pain : that the swelling is no part of the dis¬ ease, but only an effect of it, and of a kindness in nature, that, to relieve the part affected, calls down humours to damp the malignity of the vapour, and thereby assuage the sharpness of the pain, which seldom fails whenever the part grows very much swelled : that consequently the swellings and returns of the gout are chiefly occasioned by the ill methods of curing it at first : that this vapour falling upon joints which have not motion, and thereby heat enough to dispel it, cannot be cured otherwise than by burning, by which it immediately evaporates; and that this is evident by the present ceasing of the pain upon the second, third, or fourth application of the moxa, which are performed in a few minutes time: and the author affirms it happens often there, that upon the last burning an extreme stench comes out of the skin where the fire had opened it. Whatever the reasonings were, which yet seemed ingenious enough ; the experiments alleged with so much confidence, and to be so general in those parts, and told by an author that writ 700 MUGWORT. like a plain man, and one whose profession was to tell truth, helped me to resolve upon making the trial. I was confirmed in this resolution by a German physician, Dr. Theodore Coledy, who was then in my family, a sober and intelligent man, whom I dispatched immediately to Utrecht to bring me some of the moxa, and learn the exact method of using it from the man that sold it, who was son to the minister of Batavia. He returned with all that belonged to this cure, having performed the whole operation upon his hand by the man’s direction. I immediately made the experiment in the manner before related, setting the moxa just upon the place where the first violence of my pain began, which was the joint of the great toe, and where the greatest anger and soreness still continued, notwithstanding the swelling of my foot, so that 1 had never yet in five days been able to stir it, but as it was lifted. Upon the first burning I found the skin shrink all round the place ; and whether the greater pain of the fire had taken away the sense of a smaller or no, I could not tell; but I thought it less than it was: I burnt it the second time, and upon it ob¬ served the skin about it to shrink, and the swelling to flat yet more than at first. I began to move my toe, which I had not done before; but 1 found some remainders of pain. I burnt it the third time, and observed still the same effects without, but a much greater within ; for I stirred the joint several times at ease ; and growing bolder, I set my foot to the ground without any pain at all. After this I pursued the method prescribed by the book, and the author’s son at Utrecht, and had a bruised clove of garlick laid to the place that was burnt, and covered with a large adhesive plaster to keep it fixed there : and when this wras done, feeling no more pain, and treading still bolder and firmer upon it, I cut a slipper to let in my foot, swelled as it was, and walked half a dozen turns about the room, w ithout any pain or trouble, and much to the surprize of those that were about me, as well as to my own. For though I had reasoned myself be¬ fore-hand into an opinion of the thing, yet I could not expect such an effect as I found, which seldom reaches to the degree that is promised by the prescribers of any remedies, whereas this went beyond it, having been applied so late, and the pre¬ scription reaching only to the first attack of the pain, and before the part begins to swell. For the pain of the burning itself, the first time it is sharp, MTJGWORT. 701 so that a man may be allowed to complain : I resolved 1 would not ; but that I would count to a certain number, as the best measure how long it lasted. I told six score and four, as fast as I could ; and when the fire of the moxa was out, all pain of burning was over. The second time was not near so sharp as the first, and the third a great deal less than the second. The wound was not raw as I expected, but looked only scorched and black ; and 1 had rather endure the whole trouble of the operation, than half a quarter of an hour’s pain in the degree I felt it the first whole night. After four-and-twenty hours, I had it opened, and found a great blister drawn by the gariick, which I used no more, but had the blister cut, which run a good deal of water, but filled again by next night ; and this continued for three days, with only a simple plaster upon it ; after which time the blister dried up, and left a sore about as bigas a two-pence, which healed and went away in about a week’s time longer ; but I continued to walk every day, and without the least return of pain, the swell¬ ing still growing less, though it were near six weeks before it was wholly gone. I favoured it all this while more than I needed, upon the common opinion, that walking too much might draw down the humour ; which I have since had reason to conclude a great mistake, and that if I had walked as much as I could from the first day the pain left me, the sw elling might have left me too in a much less time. The talk of this cure run about the Hague, and made the con¬ versation in other places, as well as in the visits I received while I kept my chamber, which was about a fortnight after the burn¬ ing. Dr. Zulichem came to me among the rest of the good com¬ pany of the town, and much pleased with my success, as well from his own great humanity, and particular kindness to me, as from the part he had in being the first prescriber of my cure, and from the opinion it gave him of a common good fortune befallen all that felt, or were in danger of the gout. Among others he told it to, M. Serinchamps was one, an envoy of the duke of Lorrain’s then in town ; a person very much and very deservedly esteemed among all the good company in town, and to whom every body was kind upon the score of his own good humour, or his master’s ill fortunes : he had been long sub¬ ject to the gout, and with constant returns of long and violent fits two or three times in a year. He was a man frank and ge¬ nerous, and loved to enjoy health whilst he had it, without mak- i 70S MUG WORT* ingtoo much reflection upon what was to follow; and so when he was well, denied himself nothing of what he had a mind to eat or drink ; which gave him a body full of humours, and made his fits of the gout as frequent and violent as most I have known: when they came, he bore them as he could, and forgot them as soon as they were past, till a new remembrance. At this time he lay ill of a cruel fit, which was fallen upon his knee, and with extreme pain : when he heard of my cure, he sent to me first for the relation of it, and upon it, for my moxa, and for Dr. Colcby to apply it. He suffered it; but after his pleasant way roared out, and swore at me all the while it was burning, and asked if I took him for a sorcerer, that I sent to burn him alive. Yet with all this, the pain went away upon it, and returned no more to the same place; but he was something discouraged by a new pain falling some days after upon his elbow on the other side, which gave him a new fit, though gentler and shorter than they used to be. About the same time one of the maids of my house was grown almost desperate with the tooth-ach, and want of sleep upon it, and was without remedy. The book gives the same cure for certain in that illness, by burning under the ear ; and the man who sold it at Utrecht had assured Dr. Coleby he had seen many cures by it in that kind. We resolved to try ; which was done, and the pain immediately taken away, and the wench perfectly well, without hearing of it any more, at least wrhiie she was in my house 1 During the confinement of this fit, I fell into some methods, and into much discourse upon the subject of the gout, that may be perhaps as well w orth reflection by such as feel or apprehend it, as what I have told of this Indian cure. In the first place, from the day I kept my chamber, till I left it, and began to walk abroad, I restrained myself to so regular a diet, as to eat flesh but once a day, and little at a time, without salt or vinegar : and to one moderate draught, either of water or small ale. I concluded to trust to abstinence and exercise, as I had ever re¬ solved, if I fell into this disease; and if it continued, to confine myself wholly to the milk diet, of which I had met with very many and great examples, and had a great opinion even in long and inveterate gouts. Besides this refuge, I met with, in my visits and conversation arising upon my illness, many notions or me¬ dicines very new to me, and reflections that may be so perhaps MUG WORT. 70S to other men. Old prince Maurice of Nassaw told me, he laughed at the gout, and though he had been several times at¬ tacked, yet it never gave him care nor trouble. That he used but one remedy, which was, whenever he felt it, to boil a good quantity of horse dung from a stone horse of the hermelinne co¬ lour, as he called it in French, which is a native white, with a sort of a raw nose, and the same commonly about the eyes. That when this was well boiled in water, he set his leg in a pail full of it, as hot as he could well endure it, renewing it as it grew cool for above an hour together. That after it he drew his leg immediately into a warm bed, to continue the perspiration as long as he could, and never failed of being cured. Whether the remedy be good, or the circumstances of colour signify any thing more, than to make more mystery, I know not ; but I observed, that he ever had a set of such hermelinne horses in his coach, which he told me was on purpose that he might never want this remedy ! The count Kinski, ambassador from the emperor to the treaty at Nimeguen, gave me a receipt of the salt of hart’s-horn, by which a famous Italian physician of the emperors had performed mighty cures upon many others as well as himself, and the last year upon the count Montecuculi : the use of this I am apt to esteem, both from the quality given it of provoking sweat ex¬ tremely, and of taking away all sharpness from whatever yon put it in ; which must both be of good effect in the cure of the gout. The Rhyngrave, who was killed last summer before Mastricht, told me his father the old Rhyngrave, whom I knew very well, had been long subject to the gout, and never used other method or remedy, than upon the very first fit he felt, to go out imme¬ diately and walk, whatever the weather was, and as long as he was able to stand, and pressing still most upon the foot that threatened him : when he came home he went to a warm bed, and was rubbed very well, and chiefly upon the place where the pain begun. If it continued, or returned next day, he repeated the same course, and was never laid up with it ; and before his deafh recommended this course to his son, if he should ever fall into that accident. A Dutchman who had been long in the East Indies, told me in one part of them, where he had lived some time, the general remedy of all that were subject to the gout was rubbing with t04 MUG WORT. hands ; and that whoever had slaves enough to do that constantly every day, and relieve one another by turns till the motion raised a violent heat about the joints where it was chiefly used, was ne¬ ver troubled much, or laid up bjf that disease. My youngest brother told me he had a keeper very subject to it, but that it never laid him up, but he was still walking after his deer or his stud while he had the fits upon him, as at other times, and often from morning to night, though in pain all the while. This he gave me as one instance, that poor and toiling men have sometimes the gout, and that many more may have it, who take no more notice of it than his keeper did, who yet he confessed used to bring the fits of gout upon him by fits of drinking, which no doubt is a receipt that will hardly fail, if men grow old in the custom. M. Serinchamps told me, a Lorrain surgeon had undertaken to cure it by a more extraordinary way than any of these ; which was by whipping the naked part with a great rod of net¬ tles till it grew all over blistered; and that he had once persuaded him to perform this penance in a sharp fit he hud, and the pain in his knees so violent, as helped him to endure this remedy. He said it was cruel, that all where he was whipt, grewr so angry, and swelled as well as blistered, that he thought it had given him a fever that night. The next morning the part was all as stiff as a boot, and the skin like parchment : but that keeping it anointed with a certain oil likewise of nettles, it past in two days, and the gout too, without feeling any more pain that fit ! All these things put together, with what a great physician writes of cures by whipping with rods, and another with holly, and by other cruelties of cutting or burning, made me certainly conclude, that the gout was a companion that ought to be treated like an enemy, and by no means like a friend, and that grew troublesome chiefly by good usage ; and this was confirmed to me by considering that it haunted usually the easy and the rich, the nice and the lazy, who grow to endure much because they can endure little ; that make much of it as soon as it comes, and yet leave not making much of themselves too ; that take care to carry it presently to bed, and keep it safe and warm, and indeed lay up the gout for two or three months, w hile they give out that the gout lays up them. On t* other side, it hardly approaches the rough and the poor, such as labour for meat, and eat only for hun¬ ger ; that drink water, either pure, or but discoloured with malt; MUGWORT. 705 that know no use of wine, but for a cordial, as it is, and perhaps was only intended : Or if such men happen by their native consti¬ tutions to fall into the gout, either they mind it not at all, having no leisure to be sick ; or they use it like a dog, they walk on, or they toil and work as they did before, they keep it wet and cold ; or if they are laid up, they are perhaps forced by that to fast more than before, and if it lasts, they grow impatient, and fall to beat it, or whip it, or cut it, or burn it ; and all this while perhaps never know the very name of the gout. But to follow my experiment : I past that summer here at Nimeguen, without the least remembrance of what had happened to me in the spring, till about the end of September, and thpn began to feel a pain that I knew not what to make of, in the same joint, but of my other foot: I had flattered myself with hopes, that the vapour had been exhaled, as my learned authors had taught me, and that thereby the business had been ended : this made me neglect my moxa for two days, the pain not being violent, till at last my foot began to swell, and I could set it no longer to the ground. Then 1 fell to my moxa again, and burnt it four times before the pain went clear away, as it did upon the last, and I walked at ease, as I had done the first time, and within six days after above a league without the least return of any pain ! I continued well till this spring, when about the end of March feeling again the same pain, and in the same joint, but of the first foot ; and finding it grow violent, I immediately burnt it, and felt no more after the third time; was never off my legs, nor kept my chamber a day. Upon both these last experiments 1 omitted the application of garlick, and contented myself with a common plaister upon the place that was burnt, which crusted and healed in very few days, and without any trouble. I have since continu’d perfectly well to this present June ; and with so much confidence of the cure, that I have been content to trouble my¬ self some hours with telling the story, which, it is possible, may at one time or other be thought worth making publick, if I am further confirmed by more time and experiments of my own, or of others. And thereby I may not only satisfy Dr. Zu- lichem, but myself too, who should be sorry to omit any good I thought I could do to other men, though never so unknown. But this cure, I suppose, cannot pretend to deal with invete¬ rate gouts; but I have known so great cures, and so many done 2 z 706 MUG WORT. by obstinate resolutions of drinking no wine at all*, that I put more weight upon the part of temperance, than any other. And I doubt very much whether the great encrease of that dis¬ ease in England within these twenty years, may not have been occasioned by the custom of so much wine introduced into our constant and common tables. For this use may be more perni¬ cious to health than that of taverns and debauches, according to the old stile, which were but by fits, and upon set or casual en¬ counters. I have sometimes thought that this custom of using wine for our common drink, may alter in time the very consti¬ tution of our nation, I mean the native tempers of our bodies and minds, aud cause a heat and sharpness in our humours, which is not natural to our climate. Our having been denied it by nature, is argument enough that it was never intended us for common use; nor do I believe it was so in any other countries, there being so small a part of the world where it grows ; and where it does, the use of it pure being so little practised, and in some places defended by customs or laws. So that Turks have not known it, unless of late years ; and I have met with many Spaniards that never tasted it pure in their lives ; nor in the time when I Was in France, did I observe any I conversed with to drink it unmixed at their meals. The true use of w ine, is either as I mentioned, for a cordial ; and I believe there is not a better to such as drink it seldom ; or else what the mother of Lemuel tells her son, u give strong drink to him that is ready to perishf ”. * In this way our famous accoucheur Dr. Clark has been cured. + It would be happy for mankind if wine were prohibited, and only good, perfect beer used in its place. SEA WORMWOOD. ARTEMISIA MARITIMA. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order II. Polygamia superflua. Ess ent. Gen. Char. The same as the first. Spec. Char. Leaves many-cleft, tomentose: Branches drooping : Flowers oblong, downy, sessile. DESCRIPTION. Tvises near a foot, the whole plant covered with white down. Leaves irregularly divided into narrow, linear segments, covered with a tine down. Flowers a brown yellow, forming pendent spikes. Florets in the circumference three. HISTORY. Native of Britain, plentiful on the sea shore, and flowers in August and September. MEDICAL VIRTUE. In its wild state it smells like marum or camphor, but in our gardens is less grateful: beat up with thrice its weight of fine sugar it is made into a conserve, ordered by the London college, and may be taken where the other preparations disgust too much. It acts as a tonic, and is good in worm cases. 2 z 2 WORMSEED. ARTEMISIA SANTONICUM. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order II. Polygamia superflua. Essext. Ge® . Char. Same as the first. Spec. Char. Stem-Leav&s linear, pinnate-multifid: Branches undivided: Spikes leaning one way, reflected : Florets five. DESCRIPTION. This rises two feet. The leaves are of a pale green on the upper side, and whitish underneath. Flower larger, yellow, roundish, placed loosely in spikes ; floral-leaves strap-shaped. HISTORY. Native of Siberia, and flowers in September. All the British colleges have given this species as the plant which produces these seeds ; but the fact is by no means ascer¬ tained. The seeds themselves are small, oblong, smooth, and of a greenish or grayish yellow colour. As the whole head is ga¬ thered after the seeds are ripe, they are mixed with the scales of the calyces and bits of stalks. Their taste is bitter, and some- WORMSEED. 709 what acrid ; their smell strong and disagreeable. Those which come from Aleppo are esteemed the best, and those from Bar¬ bary the worst. When they have no smell, and a less intensely bitter taste, and are discoloured, and mixed with a longer kind of seed, they are to be rejected. They are also adulterated with the seeds of tansy and wormwood. The latter are easily known, by having a light yellow colour, and resembling powdered hay more than seeds. MEDICAL USE. Wormseeds are one of the oldest and most common alth el in in¬ ti cs, especially in the lubrici of children. On account of their essential oil, they are heating and stimulating. They are given to children, 1. In substance, to the extent of ten grains, or half a drachm, finely powdered, and strewed on bread and butter ; or made into an electuary with honey or treacle ; or candied with sugar ; or diffused through milk, and taken in the morning when the stomach is empty. 2. In infusion or decoction ; but to these forms their bitter¬ ness is a strong objection. After they have been used for some days, it is customary to give a cathartic ; or they are combined from the beginning with rhubarb, jalap, calomel, sulphate of iron, or muriate of am¬ monia. COLTSFOOT. TUSSILAGO FARFARA. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order II. Polygamia superflua. Essent. Gen. Char. Receptacle naked : Pappus simple : Scales of the Calyx equal, equalling the disk, submembranous. Spec. Char. Scape one-flowered, imbricated : Leaves subcordate, angled, toothed. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises six or eight inches. The scape is covered with small pointed purplish leaves, like scales. The leaves are very large, irregularly toothed, of a bright green above, downy and white beneath, standing upon long radical footstalks. The (lowers are large, yellow ; those in the ray are very visible. HISTORY. Native of England, common in moist clayey places ; the (lowers usually appear before the leaves, and it flowers in March and April. MEDICAL VIRTUE. It is the first plant that vegetates in marie or limestone rubble. The downy substance on the under surface of the leaves, wrapped COLTSFOOT. 711 in a rag, dipped in a solution of saltpetre, and dried in the sun, makes the best tinder. The leaves are the basis of the British herb tobacco. They are somewhat austere, bitterish, and mu¬ cilaginous to the taste. They were formerly much used in coughs and consumptive complaints ; and perhaps not without reason, for Dr. Cullen has found them to do considerable service in scrophulous cases ; he gives a decoction of the dried leaves, and finds it succeed where sea water has failed. — Cullen’s Mat. Med. p. 458. And Fuller relates a case of a girl, with twelve scrophulous sores, who was cured by drinking daily as much as she could, for above four months, of a decoction of the leaves made so strong as to be sweetish and glutinous. Dr. Percival found it useful in hectic diarrhoeas.— Essays Med. and Exper. vol. ii. p. 224. A decoction with wormwood has done wonders in calculous complaints. The common people use it as tea, sweetened with honey, for colds and asthmas ; and find relief, if not a cure. COMMON INULA, or ELECAMPANE. INULA II ELEN I UM. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order II. Polvgamia superflua. Essent. Gen. Char. Receptacle naked: Pappus simple : Anthers ending at the base in two setie. Spec. Char. Lehves embracing, ovate, wrinkled, tomentose : Scales of the Calyx ovate. DESCRIPTION. TL his plant rises three feet. Leaves large, ovate, serrated, full of netted veins. Midrib large, fleshy; the upper leaves sessile. Flowers very large, yellow, terminal : the florets in the ray li- gulate, cut at the end into three sharp teeth. HISTORY, This is a very large downy perennial plant, sometimes found wild in moist rich soils. It flowers in July and August. The root, especially when dry, has an agreeable aromatic smelt : its taste, on first chewing, is glutinous, and, as it were, somewhat COMMON INULA, Oil ELECAMPANE. 713 rancid ; in a little time it discovers an aromatic bitterness, which by degrees becomes considerably acrid and pungent. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The root is esteemed a good pectoral, and, like angelica root, is candied ; and these have become now a sweetmeat for chil¬ dren. Dr. Hill says, that from his own experience he has found an infusion of the fresh root, sweetened with honey, to be very successful in the hooping cough. There is another species of this plant called d\ senterica, which is good in the flux, and is used by the common people for this purpose. MOUNTAIN ARNICA. A R N I C A MONTAN A. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order II. Polygamia superflua. Essent. Gen. Char. Receptacle naked : Pappus simple : the Florets ip the ray with five filaments, but without anthers. Spec. Chau. Leaves ovate, entire; two opposite cauline leaves. DESCRIPTION. Rises a foot. Radical leaves large, ending acute. Cauline leaves sessile, obtusely lance-shaped. Flower large, yellow, terminal. The florets in the ray conspicuous, ending in five sharp teeth. H I STO RY. Leopards-bane is a very common perennial plant in the alpine parts of Germany, in Sweden, Lapland, and Switzerland. It flowers in July. The flowers, which are of a yellow colour, and compound, consisting entirely of tubular florets, are distinguished from similar flowers, with which they are often mixed, from ig¬ norance or fraud, by the common calyx, which is shorter than the florets, and consists entirely of lancet-shaped scales, lying MOUNTAIN ARNICA. 715 parallel, and close to each other, of a green colour, with purple points. The calyx of ihe different species of inula are composed of bristle-shaped scales, reflected at the points, and beset with hairs. The florets of the genus Hypochaeris are strap-shaped. These flowers have a weak bitterish taste, evidently combined with a degree of acrimony ; and when rubbed with the fingers, have a somewhat aromatic smell. Their active constituents are not sufficiently ascertained. They evidently contain a great deal of resin, and some essential oil. MEDICAL USE. In their effects they are stimulating, and supposed to be dis- cutient. In small doses* and properly administered, they possess very beneficial efi’ects, in raising the pulse, in exciting the action of the whole sanguiferous system, in checking diarrhoeas, in promoting expectoration, and most particularly in removing paralytic affections of the voluntary muscles ; but their use is frequently attended with no sensible operation, except that in some cases of paralysis the cure is said to be preceded by a pe¬ culiar prickling, and by shooting pains in the affected parts. When given improperly, or in too large doses, they excite an insupportable degree of anxiety, shooting and burning pains, and even dangerous haemorrhagies, vomiting, vertigo, and coma. For these dangerous symptoms, vinegar is said to be the best remedy. Haller says, that even gutta serena has yielded to the powers of this medicine. They have been recommended, 1. In paralytic disorders, in chronic rheumatism, in retention of the urine, from paralysis of the bladder, in amaurosis. 2. In intermittent fevers, combined with Peruvian bark. 3. In dysentery and diarrhoea, but in some cases they have had bad effects. 4. In putrid diseases. 5. In typhoid inflammations. 6. To promote the uterine discharge. 7. And in internal pains, and congestions, from bruises. In the countries where they are indigenous, the flowers of the leo- pards-bane have long been a popular remedy in these cases. 8. In epilepsy, according to Haller. Dr. Collin, of Vienna, highly extols this plant. It had long been a desideratum of his to find an European plant of equal 716 MOUNTAIN ARNICA. medicinal powers with the Peruvian bark in fevers of the inter¬ mitting and putrid kind; and after several fruitless trials of dif¬ ferent simples, at last he had the satisfaction to find them in the arnica; for by the flowers of this plant, made into an electuary with honey, he cured more than one thousand patients labour¬ ing under the different species of intermittent fevers in the Pas- man hospital, from December 1771 to July 1774; and during the following winter the doctor made trial of a watery extract of the flowers, by which he cured thirty quotidians, forty-six tertians, and fifty-eight quartans. In putrid fevers the doctor experienced equal success with the flowers employed in the way of infusion, with which many hun¬ dreds of patients were snatched from the very jaws of death. However, there are some cases where the doctor recommends the root in preference to the flowers, believing the former to possess more cordial, tonic, and antiseptic qualities ; and it is accordingly directed in those cases where putridity and debility arc more prevalent than fever; also in a malignant dysentery Dr. Collin could relate many hundred instances of the superior efficacy of arnica root, and his practice in this disease was imi¬ tated and confirmed by Dr. Dietl. Dr. Collin further ascertains the medicinal powers which he attributes to this root in thirteen cases of gangrenes, where its antiseptic effects admitted of more evident proof. As the ar¬ nica, when first administered, often excites vomiting, or uneasi¬ ness at the stomach, it will be necessary to begin with small doses; but by repeating the medicine two or three times, this uneasiness goes off. They are contraindicated by an inflammatory diathesis, a pre¬ disposition to haemorrhagies, and internal congestions. They are best exhibited in the form of infusion. One or two scruples may be infused with half a pound of water, and drunk at proper intervals. The flowers should be wrapt up in a piece of linen, as otherwise their down is apt to be diffused in the li¬ quid, and to cause violent irritation of the throat. The root is exhibited in the same manner and circumstances as the flowers, but it is more apt to excite vomiting. In powder its dose is from five to ten grains. COMMON CAMOMILE. AN THEMIS NOBILIS. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order II. Polygamia superflua. Essent. Gen. Char. Receptacle chaffy : Pappus none : Calyx hemisphe* rical, nearly equal: Flowers of the ray more than five. Spec. Char. Leaves double-pinnated, linear, acute, subvillous. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises near a foot. Stem slender, trailing, hairy, of a pale green. Pinna? divided into three pointed segments. Flowers compound, in the centre yellow, in the ray white, standing singly, terminal. Flowers in the ray usually eighteen, strap-shaped, ending in three sharp teeth. HISTORY. Camomile is a perennial plant, indigenous in the south of England, but cultivated in our gardens for the purposes of me¬ dicine. Flowers in July and August. The flowers have a strong, not ungrateful, aromatic smell, and a very bitter nauseous taste. Their active constituents are bitter extractive, and essential oil. To the latter are to be ascribed their antispasmodic, carrei- 718 COMMON CAMOMILE. native, cordial, and diaphoretic effects ; to the former, their In¬ fluence in promoting digestion. MEDICAL USE. Camomile flowers are a very common and excellent remedy, which is often used with advantage in spasmodic diseases, in hy¬ steria, in spasmodic and flatulent colics, in suppression of the menstrual discharge, in the vomiting of puerperal women, in the afterpains, in gout, in intermitteuts, and in typhus. No bitter is more common than the camomile : light watery infusions of the flowers are much used to promote vomiting, and to assist the operation of other emetics ; and strong infusions of it taken in small doses, from two to four ounces, twice or three times in the day, have been found to be good stomachics, and to assist digestion ; and with the addition of a few drops of the diluted vitriolic acid, have been found good remedies for re¬ moving feverish complaints ; and have at times put a stop to intermitting fevers. Dr. Morton says, that he has cured inter- mittents which resisted the bark, by giving frequently in the day a scruple of the flowers of chamomile in powder, with ten grains of salt of wormwood, and as much diaphoretic antimony. As camomile excites the peristaltic motion, it is useful in dy¬ sentery, but is not admissible in all cases of diarrhoea. From its stimulating and somewhat unpleasant essential oil, camomile is also capable of exciting vomiting, especially when given in warm infusion; and in this way it is often used to assist the action of other emetics. Externally, camomile flowers are applied as a discutient and emollient, in the form of clyster or embrocation, in colic, dy¬ sentery, and strangulated hernia, &c. Camomile flowers are exhibited, 1. In substance, in the form of powder, or rather of elec¬ tuary, in doses of from half a drachm to two drachms, either alone, or combined with Peruvian bark, as for the cure of in¬ termittent fevers. 2. In infusion, in the form of tea. This may either be drunk warm, for promoting the action of emetics, or cold, as a sto¬ machic. 3. In decoction or extract. These forms contain only the ex¬ tractive, and therefore may be considered as simple bitters. COMMON CAMOMILE. 719 4. The essential oil may be obtained by distillation. This possesses the antispasmodic powers in a higher degree than the simple flowers, but on the contrary does not possess the virtues depending on the presence of the bitter extractive. Although this be a fine remedy, and merits all our praise, still it must be remembered, that as the cord too tightly strung, re¬ laxes its tone, so as never to recover again, thus the stomach, too much braced by a long-continued use of camomile tea, loses irrecoverably its tone, and becomes a truly afflicting evil arising from imprudent use of this tonic. PRESCRIPTIONS. 1^. 1. Take of camomile, in powder, scruple 1, - syrup of orange-peel, as much as is sufficient: Make a bolus, to be taken twice a day, as a tonic. ly. 2. Take of camomile, in powder - drachms 4, - conserve of hips - - drachms 4, - syrup of ginger, as much as is sufficient: Make into an electuary : dose a small tea-spoonful three times a day. Iy. 3. Take of camomile flowers, - lemon peel, - orange peel, of each, drachms 4, * - boiling water - - pint 1 : Let them remain for four hours, and strain. To the strained liquor add syrup of ginger, drachms 6. The dose is a wine glass in the morning early, and repeated an hour before dinner, for habits debilitated by drinking, or natural weakness of the sto¬ mach. ]^. 4. Take of camomile flowers - - drachms 3, — - rhubarb, in powder - drachms 2, - - coriander seeds, bruised, drachm 1 : Make into tea, by adding a quart of boiling water over night. A wine glass is to be taken half an hour before dinner to create an appetite. SPANISH CAMOMILE, OR PELLITORY OF SPAIN. ANTHEMIS PYRETHRUM. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order II. Polygamia superflua. Essent. Gen. Char. The same as the preceding. Spec. Char. Stem simple, one-flowered, decumbent: Leaves doubly- pinnated. DESCRIPTION. Rises nearly a foot. Pinnse nearly linear, of a pale green co¬ lour. Flowers large, in the disk yellow, in the ray white on the inside, and purple beneath. HISTORY. This plant, though a native of warm climates, as Barbary, bears the ordinary winters of this country, and often flowers successively from Christmas to May. The roots also grow larger with us than those with which the shops are usually supplied from abroad. They are seldom so big as the little finger, and SPANISH CAMOMILE. 731 the best are dry, compact, of a brown colour, and not easily cut with a knife. Pellitory root has no sensible smell ; its taste is very hot and acrid, but less so than that of arum ; the juice expressed from it has scarce any acrimony, nor is the root itself so pungent when fresh, as after it has been dried. Neumann obtained from 960 parts of the dry root only 40 of alcoholic extract, and after¬ wards 570 of watery ; and by a reverse procedure, 600 of wa¬ tery, and 20 of alcoholic extract. Both the alcoholic extracts were excessively pungent. Its acrimony, therefore, was derived from a resin. MEDICAL USE. The principal use of pellitory in the present practice is as a mas¬ ticatory, for promoting the saliva! flux, and evacuating the viscid humours from the head and neighbouring parts; by this means it often relieves the toothach, some kinds of pains of the head, and lethargic complaints. A vinous infusion is also useful in debility of the tongue. t COMMON YARROW. ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order II. Polygamia superflua. Essent. Gen. Char. Receptacle chaffy : Pappus none : Calyx ovate, imbricated : Florets of the ray about five. Spec. Char. Leaves bipinnate, naked : the Segments toothed : Stem above furrowed. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises a foot. Leaves alternate, bipinnated. Pinnae pointed. Flowers white, tinged with a little purple beneath, terminal, forming a flat corymbus. II I S T O R Y. Native of Britain, common in dry pastures, and flowers from July till October. MEDICAL VIRTUE. A table-spoonful of the expressed juice of this plant has, ac¬ cording to Haller, cured a cancer of the breast ; it has stopt spitting of blood, and cured the bloody flux ; and Dr. Buch- wald says, that he experienced great advantage from this herb himself in the bleeding piles. Stahl boasts of it as a specific in i COMMON YARROW. 7 23 blind piles. It is esteemed a vulnerary ; and the great Haller says, that an infusion taken inwardly, together with an outward application of its leaves, cut line, has very well and speedily succeeded, from a want of the arnica, in dissipating dreadful bruises arising from a fall from a tree. It may perhaps derive its name from the use Achilles made of this plant with his army; for the celebrated Stahl reports, that it readily cicatrizes wounds. There is a species called Ptarmica, from its juice exciting sneezing, and thereby relieving the head. 3 A HOLY THISTLE. CENTAUEEA BENEDICTA. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order III. Polygamia frustranea. Essent. Gen. Char. Receptacle bristly : Pappus simple : Florets of the ray funnel-shaped, longer than those of the disk, irregular. Spec. Char. Calyx doubly-spined, woolly, and involucred : Leaves semi¬ decurrent, with spinous teeth. DESCRIPTION. 1 his plant rises two feet. Leaves long, elliptical, runcinated or variously serrated, and barbed with sharp points ; above a bright green, beneath whitish, and netted. Upper leaves ses¬ sile, lower ones on footstalks. Flowers inclosed with an invo¬ lucre of ten leaves. Florets yellow. Seeds crowned. HISTORY. This is an annual plant, indigenous in the Grecian islands, and cultivated in our gardens. It flowers in June and July, and perfects its seeds in the autumn. The herb should be ga¬ thered when in flower, quickly dried, and kept in a very dry airy place, to counteract its tendency to rot or grow mouldy. The leaves have a penetrating bitter taste, not very strong or HOLY THISTLE,, 725 very durable, accompanied with an ungrateful flavour, from which they are in a great measure freed by keeping. Water extracts in a little time, even without heat, the lighter and more grateful parts of this plant: if the digestion be continued for some hours, the disagreeable parts are taken up. A strong de¬ coction is very nauseous and offensive to the stomach. Rectified spirit acquires a very pleasant bitter taste, which remains unin¬ jured in the extract. Neumann got from 1920 parts, 270 alcoholic, and afterwards 390 watery extract ; and inversely, 600 watery, and 60 alco¬ holic. MEDICAL USE. The virtues of this plant seem to be little known in the pre¬ sent practice. The nauseous decoction is sometimes used to pro¬ voke vomiting, and a strong infusion to promote the operation of other emetics. But this elegant bitter, when freed from the offensive parts of the herb, may be advantageously applied to other purposes. Excellent effects have been frequently expe¬ rienced from a slight infusion of centaurea, in loss of appetite, where the stomach was injured by irregularities. A stronger infusion, made in cold or warm water, if drunk freely, and the patient kept warm, occasions a plentiful sweat, and promotes the secretions in general. The extract prepared by evaporating the expressed juice, with the addition of a little alcohol, to prevent it from becoming mouldy, has been strongly recommended in the catarrh of chil¬ dren. The seeds of this plant are also considerably bitter, and have been sometimes used with the same intention as the leaves. BLUE CARDINAL FLOWER. LOBELIA SIPHILITICA. Class ~X IX. Syngenesia. Order Y I. Monogamia. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx five-cleft: Corolla one-petalled, irregular: Capsule beneath, two- or three-celled. Spec. Char. Stem erect t Leaves ovate-lanceolate, subserrated : Leaves of the Calyx refiexed. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises two feet. Leaves sessile, acute. Flowers not compound, numerous, blue, spiked. Leaves of the calyx five, halbert-shaped, fringed at the margin. Corolla funnel-shaped, border five-cleft. HISTORY. Native of Virginia, and flowers from August till October. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The root of this plant, which grows in the moist places of Virginia, stands recommended as a certain remedy for curing the venereal disorder among the wild Indiaus in North America; but it has not hitherto been brought to Europe, and trials made BLUE CARDINAL FLOWER. 727 of it to ascertain its virtues. The Indians in North America communicated to the late Sir William Johnson an account of the effects of this root in the lues venerea, which has since been published in the fourth quarto volume of Linnseus’s Amoenitates Academics. By this account, a strong decoction is ordered to be made with four, five, six, or more roots of this plant, and the decoction to be drunk in large quantity every morning for a fortnight or three weeks, or longer. If the decoction should prove too strong, and purge, it is then ordered to be made weaker by lowering it with water. The patient is directed to wash himself with the decoction, as well as to drink it, and to live on a spare vegetable diet during its use. Since this publication of Linnaeus 1 have heard no further ac¬ count of its effects, nor of its having been tried by any European practitioner. It is certainly to be wished that a sufficient quan¬ tity of this root was imported into Europe, and that proper trials were made to ascertain its virtues ; for, should it produce the effects alleged, it would undoubtedly be a very valuable ac¬ quisition to the materia medica. SWEET VIOLET. VIOLA ODORATA. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order VI. Monogamia. J'.ssent. Gen. Chap. Calyx five -leaved : Corolla five-petalled, irregular, behind horned: Capsule above, three-valved, one-celled. Spec. Char. No Stem : Leaves cordate, stoloniferous. DESCRIPTION. A small plant. Leaves veined, crenated, on the upper part smooth, of a shining green, underneath paler, somewhat hairy, standing upon long footstalks. Flowers single, of a deep purple. Calyx composed of five leaves, and the corolla of five petals. HISTORY. This plant is perennial, and is found wild under hedges and in shady places; but the shops are generally supplied from gar¬ dens. It blows in March and April. Its flowers are so re¬ markable for their odour and colour, that they have given a name to both. In our markets we meet with the flowers of other species : these may be distinguished from the foregoing by their being larger, of a pale colour, and having no smell. SWEET VIOLET. 729 MEDICAL USE. They impart their colour and flavour to aqueous liquors : a syrup made from the infusion has long had a place in the shops, and is said to be an agreeable and useful laxative for children, but is chiefly valued as a delicate test of the presence of uncom¬ bined acids or alkalies, the former changing its blue to a red, and the latter to a green colour. OFFICINAL PREPARATION. Syrup of Violet Flowers. (Syrupus Violas.) Take of the fresh flowers of the violets, two pounds, - of boiling distilled water, five pints : Macerate for twenty-four hours, and strain the liquor through a cloth, without pressing, and add the double refined sugar, to piake the syrup. CULINARY PREPARATION. Vinegar acquires a very agreeable colour and taste by infusing in it some petals of this odoriferous flower. P A N S I E, OR THREE-COLOURED VIOLET. VIOLA TRICOLOR. Class XIX. Syngenesia. Order VI. Monogamia, Essent. Gen. Char. Same as the last. Spec. Char. Stem triquetrous, spreading: Leaves oblong, cut: Stipules pinnatifid. v DESCRIPTION. Fins plant rises also four or five inches. Leaves variously shaped, ovate or elliptical, crenate, pointed, on long footstalks. Flowers single, on long peduncles of three colours. Calyx five- leaved, pointed. Corolia of five petals, three of these marked with purple lines, lowest petal broad, emarginate. HISTORY. Native of Britain ; grows in cornfields, or uncultivated grounds ; flowers all the summer. MEDICAL USE. Though many of the old writers, says Dr. Woodyille, on the PANSXE, OR THREE-COLOURED VIOLET. 731 materia medica represent this plant as a powerful medicine in epilepsy, asthma, ulcers, scabies, and cutaneous complaints, yet the Viola tricolor owes its present character as a medicine to the modern authorities of StorckV, Metzger f, Mease, and others; especially as a remedy for crusta lactca. For this purpose, a handful of the fresh herb, or half a drachm of it dried, and boded two hours in milk, is to be strained, and taken night and morning. Bread with this decoction is also to be formed into a poultice and applied to the part. It merits certainly the atten¬ tion of the English physicians. * De Viola tricolorc. Erlang, 1782. + De crusta lactea infantum ejusdemque remedio dissertatio, quam Acad. Scient. Lugd, Gall, praemio coronavit, 1776. Franc, ad Moen, 1779. See algo London Medical Journal, vol. ii. IPECACUAN. VIOLA IPECACUANHA. In the index of that incomparable work, the Edinburgh New Dispensatory, by Dr. Duncan, amongst the violets I find viola ipecacuanha; and as the faculty are much divided about what produces the true ipecacuan, we shall retain it in this place, although the root may perhaps belong to different plants. Ipecacuan, in the language of South America, means vomit¬ ing root, and is applied to various vegetables which possess that property in any remarkable degree; hence the confusion and contradictions which have long prevailed concerning the plant which furnishes our officinal ipecacuan : but this confusion is increased by several varieties of ipecacuan being found in the shops. 1st, The ash-coloured, or Peruvian ipecacuan, is a small wrinkled root, bent and contorted into a great variety of figures, brought over in short pieces, full of wrinkles and deep circular fissures quite down to a small white woody fibre that runs in the middle of each piece : the cortical part is compact, brittle, looks smooth and resinous upon breaking: it has very little smell ; the taste is bitterish and subacrid, covering the tongue IPECACUAN. 7 33 as it were with a kind of mucilage. This, according to Mutis, is obtained from the Psycotria emetica, and is that commonly used. 2d, The brown ipecacuan is small, and somewhat more wrin¬ kled than the foregoing ; its bark is of a brown or blackish colour without, and white within ; this is brought from Brazil, and is the root of a cephaelis, which is perennial, and grows in moist shady situations. A complete monography of it, and an excel¬ lent plate, were published, in the sixth volume of the Transac¬ tions of the Linnsean Society, by professor Brotero, who calls it the Callicocca ipecacuanha ; but the genus callicocca has been united by Willdenow with that of cephaelis, to which we have therefore referred it. The plate of Brotero corresponds with that published in Woodville’s Medical Botany, vol. iii. from a plant sent in spirits from Brazil by governor Philips to sir Jo¬ seph Banks, but which unfortunately was not in flower, and also with the rude draught of Piso, who first examined it. It has been sometimes observed, even in a small dose, to produce violent effects. 3d, The white sort is woody, has no wrinkles, and no per¬ ceptible bitterness in taste. It is probably the root of a viola. Besides these, the name of ipecacuan is given to various spe¬ cies of Cynanchum, Asclepias, Euphorbia, Dorstenia, and Ru- ellia. With regard to their comparative strengths, Decandolle says, that vomiting is produced by 22 grains of the Cynanchum ipecacuanha, 24 of the Psycotria emctica, 60 to 72 of the Viola calceolaria, and one to three drachms of the Viola ipecacuanha. Ipecacuan was first brought into Europe about the middle of the last century, and an account of it published about the same time by Piso ; but it cbd not come into general use till about the year 1686, when Helvetius, under the patronage of Lewis XIV, introduced it into practice. Neumann got from 7680 parts, 1440 alcoholic, and afterwards 1880 watery extract; and inversely, 2400 watery, and 600 al¬ coholic. I find that the tincture of ipecacuan does not redden infusion of litmus, or precipitate solution of gelatine; that it is precipitated by water, by red sulphate of iron, and readily acquires a green colour from excess of the chalybeate; and by infusion of nut-galls. According to Dr. Irvine, the watery so¬ lution is more emetic than the alcoholic, the decoction than the distilled water, and the cortical than the ligneous part. Others 73b IPECACUAN* have found that the resinous part is more apt to act upon the intestinal canal, and to operate by stool By long-continued boiling it becomes almost inert ; and the emetic property of ipe- cacuan is most effectually counteracted by means of the acetic acid, insomuch that thirty grains of the powder, taken in two ounces of vinegar, produced only some loose stools. From these experiments it evidently appears that ipecacuan contains cinchonin and a resin, and that its emetic property does not depend upon the latter, although we can scarcely attribute it to the former, as in other substances it does not manifest any emetic property. It is therefore probably owing to some other principle soluble in water and alcohol. MEDICAL USE. The primary effect of ipecacuan is that of stimulating the s'o- mach. If the dose be sufficiently large, it excites vomiting, by inverting the peristaltic motion of the stomach and duodenum; in a smaller dose it only produces nausea, and operates by stool; and in still smaller doses it gently stimulates the stomach, in¬ creases the appetite, and facilitates digestion. Its secondary ef¬ fects depend on the sympathy of other parts with the stomach ; and in this way only can we explain its action as antispasmodic, diaphoretic, expectorant, and in checking haemorrhagies. Its beneficial effects, in some cases, also seem to be owing to the general concussion given to the whole system during the action of vomiting. Ipecacuan, -properly administered, often proves serviceable, 1. In intermittent fevers. It has frequently succeeded in stop¬ ping these, when given about an hour before an accession was expected, and also when given so as to produce vomiting at the time of an accession, or at the end of the cold stage. 2. In continued fevers. We have never seen more decidedly beneficial effects from the use of any medicine whatever, than from the exhibition of ipecacuan in the commencement of typhus fever. An emetic, succeeded by a diaphoretic regimen, when administered sufficiently early in the disease, very frequently cuts it short at once; and when it fails in this desirable object, it al¬ ways has a beneficial influence on the progress of the fever. 3. in inflammatory diseases, rheumatism. 4. In exanthematous diseases, when the eruption is disposed to recede. IPECACUAi'f. 7 35 5. in haemorrhagies, When given in nauseating doses. 6. In profluvia, especially in dysentery ; so much so, that it was formerly esteemed a specific against that disease. But Cullen attributes its good effects, in this instance, to its producing a steady determination of the peristaltic motion of the intestines downwards, when given in repeated small doses, 7. In many spasmodic diseases ; in epilepsy, asthma, dys¬ pnoea, pertussis, chronic diarrhoea, hysteria, melancholy, mania. 8. In cachectic diseases, as in some kinds of dropsy. 9. In impetiginous diseases ; in jaundice. 10. In local diseases ; in amaurosis, and several of the dyso- rexiae. 11. Lastly, in every instance when we wish to evacuate the stomach, as when it is overloaded with food, or when poison, especially opium, has been swallowed. The use of ipecacuan, as an emetic, is contraindicated, 1. Where there is a disposition to haemorrhagy. *2. Where there is an increased flow of blood towards the head. 3. In very irritable subjects. 4. In pregnant women, and persons afflicted with hernia. Dr. Donald Monro has favoured us with the following judi¬ cious remarks on the employmentof this drug. This root, says this experienced physician, is one of the mildest and safest emetics we are acquainted with, and is employed as such from three or four grains to a scruple or half a drachm. It has likewise been greatly recommended in the cure of dysen¬ teries, given in repeated small doses, from one to three, four, five, or six grains, three or four times in the day. But these small doses of ipecacuan, though they sometimes puke, and at other times keep up an increased discharge by stool, yet they seldom give effectual relief in the dysentery, not being strong enough to carry oft' those putrid corrupted hu¬ mours which are pent up within the bowels, and give rise to many of the troublesome symptoms ; besides, they generally keep up such a nausea, sickness, and griping, that it is ex¬ tremely difficult to prevail with patients to continue, even for a short time, the use of this medicine given in this manner : and in dysenteric cases I have always found it to answer better to give a scruple or half a drachm, or such dose as operated freely as an emetic, and after its operation to give a full dose of some 730 IPECACUAN. mild, active, purgative medicine, such as I have recommended in treating on the dysentery, in my Observations on the Diseases of the Army, in order to clear the rest of the alimentary canal. In habitual diarrhoeas, Dr. Fothergil! has recommended to give, every morning while the patient is in bed, one grain, one grain and a half, or two grains of it in any common draught, which, he says, sometimes acts as an emetic, and brings up bile; and sometimes gives a few stools extraordinary ; and that a small bason of thin gruel should be given to promote its operation ; and a cordial anodyne draught, if nothing forbid it, at night to secure rest; and he says, a few doses of these medicines gene¬ rally restrain the discharge. But he observes that such doses, or larger ones repeated once in six hours, often make the disease worse. Dr. Akenside recommends in the chronical spasmodic asthma, to give from three to five grains of ipecacuan every morning, or from five to ten grains every other morning, for a month or six weeks together ; and says, that though his patients have com¬ plained of the fatigue and nauseousness attending it, yet they found such relief as to acquiesce in it, and sometimes to desire to return to it after it had been laid aside. Of late a notion has prevailed, that the keeping up a nausea by means of small doses of ipecacuan, or of watery solution of emetic tartar, was of great service in promoting the cure of fevers, as well as of fluxes, from a belief that they affected the nervous system, and were capable of exciting the action of the extreme vessels, and of increasing the secretions by the skin, and of the internal organs. Hitherto 1 have not found this method to answer my expectations, and I have always observed, that such a dose of an emetic as emptied the stomach freely, and gave a shake to the whole frame, had a much better effect than those frequent repeated small doses, which kept the patient in a dis¬ agreeable, uneasy situation for hours together ; and I am per¬ suaded that no practitioner of experience, who has attended large hospitals, where he has had an opportunity of trying and seeing the effects of different medicines, will ever recommend this nauseating method for general practice in fevers, though it may be of use in some particular cases. Geoffroy, in the second volume of his Treatise on the Materia Medica, mentions, that six grains of this root generally vomit freely ; and that ten grains Yomit as powerfully as a scruple, IPECACUANo nay, as two scruples ; and that therefore he thinks it useless to order larger doses as an emetic. And in the year 1757, Dr. Pye relates, in the first volume of the Medical Observations and In¬ quiries, published at London, a number of cases of patients la¬ bouring under fevers, diarrhoeas, and dysenteries, where very small doses of this root, from one to eight grains, are said to have operated as emetics in the most gentle manner, and with the greatest good effects ; from whence he concludes that this medicine may be given from half a grain to six grains, with the utmost safety, to persons of all ages, and in the greatest state of debility. Since the publication of Dr. Pye’s Observations, I have frequently ordered the ipecacuan, in the small doses he recom¬ mends, but they have often failed of operating as I expected ; nay, I have often seen ten or twelve grains have little effect, when some days after a scruple has operated freely on the same person ; I therefore now almost entirely coniine the small doses to children, or people who are very weak ; but where the patient is an adult, and strong, and I wash that he should vomit freely, I generally order from fifteen to thirty grains of the powder, or from an ounce to an ounce and a half of the tincture. Dr. Bergius says that the powder of ipecacuan, given in so small doses as the third part of a grain, every two or three hours, had stopt uterine hEemorrhagies ; though he tried it without effect in the hsemoptoe, the piles, and other bleedings. Joined to opium (as it is in the powder called Dover’s) it pro¬ duces one of the most powerful sudorific medicines wre know, which has often produced copious sweat in rheumatic, dropsical, and other cases, after other remedies had failed. When it was first introduced for the cure of dysenteries, it used to be given from a scruple to half a drachm or a drachm in substance; or in form of such a strong watery infusion as ope¬ rated powerfully as an emetic. Geoffrey is of opinion that most of its virtues in the cure of dysenteries are contained in the wa¬ tery infusions ; though he says that the root itself is much more efficacious in the dysentery, and in other diseases, than any of its preparations. Ipecacuan is exhibited, 1. In substance, in powder. Full vomiting will generally be produced in an adult by a scruple or half a drachm ; and though less might answer the purpose, fortunately an over-dose is scarcely attended with any inconvenience, as the whole of it is vomited 3 u 738 IPECACUAN. with the contents of the stomach as soon as it operates. The vomiting is promoted and facilitated by drinking copiously of warm watery fluids. On the contrary, when vomiting is not intended, liquids must be rather drunk sparingly, and the dose must be diminished to a grain or less. In such small doses it is conveniently combined with any proper adjunct, in the form of powder, pill, or bolus. 2. In infusion. One drachm may be infused in four ounces of water, and taken in repeated doses till it operate. 3. Infused in wine. Ipecacuau not only checks the narcotic effects of opium, and is therefore one of the best antidotes for its poison, but recipro¬ cally the emetic powers of ipecacuan are checked by the addi¬ tion of opium, and the combination operates by increasing the cuticular discharge. And we have now only to add, that it greatly promotes the action of cathartics. OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. Wine of Ipecacuan. (Vinum Ipecacuanhas. L. D.) Take of the root of ipecacuan, bruised, two ounces ; - - Spanish white wine, two pints : Digest for ten days, (seven days, D.) and strain. Edin. Take of ipecacuan, bruised, one ounce; — — > — Spanish white wine, fifteen ounces : Macerate for seven days, and filter through paper. Both these wines are very mild and safe emetics, and nearly equally serviceable, in dysenteries, with the ipecacuan in sub¬ stance, this root yielding nearly all its virtues to the Spanish white wine. The common dose is an ounce, more or less, ac¬ cording to the age and strength of the patient. Powder of Ipecacuan and Opium, or Compound Powder of Ipecacuan, formerly Dover’s Powder. (Pulvis Ipe¬ cacuanha et Opii. E. Pulvis Ipecacuanha Compositus, olim Pulvis Doveri. L. D.) Take of ipecacuan, in powder, - - Opium, (hard purified, D. L.) of each one part; - sulphate of potass, eight parts: Triturate them together into a fine powder. The sulphate of potass, from the grittiuess of its crystals, is IPECACUAN. 739 perhaps better fitted for tearing and dividing the tenacious opium than any other salt; this seems to be its only use in the prepara¬ tion. The operator ought to be careful that the opium and ipe- cacuan be equally diffused through the whole mass of powder, otherwise different portions of the powder must differ in degree of strength. This powder is one of the most certain sudorifics, and as such was recommended by Dr. Dover as an effectual remedy in rheu¬ matism. Modern practice confirms its reputation, not only in rheumatism, but also in dropsy, and several other diseases, where it is often difficult, by other means, to produce a copious sweat. The dose is from two to five grains, repeated according as the patient’s stomach and strength can bear it. It is proper to avoid much drinking immediately after taking it, otherwise it is very apt to be rejected by vomiting before any other effects are produced. Perspiration should be kept up by diluents. PRESCRIPTIONS. R. 1. Take of ipecacuan, in powder - grains 10, - - tartarized antimony - grain 1 : Mix for an emetic powder, to be taken at seven in the evening. This is the ordinary dose for an adult. R. 2. Take of ipecacuan, in powder - - - grains 12, -■ compound powder of tragacantb, grains 12, - opiate confection, as much as is sufficient : To form twelve pills ; one is to be taken night and morning for an asthma, or for habitual diarrhoea. R. 3. Take of ipecacuan wine - - - antimonial wine - - - syrup of violets - - - rose water - - - drachms 7, drachm 1, drachm 1, - - - drachms 3 : Make into a draught, to be taken at eight in the evening ; or for an infant give a tea-spoonful every five minutes until it ope¬ rates ; and half of it for a child of ten or twelve years. It has no taste. R. 4. Take of ipecacuan - - - » - - grains 7, - - compound extract of colocynth, grains 14: Make into seven pills, of which take one going to bed, or one night and morning, as occasion may require. Excellent for cos¬ tive habits, but not to be taken by delicate persons, or during pregnancy. 3 b 2 MALE ORCHIS. ORCHIS MASCULA. Class XX. Gynandria. Order I. Diandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Nectary a horn behind the flower. Spec. Char. Bulbs undivided : Lip of the Nectary four-lobed, crenulated: Horn obtuse : Petals behind reflexed. DESCRIPTION. The root is a double tuber. Stalk simple, upright, purplish towards the top. Leaves long, pointed, embracing the stem. Flowers purple, terminal, in a regular spike. Bracteas attend¬ ant on each flower, purple. Corolla composed of five petals, three outward, two inward, making a kind of helmet. The nectary before petal-form, cut into three segments ; middle one emarginate. HISTORY. Common in meadows, and flowers in April and May. MEDICAL USE. Salep, which is imported here from the East, and formerly held in great estimation, is now well known to be a preparation ]VIALE ORCHIS. of the root of our common field orchis, which was first sug¬ gested by Mr. J. Miller, and different methods of preparing it have been since proposed and practised : of these: the latest and most approved is that by Mr. Mault, of Rochdale, which we shall transcribe from the words of Dr. Percival, who follows Mr. Mault in recommending the cultivation of a plant in Britain which promises to afford so useful and wholesome a food as the Salep. Dr. Percival says, u Mr. Mault has lately favoured the public with a new manner of curing the orchis root, and as I have seen many specimens of his salep at least equal, if not superior, to any brought from the Levant, I can recommend the following, which is his process, from my own knowledge of its success : — The new root is to be washed in water, and the fine brown skin which covers it is to be separated by means of a small brush, or by dipping the root in hot water and rubbing it w ith a coarse linen cloth. When a sufficient number of roots have been thus cleaned, they are to be spread on a tin plate, and placed in an oven heated to the usual degree, where they are to remain six or ten minutes, in which time they will have lost their milky white¬ ness, and acquired a transparency like horn, without any dimi¬ nution of bulk. Being arrived at this state, they are to be re¬ moved, in order to dry and harden in the air, which will require several days to effect ; or by using a very gentle heat they may be finished in a few hours. ” Salep, considered as an article of diet, is accounted extremely nutritious, as containing a great quantity of farinaceous matter in a small bulk, and hence it has been thought fit to constitute a part of the provisions of every ship’s company, to prevent a fa¬ mine at sea. For it is observed by Dr. Percival, that this powder and the dried gelatinous part of flesh, or portable soup, dissolved in boiling water, form a rich thick jelly, capable of supporting life for a considerable length of time. An ounce of each of these articles, with two quarts of boiling water, will be sufficient sub¬ sistence for one man a day. Dr. Percival not only recommends the use of salep as other authors have done in diarrhoea, dysen¬ tery, dysury, and calculous complaints; but he thinks “ in the symptomatic fever, which arises from the absorption of pus, from ulcers in the lungs, from wounds, or from amputations, salep used plentifully is an admirable demulcent, and well adapted 742 MALE ORCHIS. to resist that dissolution of the crasis of the blood which is so evident in these cases.” Les anciens donnoient le satyrion dans du lait pour exciter a l’acte venerien. Les modernes du terns de Costeus prescrivoient de choisir cette espece pour ingredient de l’electuaire diasaty- rium, qui etoit destine aux memes usages. La racine possede une odeur spermatique tres-remarquable. — Haller. Sir John Hill relates, that a fellow whom he knew was once a year before the justices for the damage he did, always apo¬ logized for it by saying that orchises were then in plenty, and he could not resist eating them. — Hill’s Mat. Med. SNAKE-ROOT. ARISTOLOCHIA SERPENTARIA. Class XX. Gynandria. Order IV. Hexandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Calyx one-petalled, tongue-shaped, entire : Pis « tilla six : Capsule six-celled, beneath. Spec. Char. Leaves cordate-oblong, flat: Stem weak, bending, smooth: Flowers single, short. DESCRIPTION. This plant rises eight or ten inches in height. Leaves heart- shaped, entire, pointed, veined, upon footstalks. Flowers of a purplish brown colour, base globular, the middle contracted and twisted, extremity spreading. HISTORY. Native of Virginia, flowering in August. 744 SNAKE-ROOT. MEDICAL VIRTUE. Virginian snake-root grows in Virginia and Carolina ; it lias an aromatic smell, and a hot, pungent, bitterish taste ; it contains besides its volatile aromatic (which Carthcuser calls camphorated and spirituous), both gummous and resinous prin¬ ciples. A watery infusion gets from an ounce about two drachms of extract, and a spirituous about one drachm ; and both of them retain the flavour and the taste of the root; the spirituous tincture is the strongest. By distillation with water it yields its flavour to it; but little or no essential oil can be obtained, un¬ less a great quantity of the root be put into the still. This root was first used in America as a remedy against the bites of serpents ; it is a warm cordial aromatic, and acts as a diaphoretic and diuretic ; it is looked upon as an excellent alex- ipbarmic, and has been much employed as a cordial medicine for supporting the vis vitce , and promoting a free perspiration in low and putrid fevers ; in the decline of such fevers, when joined to the bark, it often proves an excellent medicine, for it makes the bark more cordial and sit easier on the stomach. The dose in substance is from six grains to half a drachm, and it has been sometimes given the length of a drachm every four hours. It is found that intermittent fevers yield sooner to the bark mixed with serpentaria than without it, and it enters properly into what is called the compound tincture of bark, as well as into an electuary with bark. The editor of this work has frequently employed the serpen¬ taria in the low stages of small-pox, and has often found it do wonders in stopping mortification, joined with opium and other cordials ; a remarkable instance of which occurred in the case of Mr. Cossart. From a bad fracture mortification came on, and it advanced so rapidly, attended with delirium, that Mr. Astley Cooper and Mr. Luxmore, eminent surgeons, declared all hopes to have vanished, when Dr. Thornton ordered serpentaria, which wras given, two drachms of the tincture with ten grains in pow¬ der, and five drops of opium, every three hours, which calmed all the outrageous symptoms, and stopt the mortification, and en¬ abled an operation to be performed, by which this gentleman’s life was preserved. Ti ncture of Snake-root. (Tinctura Serpcntarise. L. D.) Take of Virginian snake-root, sliced and bruised, three ounces; - proof spirit, two pints : Digest for seven days, and strain. SNAKE-ROOT. 745 This tincture, which contains the whole virtues of the roof, may be taken to the quantity of a spoonful or more every five or six hours ; and to this extent it often operates as an useful diaphoretic. PRESCRIPTIONS. I y. 1. Take of snake-root, in powder - grains 15, - powder of contrayerva - grains 10, - - simple syrup, as much as is sufficient : Made into a bolus, to be taken every four hours : R. 2. Take of snake-root, bruised, - contrayerva, equal parts - drachms o, — - boiling water - - - - ounces 12 : Macerate for two hours, and strain off; then add, Tincture of snake-root - - ounces 2, Syrup of ginger - - - drachms 2 : For a mixture, of which two table-spoonsful are to be taken every three hours. In low stages of fever, confluent small-pox, when sores threaten gangrene, and the powers of life appear sunk. LONG-ROOTED BIRTH WORT. ARISTOLOCIIIA LONGA. Class XX. Gynandria. Order IV. Hexandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Same as the preceding. Spec. Char. Leaves cordate, petioled, entire, obtuse: Stem weak: Flowers single. — *■' t*igy — - DESCRIPTION. -Rises a foot in height. Leaves heart-shaped, obtuse, veined, alternate, on footstalks. Flowers on peduncles, large, a blue purple, tongue-shaped. HISTORY. Native of Europe, and flowers from June till October. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The virtues, says Dr. Woodville, which the antients ascribed to aristolochia were very considerable, and it w-as conse¬ quently employed in various diseases, particularly those thought LONG-ROOTED BIRTIIWORT. 747 to proceed from obstructions * * * §, more especially of the uterine system f; hence the name aristolochia is said to have arisen from its supposed emmenagogue powers And as a warm stimu¬ lating medicine Dr. Cullen tells us § he found it useful in some cases of retention and chlorosis, but never in cases of suppres¬ sion. Aristolochia has also been long very generally commended as a remedy for the gout, and it is the first ingredient in the Portland powder ||, which has been much celebrated for the cure of this disease. It appears, however, that the long con¬ tinued use of this powder, which is necessary for preventing the return of arthritic paroxysms, seldom fails to superinduce a pre¬ mature senile state of body, and to lay a foundation for more fatal diseases H. It is probable that the medicinal qualities of this plant are somewhat allied to those of its congener, the Ser- pentaria; but the sensible properties of the latter demonstrate it to be a more active medicine. Aristolochia is given in substance from a scruple to two drachms for a dose. * Fernelius, Method. Med. lib. vi. cap. 12. p. 163. + Hippocr. De Nat. Muliebri. p. 572. Oper. Foesii. ^ Ab agio-ro; et \o%uu. It has also been derived from Aristolochius, who is said to have first discovered its virtues. § See Mat. Med. vol. ii. p. S3. (I The powder is thus prepared: R. Aristol. rotund, gentian, summit, et fol. chamaedr. chamaepit. centaur, min. aa p. ae. f. pulvis. A drachm of this powder is directed to be taken evei'y morning (jejuno ventriculo) for the space of three months, w hen the dose is to be diminished to three quar¬ ters of a drachm for the next three months, and afterwards continued for six months in doses of half a drachm, which during the second year is to be taken every other morning. 5 Brunner, De Pancr. p. 143. WerlhofF. Caut. Med. Tract, i. p. 32. See also Cullen’s First Lin. CLIMBING BIRTHWORT. ARISTOLOCHIA CLEMATITIS. Class XX. Gynandria. Order IY. Hexandria. Essent. Gem. Char. Same as the first. Spec. Char. Leaves cordate : Stem erect: Flowers axillary, crowded to¬ gether. DESCRIPTION. -Rises two feet. Leaves on footstalks, alternate, smooth, pear- shaped. Flowers numerous, rising out at the axillae of the leaves in bunches, of a pale yellow. Corolla tabular, tongue¬ shaped, at first erect. HISTORY. Native of Britain, in woods and hedges, flowering from July till September. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The root of this plant, taken inwardly, animates the force of nature when dull, and hence has succeeded in cachexies, sup- CLIMBING BIRTHWORT. 749 pression of the months, and overcomes that chronic indigestion which occasions the gout. Halier adds, u Only a drachm must be employed on this occasion, for more will excite vomiting ; nor should it be often repeated, for the long use of this plant robs the stomach of its villous coat, which has happened to those who have used the stomachic infusion so much boasted at Munster.” Chomel found that a decoction of half an ounce of aristolochia with an equal quantity of the head-s of wormwood, taken for five mornings, has cured piles when commencing to be fistulous, and matter has been discharged per anurii . In such cases he found advantage also from a glyster of a decoction of this plant. It enters into the composition of the black plaster, which Galen recommends to be applied to malignant ulcers. It has been used with success against the bite of the Yiper. COMMON ARUM, or WAKE-ROBIN. ARUM MACU LATUM. Class XX. Gynandria. Order V. Polyandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Spatha monophyllous, hooded : Spadix above, leaked beneath, female, in the middle stamineous. Spec. Char. No Stem : Leaves hastate, entire : Spadix clubbed. DESCRIPTION. 1 his plant rises half a foot or more. Leaves radical, three or four, arrow-shaped, of a deep green spotted with black, stand¬ ing upon long footstalks. Calyx a spatha, large, inclosing the spadix, above are nectaries like stamens ; then appear the an¬ thers, which are clustered together, and of a purple colour; under these the nectaries appear again, and then the gcrmina, which become berries of a bright scarlet, and look very conspi¬ cuous in hedges. HISTORY. Native of Britain, flowers from June to July. 751 COMMON ARUM, OR WAKE-ROBIN. MEDICAL VIRTUE. This root is a very acrid, pungent, strong, heating remedy, when fresh ; insomuch that it leaves its taste in the mouth for twenty-four hours after it is taken ; but it loses its acrimony by being kept. It has been recommended for promoting the watery excretions, and for quickening the circulation in cold phlegmatic habits, and in diseases from viscid phlegm. For some time it had been but little used as an internal remedy, on account of its great acrimony when fresh, and the uncertainty of its strength after it has been kept ; but of late years some practitioners have again brought it into use, and recommended it as an efficacious remedy in some cases. In the new edition of Dr. Lewis’s Dis¬ pensatory, published with additions, the editor says, u I have experienced great benefit from it in rheumatic pains, particularly those of the fixt kind, which were seated deep ; in these cases I have given from ten grains to a scruple of the fresh root twice or thrice a day, made into a bolus or emulsion with unctuous and mucilaginous substances, which cover its pungency, and pre¬ vent its making any painful impression on the tongue : it gene¬ rally excited a slight tingling sensation through the whole habit, and when the patient was kept warm in bed, produced a copious sweat.” He says, neither wine, water, nor spirits, extract its virtues. Dr. Lewis observes, that the most convenient method of pre¬ paring it for exhibition seems to be by beating the fresh root with gummy resins, and making the mixture into pills ; and that in this form it will retain its virtues longer than in that of powder. Geoffroy recommends this root in a number of disorders : he says that it is a good stomachic, and useful for restoring a lost appetite ; that it frequently removes intermittent fevers, and is useful in the chlorosis, jaundice, and hysterical, hypochondria¬ cal, and other disorders ; that the dose of both the recent and the dry root is from half a drachm to a drachm ; and that by being boiled in vinegar it becomes powerfully diuretic. Bergius says that he has found great use from this root, mixed with alkaline aromatics and absorbents, in the form of the pulvis ari compositus, in cases of obstinate head-achs, which return at intervals without fever, nay, in which the pulse is frequently glower than natural, and the teeth turn black, as in persons who smoke tobacco \ and that he has found this remedy succeed 752 COMMON ARUM, OR WAKE-ROBIN. after bleeding, blistering, scarifications, purges, and mineral waters, have had no effect. And he adds that he has seen the following powders, given every two hours till they purge, re¬ move intermitting fevers, without a relapse : Take of arum root, dried, ten grains, and as much tartarus vitriolatus, and five grains of rhubarb, all in powder, and mix them together. If these powders purged too much at first, he lessened the quantity of the arum. The pulvis ari composites, which was in the last Dispensatory, used formerly to be sometimes ordered as a warm cordial din- retie, the length of ten, fifteen, or twenty grains, in dropsies, and other chronic disorders ; but as the arum loses its virtues by drying, this powder has been omitted, and its place supplied by a conserve made with the fresh root and sugar. The best me¬ thod of preserving the arum root is to put it into weli-stopt bot¬ tles immediately after it has been carefully dried. OFFICINAL PREPARATION. Conserve of Arum. (Conserva Ari. L.) Take of fresh root of arum, bruised, half a pound ; * — - double refined sugar, a pound and a half : Beat them together in a mortar. This is one of the best forms for exhibiting this simple, as its virtues are destroyed by drying, and are not extracted by any menstruum. It may be given to adults in doses of a drachm. Class XXI. Monoecia. Order IV. Tetrandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Male flower. Calyx fonr-leaved : Nectary in the centre, asp-shaped. Female flower: Calyx two-leaved: Seed one, shining. Spec. Char. Leaves opposite, cordate : Racemes two. DESCRIPTION. Rises from three to four feet. Stem erect, quadrangular, de¬ fended with hairs. Leaves large, heart-shaped, pointed, deeply serrated, wrinkled, veined, covered with sharp stings, in pairs, on long footstalks. At the base of the footstalks are four sti¬ pule. Flowers very inconspicuous. HISTORY. Common every where; flowers in July. The stings are very curious microscopic objects : they consist of an exceedingly fine pointed tapering hollow substance, with a perforation at the point, and a bag at the base. When the string is pressed upon, 3 c COMMON NETTLE. 754 COMMON NETTLE. it readily punctures the skin, and the same pressure forces up from the bag an acrimonious fluid, which instantly enters into the wound, and excites a burning inflammation. — See Hooke, Discoveries by the Microscope, p. 22, tab. 12: Guettard, Mem. de l’Acad. de Sc. dc Paris, 1751, p. 350. The nettle, so greatly despised, merits, however, the attention of the curious. The young shoots, in the spring, are boiled and eaten by the common people instead of cabbage greens. — Lightf. 1. c. The stalks may be dressed like flax or hemp for making ropes, nets, cloth, paper, &e. ; a practice not uncommon in some parts of Russia and Siberia. — Vide Falk, Beytrage zur Topogr. Keuritniss des Russ. Reichs, vol.ii. p. 254. Vet. Acad. Handl. 1747, p. 59. Petersb. Journ. 1778, p. 370, and others. The nettle is said to be poisonous to frogs ; for if the plant be thrown into a vessel where these animals are confined, they soon begin to swell, and in a few days perish. — Vide Hagstrom Svar om Biskotsel, p. 150. Asses regale on nettles and thistles, which the horse refuses, and in Sweden it is cultivated as food for oxen. It is made into paper, and the roots furnish a beautiful yellow for dyeing. Steel dipt in its juice becomes more flexible. r ... * MEDICAL VIRTUE. Nettle broth is good against the scurvy. The expressed juice given a table-spoonful four times a day stops haemoptysis, and lint dipped in it, and forced up the nostrils, has stopt bleeding of the nose, when every other remedy has failed. Cancers have been said to have yielded to the juice of nettles, as much being taken as four ounces a day. Paralytic parts being stung with this herb, have been found to regain vigour, as well as limbs lost from rheumatism. The seeds produce a fine oil, and taken inwardly in moderate quantity excite the system, especially les plaisirs de Vamour , and are very forcing, therefore should be cautiously employed. Twenty or thirty grains produce vomit¬ ing. Excessive corpulency may be reduced by taking a few of these seeds daily. Lastly, fourteen or fifteen of these seeds, made into a powder, and taken night and morning, will cure the goitre, without injuring the stomach, or health. Class XXI. Mortcecia. Order IV. Tetrandria. Essent. Gen, Char. Male flower — Calyx four-parted: Corolla none: Female flower — Calyx four-leaved: Corolla none: Styles two: Calyx berried : Seed one. Spec. Char. Leaves cordate, rough. DESCRIPTION. *1 his rises to a lofty spreading tree. Leaves heart-shaped, ser¬ rated, veined, toothed, peduncled. Flowers male and female on the same tree ; the male in catkins above, female beneath. Flowers in June. Fruit ripens in September. HISTORY. The mulberry tree is a native of Italy, and is now cultivated generally over Europe, and thrives very well in England. It is 3 c 2 COMMON MULBERRY. MORUS NIGRA. 7 56 COMMON MULBERRY. cultivated not only for its fruit, but as yielding food for silk¬ worms, which can alone thrive on its leaves. There are two kinds, the white and black, that are cultivated for the sake of the silk-worm ; but it is the white mulberry which is commonly cultivated for its leaves to feed silk-worms in France, Italy, &c. In Spain, as the Rev. Mr. Townsend in¬ forms us*, they prefer the white mulberry in Valencia, and the black in Granada. The Persians generally make use of the lat¬ ter, and Mr. Miller was assured by a gentleman who had made trial of both sorts of leaves, that the worms fed with the black mulberry produced much the best silk ; but that the leaves of the black should never be given to the worms after they have eaten for some time of the white, lest they should burst. Sir George Staunton says that the trees he observed in China did not appear to differ from the common mulberry trees of Eu¬ rope ; that some of them were said to bear white, and some red or black fruit, but that often they bore none ; and that the tender leaves growing on young shoots of the black mulberry are supposed to be the most succulent +. Mr. Evelyn remarks, that the leaves of the white mulberry are far more tender than those of the black, and sooner pro¬ duced by at least a fortnight. Nor is this tree less beautiful to the eye than the fairest elm, and is very proper for walks and avenues. The timber will last in water as well as the most solid oak, and the bark makes good and rough bast ropes +. The white mulberry and the silk-worm were unknown to Theophrastus and Pliny. About the year of Christ 551, two Persian monks, employed as missionaries in some of the Chris¬ tian churches established in India, penetrated into the country of the Seres, or China. There they observed the labours of the silk-worm, and became acquainted with the art of working up its productions into a variety of elegant fabrics. They explained to the Greek emperor at Constantinople these mysteries, hitherto unknown, or very imperfectly understood in Europe ; and un¬ dertook to bring to the capital a sufficient number of these won¬ derful insects. This they accomplished by conveying the eggs of the silk-worm in a hollow cane. They were hatched by the heat of a dunghill; they were fed by the leaves of a wild mul- * Travels, vol. iii. p. 264. % Sylvia, book ii. chap. 1. + Embassy, vol. ii. p, 420. COMMON MULBERRY* 757 berry tree, and they multiplied and worked in the same manner as in those climates where they first became objects of human attention and care. Vast numbers of these insects were soon reared in different parts of Greece, particularly in the Pelopon¬ nesus. Sicily afterwards undertook to breed silk-worms with equal success, and was imitated, from time to time, in several towns of Italy. In all these places extensive manufactures were established, with silk of domestic production. From the reign of Justinian, it was mostly in Greece, and some of the adjacent islands, that silk-worms, which he first in¬ troduced into Europe, were reared. Soon after the conquest of Constantinople by the Venetians in 1204, they attempted the establishment of the silk manufac¬ ture in their dominions; and in a short time the silk fabrics of Venice vied with those of Greece and Sicily. About the beginning of the fourteenth century the Florentine manufactures of silk appear to have been very considerable^. It came much later into France; the manufacture of silk, though much encouraged by Henry IV, not having been fully established there, till under Louis XIV, by Colbert f. In Eng¬ land, it is well known, that all the endeavours of James I.J to * Robertson’s India, p. 89, from Procopius; also p. 110. See Gibbon’s Hist. vol. iv. p. 71, under Justinian. + Evelyn, book ii. chap. 1. + Part of king James’s letter to the lord lieutenant of each county in England. ‘‘James Rex, “ We have conceived, as well by the discourse of our own reason, as by information gathered from others, that the making of silk might as well be elfected here as it is in the kingdom of France, where the same has of late years been put in practice ; for neither is the climate of this isle so far di¬ stinct or different in condition from that country, especially from the hither parts thereof, but that it is to be hoped that those things, which by industry prosper there, may by like industry used here, have like success ; and many private persons, who for their pleasure have bred of those worms, have found no experience to the contrary, but that they may be nourished and maintained here, if provision were made for planting of mulberry trees, whose leaves are the food of the worms ; and thereby we have thought good hereby to let you understand, that although in suffering this invention to take place we do show ourselves somewhat an adversary to our profit, which is the matter of our customs, for silk brought from beyond seas will receive tome diminution ; nevertheless, when there is a question of so great and 758 COMMON MULBERRY. raise mulberry trees, and make silk, utterly failed, and have never since been revived to any extent. The difference which Linnaeus sets down between the black mulberry and the white is, that in the former the leaves are subquinquelobate, bluntish, and rugged, in the latter undivided and shining ; the fructification of the former dicecous, of the latter monoecous. These distinctions, however, are not exact. The black mulberry is a larger stronger tree ; and the fruit is a dark blackish red, and more acid. Mr. Miller’s account is, that the black mulberry has generally male flowers or catkins on the same tree with the fruit, but it often happens that some of the trees which are raised from seeds have mostly male flowers and produce no fruit ; and that he has observed some trees which produced only catkins for many years after they were planted, afterwards have become fruitful. This latter observation agrees with a general remark that l have made public utility, to come to our kingdom and subjects in general, and whereby (besides multitudes of people of both sexes and all ages) such as in regard of impotency are unfit for other labour, may be set on work, comforted and relieved, we are content that our private benefit shall give way to the public. “ And therefore being persuaded that no well-affected subject will refuse to put his helping hand to such a work, as can have no other private end in us but the desire of the welfare of our people, we have thought good in this form only to require you, as a person of the greatest authority in that county, and from whom the generality may receive notice of our pleasure with more conveniency than otherwise, to take occasion, either at the quarter ses¬ sions, or at some other public place of meeting, to persuade and require such as are of ability to buy and distribute in your county the number of ten thousand mulberry plants, which shall be delivered to them at the rate of three farthings the plant, or at six shillings the hundred, containing five score plants. “ And because the buying of the said plants, at this rate, may at the first seem chargeable to our said subjects (whom we would be loth to burthen), we have taken order, that in March or April next there shall be delivered at the said place a good quantity of mulberry seeds, there to be sold to such as will buy them, by means whereof the said plants w ill be delivered at a smaller price than they can be afforded being carried from hence: having resolved also, in the mean time, that there shall be published in print a plain instruction and direction, both for the increasing the said mulberry trees, the breeding of the silk-worms, and all other things needful to be under¬ stood for the perfecting of a work every way so commendable and profita¬ ble, as well to the planter as to those that shall use the trade. Having nowT made known untQ you the motives, as they stand with COMMON MULBERRY. 759 on monoecous trees, that whilst they are young they bear male flowers and very little fruit. Mulberry trees of a certain age are not only more fruitful than young ones, but their fruit is much larger and better flavoured. This tree grows naturally in Persia, whence it was first brought to the southern parts of Europe. It is now become common in every part of our continent, where the winters are not very severe. In the northern parts of Sweden it will not live in the open air ; and in several parts of Germany it is planted against walls, and treated in the same way as peaches and other tender fruits are here. , It was cultivated with us in 1598, by Gerarde. In some of the old kitchen gardens near London there are trees of a very great age, which are very healthy and fruitful, and their fruit is larger and better flavoured than those of younger trees. Bradley says that most of these were planted in the time of king James I., when there was a project of setting up a silk manufacture in England. public good, wherein every man is interested, because we know how much the example of our own deputy-lieutenant and justices will further this cause, if you and your other neighbours w ill be content to take some good quantities hereof, to distribute upon your own lands ; we are content to ac¬ knowledge thus much more in this direction of ours; that all things of this nature, tending to plantations, increase of science, and works of industry, are things so naturally pleasing to our own disposition, as we shall take it for an argument of extraordinary affection towards our person, besides the judgment we shall make of the good dispositions in all those that shall ex¬ press, in any kind, their ready minds to further the same, and shall esteem it that, in furthering the same, they seek to further our honour and content¬ ment, having seen in a few years past, that our brother the French king hath, since his coming to the crown, both begun and brought to perfection the making of silks in his country, where he hath won to himself honour, and to his subjects a marvellous increase of wealth, would account it no little happiness to us, if the same work, which we began among our people, with no less zeal to their good, than any prince can have to theirs, might in our time produce the fruits which there it hath done. “ Wherefore we nothing doubt but ours will be found as tractable, and apt to further their own good, now the way is shown them by us their so¬ vereign, as those of France have been to conform themselves to the direc¬ tion of their king. “ Given under our signet, at our palace of Westminster, the 16th of No¬ vember, in the sixth year of our reign of England, France, and Ireland, and of Scotland the two-and-fortieth.” 'j 760 COMMON MULBERRY, The trees which are designed to feed silk-worms should never be suffered to grow tall, but rather kept in a sort of hedge ; and instead of pulling off the leaves singly, they should be sheared off together with their young branches, which is much sooner done, and is not so injurious to the tree. It is surprising that this precept of Mr. Miller’s has not been attended to, not only in England, but in many of the southern parts of Europe, where making silk is of some consequence, since the practice is followed in the East, and is in itself per¬ fectly rational. Father Loureiro informs us, that in Cochin- china they root up the plants every third year, and make fresh plantations of the cuttings, because the young shoots afford a more delicate food for the worms, and produce a finer silk. Sir George Staunton relates, that in a part of China through which the embassy passed, mulberries were cultivated with the greatest care ; and planted in rows, ten or twelve feet asunder, in beds of a moist, but not inundated, loamy earth, thrown about a foot high above the surface. The trees are frequently pruned or dwarfed, in order to make them produce a constant succession of young shoots, and tender leaves. Our planters recommend a dry soil for the mulberry ; but it appears from the authors just quoted, that in China and Cochinchina it is cultivated in a very moist one, by the sides of rivers, or where rice is grown in trenches between the rows of trees. There yet remains a hope that the cultivation of silk may be successfully introduced into these realms. The thanks of the Society of Arts were given to Mr. Sievers, of Bauenhoff, in Livonia, the author of an excellent paper, on the manner of rearing and treating silk-worms in the northern parts of Europe; and the Society, in consequence of this com¬ munication, elected him one of their corresponding members*. MEDICAL VIRTUES. The ripe fruit abounds with a deep violet-coloured juice, which in its general qualities agrees with that of the other acido- dul ces, allaying thirst, partly by refrigerating, and partly by exciting an excretion of mucus from the mouth and fauces ; a similar effect is also produced in the stomach, where, by cor- * Those who wish for further information on this important subject must consult my Botanical Extracts, or Philosophy of Botany, p. 429. COMMON MULBERRY, 761 recting putrescency, a powerful cause of thirst is removed. This is more especially the case with all those fruits in which the acid much prevails over the saccharine part, as the currant, which we have already noticed, and to which the medicinal qualities of this fruit may be referred ; but both these, and most of the other summer fruits, are to be considered rather as articles of diet than of medicine. The London college directs a syrupus mori, which is an agreeable vehicle for various medicines. The bark of the root of the mulberry tree has an acrid bitter taste, and possesses a cathartic power. It has been successfully used as an anthelmintic, particularly in cases of taenia. The dose is half a drachm of the powder. OFFICINAL PREPARATION. Syrup of Mulberries. (Syrupus Mori. D.) Take of mulberry juice, two pints; As soon as the faeces have subsided, put it into a matrass, im¬ mersed in boiling water, for about a quarter of an hour ; when cold, strain it, and make it into a syrup. This is a very pleasant cooling syrup ; and with this inten¬ tion it is occasionally used in draughts and juleps, for quenching thirst, abating heat, &c. in bilious or inflammatory distempers. Sometimes, likewise, it is employed in gargarisms for inflamma-* tions of the mouth and tonsils. COMMON OAK. QUERCUS ROBUR. Class XXX. Monoecia. Order VI. Polyandria. IS 88 ent. Gen. Char. Male flower — Calyx five-cleft: Corolla none : Sta¬ mina ten: Female flower — Calyx monophyllous, entire, rough: Corolla none : Styles two or five : Seed one, ovate. Spec. Char. Leaves oblong, smooth, sinuate: Lobes roundish: Nut ob¬ long. DESCRIPTION. This tree is the king of the forest, and has a most noble ap¬ pearance. The leaves have a peculiar shape, being deeply cut, and formed into blunt lobes, standing upon short footstalks. The ilo wers are inconspicuous, but the fruit afterwards becomes conspicuous, being fixed in a cup, and probably was the first nourishment of man. COMMON OAK.' 763 HISTORY. This valuable tree is well known to be a native of Britain, where it has in some instances acquired an extraordinary magni¬ tude : its wood is justly preferred for ship-building. USES. Oak saw-dust is the principal indigenous vegetable used in dyeing fustian. All the varieties of drabs, and different shades of brown, are made with oak saw-dust, variously managed and compounded. Oak apples are likewise used in dyeing as a sub¬ stitute for galls. An infusion of the bark, with a small quantity of copperas, is used by the common people to dye woollen of a purplish blue, which is sufficiently durable. But the chief use of the bark of this tree is for the process of tanning. Before we detail the process, it may be proper to ob¬ serve, that raw hides and skins being composed of minute fibres intersecting each other in every direction, the general operation of tanning consists chiefly in expanding the pores, and dissolving a sort of greasy substance contained in them ; and then, by means of the astringency and gummy resinous properties of oak bark, to fill and reunite them, so as to give firmness and durability to the whole texture. But this theory has been controverted by some chemists, who suppose that the animal jelly contained in the skin is not dissolved, but unites during the process with the astringent principle of the bark, and forms a combination inso¬ luble in water. The process of tanning varies considerably, not only in dif¬ ferent countries, but even in different parts of the same country. The following is the method most approved and practised in London and its vicinity, where the best leather is generally al¬ lowed to be manufactured. The leather tanned in England consists chiefly of three sorts, knowTn by the name of lutts or lacks , hides, and skins. Butts are generally made from the stoutest and heaviest ox hides, and are managed as follows : After the horns are taken off, the hides are laid smooth in heaps for one or two days in the summer, and five or six in the winter : they are then hung on poles in a close room called a smoke-house, in which is kept a smouldering fire of wet tan ; this occasions a small degree of putrefaction, by which means the hair is easily got oft, by spread- T 64 COMMON OAK. ing the hide on a sort of wooden horse or beam, and scraping it with a crocked knife. The hair being taken off, the hide is thrown into a pit or pool of water to cleanse it from the dirt, &c., which being done, the hide is again spread on the wooden beam, and the grease, loose flesh, extraneous filth, &c. carefully scrubbed out or taken off; the hides are then put into a pit of strong liquor called ooze or ivooze, prepared in pits called letches or taps kept for the purpose, by infusing ground bark in water; this is termed colouring: after which they are removed into an¬ other pit called a scowering , which consists of wrater strongly impregnated with vitriolic acid, or with a vegetable acid pre¬ pared from rye or barley. This operation (which is called raising ), by distending the pores of the hides, occasions them more readily to imbibe the ooze, the effect of which is to astringe and condense the fibres, and give firmness to the leather. The hides are then taken out of the scowering, and spread smooth in a pit commonly filled with water, called a Under , with a quantity of ground bark strewed between each. After lying a month or six weeks, they are taken up ; and the decayed bark and liquor being drawn out of the pit, it is filled again with strong ooze, when they are put in as before, with bark between each hide. They now lie two or three months, at the expira¬ tion of which the same operation is repeated ; they then remain four or five months, when they again undergo the same process ; and after being three months in the last pit, are completely tan¬ ned, uuless the hides are so remarkably stout as to want an ad¬ ditional pit or layer. The whole process requires from eleven to eighteen months, and sometimes two years, according to the sub¬ stance of the hide and discretion of the tanner. When taken out of the pit to be dried, they are hung on poles; and after being compressed by a steel pin, and beat out smooth by wooden hammers called beetles , the operation is complete; and when thoroughly dry, they are fit for sale. Butts are chiefly used for the soles of stout shoes. The leather which goes under the denomination of hides is ge¬ nerally made from cow hides, or the lighter ox hides, which are thus managed : After the horns are taken off, and the hides washed, they are put into a pit of water saturated with lime, where they remain a few days, when they are taken out, and the hair scraped off on a wooden beam, as before described ; they are then washed in a pit or pool of water, and the loose COMMON OAK. 765 flesh, &c. being taken off, they are removed into a pit of weak ooze, where they are taken up and put down (which is techni¬ cally termed handling) two or three times a day for the first week ; every second or third day they are shifted into a pit of fresh ooze, somewhat stronger than the former ; till at the end of a month or six weeks they are put into a strong ooze, in which they are handled once or twice a week with fresh bark for two or three months. They are then removed into another pit called a layer , in which thejf are laid smooth, with bark ground very fine strewed between each hide. After remaining here two or three months, they are generally taken up, when the ooze is drawn out, and the hides put in again with fresh ooze and fresh bark ; where, after lying two or three months more, they are completely tanned, except a few very stout hides, which may require an extra layer : they are then taken out, hung on poles, and being hammered and smoothed by a steel pin, are, when dry, fit for sale. These hides are called crop hides ; they are from ten to eighteen months in tanning, and are used for the soles of shoes. Skins is the general term for the skins of calves, seals, hogs, dogs, &c. These, after being washed in water, are put into lime pits, as before mentioned, where they are taken up and put down every third or fourth day, for a fortnight or three weeks, in order to dilate the pores and dissolve the gelatinous parts of the skin. The hair is then scraped off, and the flesh and excrescences being removed, they are put into a pit of water impregnated with pigeon dung (called a grainer or mastring ), forming a strong alkaline ley, which in a week or ten days soaking out the lime, grease, and saponaceous matters (during which period they are several times scraped over with a crooked knife to work out the dirt and filth), softens the skins, and pre¬ pares them for the reception of the ooze. They are then put into a pit of weak ooze, in the same manner as the hides, aud being frequently handled, are by degrees removed into a stronger and still stronger liquor for a month or six weeks, when they are put into a very strong ooze, with fresh bark ground very fine, and at the end of two or three months, according to their substance, are sufficiently tanned; when they are taken out, hung on poles, dried, and fit for sale. * These skins are afterwards dressed aud blacked by the currier, and are used for the upper leathers of shoes, boots, &c. ?66 COMMON OAK. The lighter sort of hides, called dressing hides, as well as horse hides, are managed nearly in the same manner as skins, and are used for coach-work, harness-work, &c. It has been said that every part of the oak tree contains a great portion of astringent gummy-resinous matter, and will therefore tan leather as effectually as the bark itself. This opi¬ nion, which was first published in 1674 by the honourable Charles Howard (Phil. Trans, vol. ix.), has since been counte¬ nanced by the celebrated Buffon ; who adds, that the bark of birch will answer the purpose of tanning even sole leather, which, it is well known, requires the strongest and most pene¬ trating materials. A long memoir, written by M. Gleditsch, recommends the leaves, branches, fruit, and flowers, of a vast number of plants as substitutes for oak bark. Heath dried and pulverized, gall nuts, and the bark of birch, are said by M. Gesner to be used in different provinces of Germany. Abbe Nollet informs us, that the leaves of myrrh are used by the tanners in Naples. In Corsica they make use of the leaves of wild laurel dried in the sun and beaten into powder, and in the island of St. Kilda they tan with the tormentil root. In some parts of Italy leather is tanned with myrtle leaves. In Russia it is said that leather is tanned with the bark of willow ; and it may here be observed, that a late writer has recommended the extract of bark to be made in America, in order to lessen the expense of freight, &c. in conveying the bark itself to Europe. In the year 1765 the Society of Arts, &c. granted a premium of 100/. for the discovery of a method of tanning with oak saw¬ dust; which method has been adopted in Germany: and the Rev. Mr. Swaine has lately revived the exploded substitute (men¬ tioned by Gleditsch and others) of oak leaves. Anthony Day, esq. of London, obtained a patent, dated 17th July 1790, for a new method of tanning, u with half the bark in half the usual time.” This plan chiefly consists in concen¬ trating the bark into a strong extract, and in some mechanical improvements in the construction of the tan-yard. But neither the one nor the other has yet been adopted. An ingenious manufacturer in London has, by the application of warm air, conveyed by means of flues from stoves properly constructed, and by other contrivances not generally known, considerably abridged the usual process of tanning. Some ex- COMMON OAK. 767 periments have likewise been made with the bark of ash and of horse chesnut. A substitute for oak bark, the price of which has lately been enormous, is the grand desideratum in the manufacture of lea¬ ther. Most of these above enumerated have hitherto been found ineffectual; but a patent, bearing date 16th January 1794, has been granted to Mr. Ashton, of Sheffield, Yorkshire, for his discovery of a cheap and expeditious method of tanning leather. This method chiefly consists in applying a preparation of mineral substances instead of oak bark. Those which, ori account of their cheapness, are most to be preferred, are the dross of coal¬ pits, called sulphur stone or pyrites, and the yellow ferruginous earth or red ochre ; and, in general, all astringent, sulphureous, or vitriolated substances. If this discovery, which is yet in its infancy, should prove successful, it may cause a material alteration in the process of this manufacture; and, by reducing the expense, may ulti¬ mately be of great advantage to the public. Many other expe¬ riments are now making in England for the improvement of tanning ; and as there are many persons of ingenuity and know¬ ledge engaged in the leather manufacture, much may be expected from their industry and skill. The revenue arising from the duty on leather tanned in Great Britain (exclusive of oiled leather) is upwards of 200,000/. per annum. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The astringent effects of the oak were sufficiently known to the ancients, by whom different parts of the tree were used ; but it is the bark which is now directed for medicinal use by our pharmacopoeias. To this tree we may also refer the gallae, or galls, which are produced from its leaves by means of a certain insect. Oak bark manifests to the taste a strong astringency, accom¬ panied with a moderate bitterness, qualities which are extracted both by water and by rectified spirit. Its universal use and prefer¬ ence in the tanning of leather is a proof of its great astringency, and like other astringents it has been recommended in agues, and for restraining haemorrhagies, alvine fluxes, and other im¬ moderate evacuations. A decoction of it has likewise been ad¬ vantageously employed as a gargle, and as a fomentation or lotion in procidentia recti et uteri. Dr. Cullen tells us, that he Common oak. t68 has frequently employed the decoction with success in slight tu¬ mefactions of the mucous membrane of the fauces, and in pro¬ lapsus uvulas, and cynanche tonsillaris, to which some people are liable upon the least exposure to cold : and in many cases this decoction, early applied, has appeared useful in preventing these disorders. It must be remarked, however, that the doctor almost constantly added a portion of alum to these decoctions. Some have supposed that this bark is not less efficacious than that of the cinchona, especially in the form of extract; but this opinion now obtains little credit, though there be no doubt that oak bark may have the power of curing intermittents. Galls, which in the warm climate of the East are found upon the leaves of this tree, are occasioned by a small insect with four wings, called Cynips querci folii , which deposits an egg in the substance of the leaf, by making a small perforation through the under surface. The ball presently begins to grow, and the egg in the centre of it changes to a worm ; this worm again changes to a nymph, and the nymph to the Hying insect above mentioned, which by eating its passage out leaves a round hole: and those which have no holes are found to have the dead insect remaining in them. Two sorts of galls are distinguished in the shops, one said to be brought from Aleppo, the other from the southern parts of Europe. The former are generally of a blueish colour, or of a grayish, or black, verging to blueness, unequal and watery on the surface, hard to break, and of a close compact texture: the others are of a light brownish or whitish colour, smooth, round, easily broken, less compact, and of a much larger size. The two sorts differ only in strength, two of the blue galls being supposed equivalent in this respect to three of the others. Galls appear to be the most powerful of the vegetable astrin¬ gents, striking a deep black when mixed with a solution of fer- rum vitriolatum, and therefore preferred to every other substance for the purpose of making ink. As a medicine, they are to be considered as applicable to the same indications as the querci cortex, and, by possessing a greater degree of astringent and styptic power, seem to have an advantage over oak bark, and to be better suited for external use. Reduced to fine powder, and made into an ointment, they have been found of great ser¬ vice in hemorrhoidal affections. Their efficacy in intermittent fevers was tried by Mr. Poupart, by order of the Academy of Sciences, and from his report it appears that the galls succeeded COMMON OAK. in many cases; and also that they failed in many other cases, which were afterwards cured by the Peruvian bark. Nor are we to wonder at this difference, seeing that Vauquelin has discovered a remarkable chemical difference between the bark and nut galls, the latter precipitating tartrite of antimony and infusion of cinchona, which are not acted upon by the former. PRESCRIPTIONS. 1^. 1. Take of oak bark, in pieces - ounce -J, — - - boiling water - - - a pint : Let it remain for four hours, then strain ; add to this Alum in powder - - - a drachm : To be used as a lotion cold to limbs after the gout, and also to scrophulous glands. 2. Take of galls, in powder - drachms 2, • - hog’s lard - - - ounce A : Make into an ointment, to be applied by means of lint to the external piles, or even pressed somewhat up the fundament every night. This has done wonders in the piles, taking at the same time the following : 1^. 3. Take of quassia, in raspings - drachms 2, - boiling water - - - pint 1 : Let it remain three hours, strain : To the strained liquor - - ounces 7, Add, aromatic confection - - drachm 1, Ginger, in powder - - scruples 2 : Take of this mixture two table-spoonsful at twelve and seven every day. How to make Ink. A good and durable black ink may be made by the following directions : — To two pints of w ater add three ounces of the dark- coloured rough-skinned Aleppo galls in gross powder, and of rasped logwood, green vitriol, and gum arabic, each an ounce. This mixture is to be put into a convenient vessel, and well shaken four or five times a day, for ten or twelve days, at the end of which time it will be fit for use ; though it will improve by remaining longer on the ingredients, \inegar instead ot water makes a deeper-coloured ink ; but its action on pens soon spoils them. COMMON WALNUT TREE. JUGLANS REGIA. Class XXI. Monoecia. Order VI. Polyandria. Essent. Gen. Char. Male flower — Calyx one-leafed, scale-like: Corolla six-parted : Filaments eighteen : Female flower — Calyx four-cleft, above. Corolla four-parted : Styles two : Drupe a furrowed nut. Spec. Char. Leaves pinnated : Pinna; oval, smooth, entire. ■rraagSstgg— - DESCRIPTION. This is a large beautiful tree. Leaves pinnated, consisting of several pair of opposite pinnas, with an odd one at the end. Flowers in April and May, and the fruit is ripe in September. HISTORY. This tree is a native of Persia, but bears our climate wonder¬ fully well, and produces abundance of a very excellent fruit, COMMON WALNUT TREE. Wl much eaten after dinner. The wood is very durable, and bears a tine polish, and surpasses in beauty mahogany or any other wood. It is the only wood proper for gun stocks, as it is very hard, and does not split. MEDICAL VIRTUE. The different parts of the walnuts have different properties, and they differ according as they are more or less ripe. The outer covering or husk, and the shell and peel of the kernels, are esteemed to be sudorific, especially if used before the wal¬ nuts are quite ripe; and they have been boiled along with sar¬ saparilla and guaiacum wood, in the preparation of decoctions used for removing venereal and rheumatic complaints, and for expelling worms ; and it may be remarked, that no insect eats the beautiful leaves of this tree, nor is the earth-worm found near it. An infusion of the shells thrown out destroys the i. *. wrorms on which it falls. This liquor destroys even the tape¬ worm. The leaves have the same property. A brown dye is made of the walnut liquor, and gipsies dye themselves with it, which proves very lasting. An oil is extracted from the nut, said also to destroy even the tape-w orm, and it is better than olive oil, and, never freezing, is used by painters. In France they burn it in their lamps. How to pickle Walnuts. Scald slightly, and rub off the first skin of a hundred of large walnuts, before they have a hard shell : this may easily be ascer¬ tained by trying them with a pin. Put them in a strong cold brine, put newT brine the third and sixth days, and take them out and dry them on the ninth. Take an ounce each of long pepper, black pepper, ginger, and allspice ; a quarter of an ounce of cloves, some blades of mace, and a tabic-spoonful of mustard-seeds : bruise the whole together, put into a jar a layer of walnuts, strew them, well over with the mixture, and proceed in the same manner till all are covered. Then boil three quarts of white wine vinegar, with sliced horse-radish and ginger, pour it hot over the walnuts, and cover close. Repeat the boiling of the vinegar and pour it hot over, three or four days, always keeping the pickle closely covered ; and a the last boiling a few cloves of garlic, or shalots. In five months they will be lit for use. 3 i) 2 COMMON WHITE LARCH. P I N U S LARIX. Class XXI. Moncecia. Order IX. Monadelphia. Essent. Gen. Char. Male flower — Calyx four-leaved: Corolla none: Stamens many: Anthers naked. Female flower — Calyx a strobile: Scales two-flowered : Corolla none : Pistil one : ruit a nut, having a membranous wing. Spec. Char. Leaves fascicled, deciduous: Cones ovate-oblong: Margins of the Scales reflexed, jagged : Bracteas guitar-shaped. DESCRIPTION. This is a small and beautiful tree, whose branches are pendent, with a whitish bark. The leaves are slender, soft, of a bright green colour, and placed in bundles. The cones are upright, small, ovate, covered with obtuse scales, from beneath which the bracteas appear. HISTORY. It is a native of Switzerland and Germany, flowering in March COMMON WHITE LARCH. 773 and April, and is much cultivated in England. The Venice tur¬ pentine issues spontaneously through the bark of this tree, but is more commonly obtained by wounding the bark at the di¬ stance of about two feet from the ground, and inserting into the wound a small canula, through which the turpentine ilows into proper vessels, which are placed for its reception. Turpentines have different appellations, chiefly according to the country from which they are procured. Balsam of Canada, from the Pinus balsamea, and Pinus Ca¬ nadensis. Resina liquida Pini balsameae. E. Balsam um Canadense. L. D. Cyprian turpentine, from the Pistacia terebinthus. Terebinthina Chia. L. Strasburgh turpentine, from the Pinus picea. Venice turpentine, from the Pious larix. Resina liquida Pini laricis. E. Terebinthina Veneta. L. Common turpentine, from the Pinus sylvestris. Terebinthina vulgaris. L. D. Hungarian balsam, from the Pinus sylvestris, var. Mughos. Carpatian balsam, from the Pinus cembra. None of these are properly balsams, which term is now con¬ fined to those resinous substances which contain benzoic acid. The Edinburgh college have denominated them liquid resins, the most correct appellation which they have yet received. All these species of turpentine possess the same general pro¬ perties. They are more or less fluid, with different degrees of transparency ; of a whitish or yellowish colour; a penetrating smell, and a warm, pungent, bitterish taste. They are entirely soluble in alcohol, combine with fixed oil, and impart their fla¬ vour to water ; but are not soluble in it. They are decomposed by a moderate heat, being separated into an essential oil and a resin, and are exceedingly inflammable, burning with a large white flame, and much smoke. Each species has some peculiarities. The Canadian is reck¬ oned the best, and next to it the Chian. They are more trans¬ parent, and have a more agreeable flavour than the other kinds. The common turpentine, as being the most offensive, is rarely given internally ; its principal use is in plasters and ointments among farriers, and for the distillation of the essential oil. 774 COMMON WHITE LARCH. MEDICAL USE. Taken internally, they are active stimulants, open the bowels, and increase the secretion of urine, to which they give the smell of violets, even though applied only externally. In all cases ac¬ companied with inflammation they ought to be abstained from, as this symptom is increased, and not unfrcquently occasioned, by them. They are principally recommended in gleets, the fluor albas, and the like. Their dose is from a scruple to a drachm and a half. They are most commodiously taken in the form of a bolus, or blended with watery liquors, by the mediation of the yolk of an egg, or mucilage. They may be also given in the form of electuary, mixed with twice their weight of honey, and in the dose of a drachm of the compound twice or thrice a day, or of clyster, half an ounce being well triturated with the yolk of an egg, and mixed with half a pound of gruel or decoction of camomile. We are told by Dr. Cullen, that half an ounce or an ounce of Venice turpentine, triturated with the yolk of an egg, and diffused in water, may be employed in the form of an injection, as the most certain laxative in colics, and other cases of obstinate costiveness. When turpentine is carried into the blood-vessels, it stimulates the whole system; hence its use in chronic rheumatism and paralysis. Turpentine readily passes off by urine, which it imbues with a peculiar odour; also by perspiration, and probably by exhalation from the lungs : and to these respective effects are to be ascribed the virtues it may possess in gravelly complaints, scurvy, and pulmonic disorders. In all these diseases, however, and especially the last, this me¬ dicine, as well as some of the gums and balsams of the terebin- thinate kind, by acting as stimulants, are often productive of mischief, as was first observed by Boerhaave, and since by Fo- thergill. Turpentine has been much used in gleets and fluor albus ; its efficacy in the former of these disorders Dr. Cullen ascribes to its inducing some degree of inflammation of the urethra ; in proof of which he says, 44 1 have had some instances both of turpen¬ tine and balsam of copaiva producing a manifest inflammation in the urethra, to the degree of occasioning a suppression of urine; but when these effects went off, the gleet, which had subsisted for some time before, was entirely cured.” The essential oil, in which the virtues of turpentine reside, is not only preferred for external use, as a rubifacient, 5-- -fcr. I . un. 2.- -un. 6. un. 4.- -lb. i- un. 4— -lb. 1 2 ■ un. 4— -lb. 4. • un. 4— -lb. 4- un. 4- -lb. f. un. 4-- -lb. x 2’ gr- 4-- -gr. 2. gr. 1 2’ 'gr- s- dr. 1.— -dr. 6. fcr. I . — -dr. 1. dr. I __ a’ -dr. 4* fcr. xf-- -dr. 1*. gr. 10. — fcr. i4- Eiuradlun* APPENDIX Extra£Ium cbamcemeli. . , Extraft of Camomile . - - . ■■■— chinchonse. . . . Extraft of P eruuian Bark - — -——cum ( Extra ft of Bark with the refin a . \ Re fin . ' — —* *- colocynthidis f Compound Extra ft of Bitter compofitum . \ Apple . . -- ■ gentianse, . . . Extra ft of Gentian . - - — glvcyrrhizse Extra ft of Liquorice . — - - - - haematoxyli Extra ft of Logwood . hcliebon ni- < Extraa f Black Hellebore - 1 ■ — — -jalapii ... . . . Extra ft of Jalap ........ — 1 ■ — - papaveris albi Extra ft of White Poppies ■rutse . . Extraft of Rue ......... ■fibinae. ..... Extraft of Savin . . . . ■fennas ...... Extraft of Senna . Ferri rubigo . . . . . Fernim ammoniacale. . . . . tartarifatum .. .. ■■ - - •• vitriolatum . Filix . Flores beaz-cea . . - fulphurls . Gambogia . Genifta . . . Gentiana . Ginfeng , . . . t . Glycyrrhiza . . . . . Guaiacum . . . . Cummi refina . . Rufi of Iron . Ammoniacal Iron . Fartarized Iron . Vitriolated Iron ......... Male Fern Root . Flowers of Benzoin . Flowers of Sulphur . . Gamboge ............. Broom Fops . Gentian . Liquorice Root Gum rejhi ... Haematoxylum . Helleborus niger . . Hydrargyrus . . —■ — ■ - - acetatus.. . . • - - - - salcinatus - , - cum Greta - - muriatus . . . • - cum fulphure ■ - fulphuratus ruber . . . . Logwood . , . Black Hellebore . Quickfilver . Acetate d Quickfilver . ... . Calcined Quickfilver . Quickfilver with Chalk . . . Muriated Quickfilver . Sulphurated Quickfilver . . Red fuiphurated Quickfilver vitriolatus Vitriolated Quickfilver . . . . 891 DOSES. Common. Large. go IO.- — £cr. 2. gr- IO.- — fcr. if* }8, 10.- — fcr. i-F |gr* $•— 1 gr. 2*. gr* 10.- — fcr. if- di\ i.- — dr. 4. gr- 10.- — gr. 2. gr. 2. — gr. 10. gr. IO.- — fcr. I. gr. I.- — gr. I. gr. io.- — fc r. 5* gr* IO. — fcr. ib gr. IO. — fcr. if. gr. 6.- -fcr. ij. gr- 2,- — gr. 10. gr. 2.- — gr. 10. gr. I.- — gr- 6. for. if- — un. i 3* gr. io.- — fcr. I. fcr. i. — fcr. if* gr. 2- — gr. 12. fcr. I. — dr. I. gr- IO. —dr. I. gr. IO.. — dr. I® dr. 4*- — dr. 6. fcr. i^.- — dr. 1 • gr. 6.- — fcr. if* gr. 10. — dr. 1. gr. i . -gr. S' uu. r . 2* — un. 4. gr. *?I.- — gr. 10. gr. i . 1' — gr. 2. gr. r* . -fcr. 1. gr* I . 8* -gr. 1. fcr. I. —dr. 1. gr- 10. - — fcr. X « gr. §•’ — gr. 4. * 3 L 2 Infufum 892 APPENDIX® DOSES. Common. Large. Infufum genrianae com- pofitum . . — — —— — rofae . . — — — fennae . Gen-\ > un. Infujion of Rofes . un. Simple inf if on of Senna . . un. ? Compound Infufion of \ tian . . turn - fennae tartarifa-1 cr j, -r 7 • r £ re > J artarijed infufon oj S enna un. Ipecacuanha .......... . gr. Iris . . Florentine Orris . . fcr. jalapium . . Jalap . . gr. Juniperus , . . Juniper Berries . fcr. Kino . . . . . . . . gr. Kali praeparatum ....... Prepared Kali . gr. — — acetatum . . Acetated Kali . fcr. » tartarifatum ...... TartariJ'ed Kali . . dr. <— — * vitriolatum ....... Vitriolated Kali ......... dr. Lac ammoniaci ........ Milk of Ammoniacum ... . ■ amygdalae . Milk of Almonds . Liquor volatihs cornu 1 rn si 1 • r 71 ^ 1 . Volatile Liquor or ttartjhorn cervi . . . . . f J dr. un. fcr. Magnefia alba ......... " — — ~ ufta ... ....... ■ ■■■■—- vitriolata . Manna. . . Mel acetatum . . — rofae . . — — fcillae . . Millepeda . . Miftura camphorata . - . - cretacea ....... - - * mofehata ....... Mucilago amyli ........ arabici gummi feminis cydonii mali . . — - - tragacanthae. . . . Myrrha .............. W kite Magnefia . Burnt Magnefa . . Vitriolated Magnefa . Acetated Honey . Rofe Honey . . . Squill Honey . Woodlice . . Camphorated Mixture .... Chalk Mixture . . . Mufk Mixture . Mucilage of Starch . Mucilage of Gum-arabic . . ^ Mucilage of Quince feed .. Mucilage of Tragacanth . . Myrrh . . fcr. fcr. dr. un. dr. dr. fcr. dr. un. un. dr. dr. dr. dr. dr. gr- Natron pi separatum . . . .. — tartarifatum * . . . vitriolatum . Nitrum purificatum ..... Prepared Natron . gr. Far tar if ed Natron . dr. Vitriolated Natron . dr. Purifed Nitre . . gr. 2.— un. 4* 2.— lb. f. 2. — un. 4. 2-— un. 4. 10. — fcr. 1. 1. — dr. 1. 7. — fcr. f. 1. —dr. J. lo.— fcr. if. 8. — fcr. 1. 1. — dr. 1. 2. — dr. 6. 2 . — dr. 6. 2.— un. 1. 2.— un. 6. if. — dr. 2. 1. - — dr. 2. if. — dr. 1. 2. — dr. 6. f.— un. 2. 1. — dr. 2. 1. — dr. 2. 1 g- • dr. 2 * 1. — dr. 3. 2. — un. 4. 2.— un. 4. 4. — un. 2. 1. — un. 1. 1. — un. 1. i. — un. i* 1. — un. 1. 10. — fcr. if. ic. — fcr. if. 4. — un. 1. 6. — un. 1. 5. — fcr. i* Oleum APPENDIX. 893 Oleum amygdalae. ...... Oil of Almonds ....... - - - juniper! baccae. . . . Oil of Juniper-berries . . . — iavendulae. ; . Oil of Lavender . — • Uni . 0:1 of Linfeed ......... - - - olivae . Oil of Olives' . . . rid nl . Cajlor Oil . * - — finapeos ........ Oil of Mujlard . . . . DOSES. Common. Large. um purificatum . Purified Opium . . . . Oftreorum testae . . Oyfter-Jhells . , . Oxymel cochici . Oxymel of Colchicus ' fcillse . . Oxymel of Squills . . Pilula aloes compcfita .... Compound Pills of Aloes . . gr. xo.»— cum M>r ^ pms 0j Aloes with Myrrh . ■ hydrargyri ........ Quichfilver Pills opii . . Opium Pills . . . ■ fcillae . Saulli Pills Pimento . Ail-jpice . Pulvis aloes cum canella Alceiic Po-wder with car.ella * - — — ■ cum ferro . . Aloetic Powder with Iron . . Aloetic Powder with Guaia cu» m cum . antimonial.s . Antimonial Powder — — ■ aromatic us . Aromatic Powder — a chelis cancrorum j Compound Powder compofitus . . (_ Claw . . . - — contrayervae com- / Compound Powder pofttus . cum opio trayerva Compound Pi ^ Compound P w Opium . — ipecacuanhas com- f Compound Powder of Ipeca- pofitus . \ cuanha . opiates .. fcammonii { Compound Powder of Scam - mony . fitus cum aloe . aloes . . * • Pulvis fcammonii cum ca- f Powder of Scammony with lomelane . / Calomel . pofitus . gacanth . Pyrethrum . . Pellitcny of Spain . dr. 4.— -un. 1 • gtt. 2. — gtt. 10, . g«. 1 . — gtt. 5* . dr. 4.— un. 1, dr. 4.— un. I. » dr. 2.— un. 1 . dr. 4.— un. I, gr. l|.— gr. 2* fcr. 1 .--dr. i*. fcr. 1.— -fcr. 1 a* fcr. dr. X. gr- xo.— fcr. I. gr- 6.— gr. 18. f gr. 10.— fcr. . gr. 6. — fcr. ir gr- 2.— -gr. 8, gr- 10.— -fcr. 1. gr. 5.— fcr. Jo gr. 10.— fcr. I. gr. 8.— gr. x 8, j*gr* IO. —fcr. 1 . gr» 3 •— gr. 6. gr- 5. — fcr. 1. ^ fcr. xi— dr. 1. ■ l gr- 15.^-fcr. ) : gr- 10.— fcr. i. 10. — fcr. 2. 1 8. — fcr. b gr. 1 $ . — fcr. *§» gr- 5.— fcr. 1. (gr. 1 0, — fcr. X, |gr» 0.— gr- 10. gr. 8.— gr. 1 6, fcr. 1 fcr. 2. fcr. 1. — dr. X. gr. 1.— gr. 6. QualTia APPENDIX 8^)4 QualTh . . Cpaaffy Wood Quercus . . Oak Bark . . Raphanus rufticanus . Horfe-radijh Rhei . . Rhubarb . . , Ruta ........ . . Rue . Sa! ammoniacus . Sal Ammoniac . . . . — cornu cervi . . Salt of Hartjhorn . — fuccini purificatus .... Purifed Salt of Amber , . . Sapo . . Soap . Sarfaparilla . . Saffafras . . . Scammonium . Scamtnomy . . Scilla exficcata ......... Dried Squills . . . - - recens . Erefh Squills . Scordium . Water- germander . . Seneka . . . . . Senna . . . . . . . . . Serpentaria . . . . . . . . . Simarouba . . Slmarouba Bark . Sinapi . . TAuftard-feed . Spermaceti . . . . Spigelia . Indian Pink . Spina cervinae . . Buckthorn ... . . Spiritus aetheris vitriolici Vitriolic Spirit of JEther. . ■ vitriolici f Compound Spirit of vitriolic eompofitus i JEther — - . . nitrofi . Nitrous Spirit of JEther .. - ammonite . Spirit of Ammonia . — - - — - compofi $ Compound Spirit of Ammo- tus . . . \ nia . - - fce tidus Fcetid Spirit of Ammonia . - - fuccina- ( Succinated Spirit of Ammo- tus . . nia . - anifr eompofitus . . Compound Spirit of Anifeed — - - carui . Spirit of Carra'way . cinnamomi . Spirit of Cinnamon . juniP*ri_ _COm|,C'fp l Ccmfmni Sfirit ./Juniper — — lavendulae . Spirit of Lavender . pofitus • C0!T: CompoundSpirit of Lavender menthae piperiti- I c . . c n ^ r r > Spirit of Peppermint . — - fativae... Spirit of Spearmint . nucis mofehatae Spirit of Nutmeg . di D 0 S ES. Common. L arge. gr. 5-~ -scr. I. gr. 6.- —fcr. I, for. i.- -dr. I. gr. 15 •“ —fcr.— * > ** • gr- I5" lcr. 3« gr. 8.- — -fcr. 2. gr. io.- — fcr. 1. gr- 5-- -gr- IS* fcr. th¬ — dr. 4* fcr. is — fcr. if- fcr. I.« —dr. 1. gr. 5- — fcr. 1 gr- l. — gr. 3- gr. 5* “gr* 10. fsr. i ••"“dr# 1. fcr. i.- —fcr. 2. fcr. i.. —dr. 1. gr. IO.- — fcr. 2. gr* 10. — fcr. if* dr. 1. — dr. 3* fcr. I. — dr. 1. gr- 10. — fcr. 1. fcr. ID . — dr. 2. gtt. 20.“ “git. 60. ^gtt. 20.- — gtt. 60. g«» 20.- — gtt. 60. fcr. 1. — fcr. 2. "I fsr. If.' — dr. 1. fcr. I. —fcr. 2, }gr* 10. —fcr. I. dr. 1. — dr. 4* dr. 1. — dr. 4* dr. I. — dr. 4* dr. I. —dr. 4* dr. I . — dr. 4* fcr. If- — dr. 2. dr. I .—dr. 3" dr. I. . — dr. 4" dr. 1. _ dr. 4. Spiritus * APPENDIX. 895 DOSES. Spiritus pimento . . . . pulegii . . — - — - raphani compofi- tus . . Spongia ufta . . . Stanni pulvis . Styrax . . Succinum praeparatum . . . Succus aconiti fpi flatus. . . - - baccas fambuci fpiflatus . — - - cicutas fpilfatus . . — - - cochle arias com- pofitus . . . . — — — ribr is nigri ..... Sulphur antimonii praeci- pitatum . . — - — praecipitatum , . . Syrupus althese . — - papaveris albi . . . — _ erratici — - - rofae . — — — fpinae cervinae . . — — — violae . — — — zingiberis ...... T anaeetum . . Tartari cryftalli . . Tindtura a/o s . . . . • - - — ■ oompolita — - - afafcetidas ..... — - - balibmi peru- viani . . • - - - tolu- tani . . . . — - benz c es com po¬ ll ta . ■ - — cantharidis .... - - cardamomi .... — - — ■ - — — com- poflta . . . • ■ - - cafcarillae ..... — - caftrei . ■ . cate.hu . . • — - cinchonas . - — - com- pofita .... ......... . Spirit of Pimento ....... dr. Spirit of Pennyroyal . dr. ■ C Compound Spirit of Horfs 2 radifh . . . . Burnt Sponge .......... fcr Powder of Tin ......... dr Storax ......... .... .. gr. Prepared Amber . . . fcr. Infpijfated juice of Henbane gr C Infpijfated Juice of Elder- \ berry . . . . . Infpijfated Juice of Hemlock gr, C Compound Juice of Scurvy l Srafs • • . {Infpijfated Juice of Black 7 Currant . {Precipitated Sulphur of An¬ timony . . . . Precipitated Sulphur. ..... Syrup of Marfh mallow . . . Syrup of White Poppies . . . Syrup of wild Poppy. ..... dr Syrup of Roj'es. ......... dr. Syrup of Buckthorn . dr Syrup of Violets ......... dr Syrup of Ginger . ...... oa© so o Dandelion Cryfals of Tartar . ....... dr. Tincture of Aloes . . . dr Compound Tincture of Aloes Hindi ure of Afafoetida .... ^Hindture of Balfam of Peru ^ Hindi ure of Balfam of Tolu j Compound Hindture of Benja min . . Hindture of the Spanijh Fly Hindture of Cardamom . . . . { Compound Hindture of Car - } ^ 2 damom . . . Hindture of Cafcarilla Hindture of Cajior ....... fcr. Ttndlure of Catechu ...... dr Tindlure of Bark . . • dr, ^ Compound Tindlure of Bark dr. i Common. Large, dr. 1 1 — dr. 3* dr. l .- —dr. 3* jdr. I. —dr. J- fcr. I. — dr. i. dr. I. ■ — dr. 6 . gr. JO.- — fcr. s. fcr. 1 ■§■ — dr. i. g‘° l.— gr. 4* | un. i- — UJl. gr° 2.- “ST. io. j* un- 2.- —un. 6. }un- le — un. M • J gr- 2.- — gr- J dr. I.- —dr. 2. dr. I.- —dr. 2. dr. 4- — un. I. dr. 2-- — dr. 4* dr. I.- —dr. 2, » dr . I.— dr. 2, dr. I. — dr. 2, dr. I .- -dr. % « fcr. i J. — dr. I. dr. 4-" — un. I. dr. 4- — un. I* fcr. —dr. 2. fcr. I —dr. 2. fcr. if.— -dr. 2. fcr. if-- —dr. 2. | dr. I.- — dr. 2" giv JO.- — dr. J. dr. I.- — dr. 3- [ ^r® I.- —dr. 3- dr. i.- —dr. 4- fcr. i.- —dr. 2f. dr. 2.- — dr. 3“ dr. 3 . — dr. 4- dr. 2,- —dr. 4* T indtura 896 APPENDIX. DOSES. Common. Large. moniata . . J . - - cinnamomi, . . . pofita ferri ammonia- calis --- ferri muriati . . Tin Bure of Muriated Iron — galbani . . TinBure of Galbanum .... dr. pofita -- gentians com- f Compound TinBure of Gen - 1 , i . \ V tian . j r‘ mata , guaiaci ammo- K TinBure of Ammaniated Guaiacunt . — helebori nisri opn cami — rhabarbari pofita fita Sabinse compo ^ Compound TinBure of Sa -- fcills . TinBure of Squills . . . moniata Tormentiila . Torment'd Root , Tragacantha . Tragacanth . . , Valeriana . Valerian . . Vinum aloes . Wine of Aloes . - - antimonii . Antimonial IVine . - - - • tarta-f Wine of Tartarifed Anti- rifati . . . \ mony . . — ferri . IVine of Iron . — rhabarbari Zincum calcinatum . Calcined Zinc . gr. 3. — gr. io. ficatum . . \ J for. i§- — dr. 2, dr. i.' —dr. 3- dr. i. —dr. 3. dr. i. —dr. 1 3- for. 2. —dr. z. g't. 10.- -gtt. 60. dr. I. — dr. 3- dr. 2- —dr. 3° dr. I.- —dr. 4. fcr. I.- —dr. 1. dr. I.- —dr. 3. dr. I.- — dr. 2. gtt. 20. “gtt. gtt. 30.- —gtt. 60. dr. 4 — un. 2. dr. 4.— un. 2. gtt. 20.- —gtt. 40. gtt- 20.- -gtt. 60. dr. 2.- — un. 1. dr. I .- — dr. 2. dr. I.- — dr. 3- fcr. I. — dr. 2. dr. I —dr. 2. gr- IO.' — fcr. 2. gr. 2 0.' —dr. 1. fcr. r . — d r. 2. dr. 6. — un. Io gtt. 20. — gtt. 50. gtt. 20.- -gtt. 50* dr. I. — dr. 4. dr. la —dr. 4- dr. 4-' — un. 2. fcr. i.- — dr. 1. gr- 3.' — gr. 10. gr. 5.— fcr. 1. TABLE New Names. Abietis Resina. Absinthium. Acaciae Gumrai. Acetosa. Acidum aceticum. ■“ ■ — benzoi- cum. - nitricum. sulphuri- curp. Aloes snicatae Ex- traqtum. ■ — vulgaris Ex¬ tract m. Ammohiae Murias. - - C Subcar- bonas. AnthemidisF lores. AntimoniiSuIphu- retum. Antimonii Sulphu- retum precipita- tom. Argenti Nitras. Armoraciae Radix. Benzoinum. Calami Radix. Calamina. Calumb’E Radix. Camhogia. Canellae Cortex. APPENDIX. TA BLE OF NEW NAMES, the Last London Pharmacopoeia. LATIN NAMES. Old Names Thus. Absinthium vul¬ gar-. ArubicumGummi. Acetosa praCnsis. Acetum distilla- tum. Flores Benzoes. Acidum nitrosum. - - - vitrioli- cum. Aloe socotorina, Succus spissatus. . ■ ■ barbadensis, Succus Spissatus. Sal ammoniacus. Ammonia praepa- rata. Chamaemelum, Flos simplex. Antimonium. Sulphur Antimonii pisecipitatum. Argentum nitra- tum. Raphanus rustica- num, Radix. Benzoe. Calamus aromati- cus, Radix. Lapis calaminaris. Columba, Radix. Gambogia. Canella alba, Cor- iex. New Names. Capsici Baccse. Caryophilli. Cassiae Pulpa. Castoreum. Ceratum Plumbi compositum. - - — Resinse. Cetaceum. Cinchonae lancifo- liae Cortex. - cordifo- lise Cortex. — — - — oblongi- foliae Cortex. Coccus. Confectio Auran- tii Hispalensis corticis exterio- ris. - — - ■ Cassse. - Opii. - - - — — Rosae caninae. — - — Rosse gallicae. Confectio Scam- moaeae. Old Names. Piper Indicum*, Capsuta. Caryophillus aro* matica, PericaT . pium immatu - rum. Cassia hstularis, Fructus. Castoreum Rossi- c im. Ceratum Lithar- gyri acetati com¬ positum. Unguentum Resi¬ nas fmvas. Sperma Ceti. Cinchonas Cortex. Vulgo Cortex fia- vus. Vulgo Cortex ru* her. Coccinella. Conserva Aurantii. Electuarium Cas¬ sias. Confectio opiata. Conserva Cynos- bati. ■ - ■ Rosae. ElectuariumScam- monii. APPENDIX 898 New Names. Confectio Sennae. Gonii Folia. Copaiba. Cupri Sulphas. Cusparlse Cortex. Cydonise Semina. Decoctum Cydo- n'ae. — - — — — - Malvse compositum. — • — - — - Papa- veris. Elaterii Foma. Emplastrum Cerje. w— — - Galbani compositum. - - — Hydrat- gyri. ' - — . . Picis compositum. - — — — Lyttae. - - - Piumbi. - - — • Resinae. Ferri Sulphas. Ferrum ammonia- turn. Fceniculi Semina. Hcllebori icetidi Folia. Hydrargyri Nitri. co-oxydum. — - - Oxydum rub rum. Hydrargyri Oxy- murias. — — — — Submu- rias. — - Sulpbu- retum rubrum. Kydrargyius prae- cipitatus albus. Jalapae Radix. Linimentum Am- moniae Subcar- bonatis. Old Names. ■ - - - Sennas. Cicuta, herba. BalsamumCopaiva. Vitriolum cseru- leura. Vuigb Cortex An- gusfurse. Cydonia malus, se¬ men. Mucilago Seminis Cydonii mail. Decoctum proEne- mate. pro Fomento Cucumis agrestis, Fruc tus recens. Emolastrum Ceras A. compositum. — > — » — Lithargyri compositum. — - — Lithargyri cum Hydrargy- ro. — — — — — Picis Bur gundicse compo¬ situm. - - Cantharidis. - Lithargyri. - - - Lithargyri cum Resina. Ferrum vitfjola- tum. - — ammoniacale. Foeniculum dm Ice, Semen. Helleboraster, fo¬ lium. Hydrargyrus nitra- tus ruber. • - calcinatus. Hydrargyrus muri- atus. Calomelas. Hydrargyrus sul- phuratus ruber. Calx Hydrargyri alba. Jdapium, Radix . Linimentum Am¬ monia. Ne w Names. LinimentumiEru- ginis. Lini usitatissimi Semina. Liquor Aluminis compositus. - Ammoniae. - Ammoniae acetatis. - 'Ammoniitar- tarizati. - Calcis. — . — Cupii ammo- miati. - Piumbi Ace¬ tatis. - Piumbi Ace¬ tatis dilutus. ■ - Potassae. Lvtta. Magnesia. Magnessae Carbo- nas. - Sulphas. Marrubium. Mentha piperita. - — viridis. Menyanthes. Mistura Amygda¬ lae. - . Ammoniaei. — — — Assafcetic'ae. Mistura Campho- rae. - Cretae. - ■ Guaiaci. — — — Moschi. Oleum Succini. Oxymel. Papavevis somni- feri Capsulae. PilulaeSaponiscum Opio. - Scillse com¬ posite. Pix arida. Piumbi Superace- tas. - Carbonas. - Oxydum semivitreum. Old Names. Oxymel iEruginis . Linum, Semen. Aqua Aluminis composita, — — Ammonise purse. — - Ammoniae aeetatae. Vinum Antimonii tartarizati. Aqua Calcis. - Cupri ammo- niati. - - — Lithar¬ gyri acetati. — - Lithar¬ gyri acetati com¬ posita. --- Kali puri. Cantharis. Magnesia usta. — — alua. — — — — vhriolata. Marrubium album. Mentha piperitls. - sativa. Trifolium paludo- sum. Lac Amygdalae. — Ammoniaei. Lac A[,a feeridae. Mistura campho- ruta. - - cretacea. Lac Guaiaci. Mistura moschata. Oleum Succmi rectificatum. Mel acetatum. Papaver album, Capsula. Pilulae Opii. ■ — — Scillae. Pix Burgundica. Cerussa acetata. Cerussa. Lithargyni.s, APPENDIX. 8 99 New Names. Potassne Acetas. PotasssecumCalce. ■ - fusa. • — * - impura. - - Nitras. - - Subcar- bonas. — ~~ — Tartras. — - Sulphas. - Sulphure- turn. ■ - Super-tar- tras. Pterocarpi Lignum . Pulvis AlSescom- positus. - . - Cinnamomi corapositus. - - Cornu usti cum Opio. Rhceados Petala. Rhamni Baccae. Rhei Radix. Rosae caninae Pul- pa. - centifoli Petala. — r — gallicae Pe¬ tala. Saccharum. Scammoneae Gum- mi. resina. Old Names » Kali acetatum. I Calx cum Kali puro. Kali purum. Cineres clave llati. Nitrum. Kali praeparatum. — tartarizatum. — ■ vitriolatum. — - sulpburatum. Tartari Cry stalli. Santalum rubrum, Lignum . Pulvis Aloes cum Guaiaco. - ■■ ■ aromaticus. — — opiatus. Papaver erraticum Flos. Spina cervina }Bas- ca. Rhabarbarum, Ra¬ dix, Cynosbatus, Fruc- tus. Rosa damascena, pet alum. rubra, peta- lum. Saccharum purifi- catum. Scammonium, Gum?ni-resina • ’ New N 'imes. Senegae Radix. Serpentarias Ra¬ dix. Sodae Boras. - - Murias. - - Sulphas. - Subcarbojias, Soda imuura. t - — - tartari zata. Spartii Cacumina* Spiritus Campho- rae. — ; - - rectifica- tus. ■ — - — — — tenuior. Sulphur iotum. — — — — sablima- tum. Terebinthina ca¬ nadensis. Tinctura Campho- rae composita. - — — FerriMu- riatis. Veracri Radix. Unguentum Picis liquidse. * — - - — - Ceta- rei. Zinci Oxydum. — =*-=- Sulphas. Old Names. Seneka, Rad.x . Serpentaria virgi- niana, Radix . Borax. Sal muriaticus. Natron vitriola¬ tum. - - — pr separa¬ tum. Barilla. Natron tartariza¬ tum. Genista, Caeumen. Spiritus camphor.- tus. - — — — vinosus rectificatus. ■ - - vinosus tenuior. Flores Sulphuris loti. Sulphuris Flores. Balsainum Cana- dense. Tinctura Opii cam- phorata. — - — ■ Ferri mu- riati. Helleborus albus. Radix. Unguentum Picis. — — . — Sper matis Ceti. Zincum calcina- tum. — — vitriolatum. APPENDIX 900 TABLE OF FORMER NAMES . Shewing to what Name of the present Pharma cop a: ia each respectively belongs. Former Names. Wormwood com¬ mon. Meadow Sorrel. Distilled Vinegar. Nitrous Acid. Vitriolic Acid. Barbadoes Aloes. Socotrine Aloes. Ammonia prepar¬ ed. Antimony. Compound Alum Water. Pure Water of Ammonia. Acetated Ammo¬ nia, Dime Water. Water of ammo- niated Copper. Water of acetated Litharge. — •— compound. ENGLISH New Names. Wormwood Common Sorrel. Acetic Acid. Nitric Acid. Sulphuric Acid. Extract of common Aloe. Extract of spiked Aloe. Subcarbonate of Ammonia. Sulphuret ofAnti- mony. Compound Solu¬ tion of Alum. Solution of Am¬ monia. Solution of Acetate of Ammonia. Solution of Lime. Solution of ammo- niated Copper. Solution of Ace¬ tate of Lead. Diluted Solution of Acetate of Lead. NAMES. Former Names. Water ot pure Kali. Gum Arabic. Nitrated Silver. Balsam of Canada. - — Copaiva. Barilla. Benjamin. Borax. Sweet Flag Root. Calomel. Lime with pure Kali. White Calx of Quicksilver. Spanish Fly. White Canella. Cassia of the Cane. Castor Russian. Cerate of acetated Litharge. Cerusse. Cerusse acetated. New Names. Solution ofPotass. Acaria Gum. Nitrate of Silver. Canada Turpen¬ tine. Copaiba. Impure Soda. Benzoin, Borate of Soda. Submuriate of Mercury. Potass with Lime. White precipitated Mercury. Blistering Fly Canella Bark. Cassia Pulp. Castor. Compound Lead Cerate. Carbonate of Lead. Superacetate of Lead. APPENDIX 901 Former Names. Chamomile, the F ower. Hemlock, the Herb. Cinchona Bark. — — — Yellow. — - Red. Colombo Root. Conserve Orange Peel. - - - - Hip. - * — red Rose. Confection Opiate. Angustura Bark. The Hip. Decoction for Clyster. - - — - Fomen¬ tation. Electuary orCassia. — - — — Scam* mony. — - — Senna. Plaster of Spanish Fly. a - - Wax com¬ pound. - - — Litharge. - - — - — com¬ pound. - - with Quicksilver. - - — with Resin. ■ Burgundy Pitch. Iron, variolated. — ~ ammoniacal. Flowers oi Benja¬ min. ■■ — Sulphur washed. Fennel sweet, the Seed. Gamboge. Bearsfoot, the Leaf. Quicksilver, cal¬ cined. — - ni¬ trated red. New Names. Common Camo¬ mile Flowers. Common Hem¬ lock leaves. Lance-leaved Cin¬ chona Batk. Heart leaved Cin¬ chona Baik. Oblong leavedCin- chona Bark. Calumba Root. Confection of Orange. - Dog-rose. — — — red-rose. • - — Opium. Cusparia Bark. Dog-rose Pulp. Compound Decoc¬ tion of Mallow. Decoction of Pop¬ py. Confection of Cassia. - — - — - Scam- mony. — - — Senna. — - - blister¬ ing Fly plaster. . . Wax Plaster. - Lead Plaster. Compound Galba- num Plaster. - - Mercu¬ rial Plaster. Resin Piaster. Compound Pitch Plaster. Sulphate of Iron. Ammoniated Iron. Benzoic Acid. Washed Sulphur. Fennel Seed. Gamboge. Stinking Helle¬ bore. Red Oxyd of Mer¬ cury. Nitric Oxyd of Mercury. Former Names. Quicksilver, mu- riated. - - - — - sul¬ phurated red. Kali, acetated. - - pure. - prepared. - ■ sulphurated. - - tartarized. - - vitriolated. Milk, Almond. — — Ammonia- cum. — ■ — Assafcetida. - - Guaiacum. Calamine Stone. Liniment of Am¬ monia. Litharge. Magnesia, white. — — — - burnt. — — - - vi.rio- lated. White Horehound. Simple Oxymel. Mixture camphor¬ ated. Mixture, Chalk. - - Musk. Mucilage of Quince Seed. Natron, prepared. - . — tartarized. - vitriolated. Nitre. Oil of Amber, rec¬ tified. Oxymel of Verdi- gris. Poppy, white, the Head. Pills of Opium. — — - Squill. Burgrndy Pitch. Powder aloefic, with Guaiacum. Powder aromatic. New Names. Oxymuriate of Mercury, i Red Sulphuret of Mercury. Acetate of Po las s& Fused Potass. Subcarbonate of Potass. Su phuret of Pot¬ ass. Tartrate of Potass,. Sulphate of Potass. Almond Mixture. Mixture of Gum Ammoniac. Mixture of As^a* foetid a. Mixture of Guaia¬ cum. Calamile. Liniment of Car¬ bonate of Am¬ monia. Semi-vitrified Oxymid of Lead. Carbonate of Mag¬ nesia. Magnesia. Sulphate of Mag¬ nesia. Oxymel. Camphor Mix¬ ture, Chalk Mixture,. Musk Mixture. Decoction of Quince Seeds. Subcarbonate of Soda. Tartarized Soda. Sulphate of Soda. Nitrate of Potass. Oil of Amber. Liniment of Ver¬ digris. White Poppy, Cap¬ sules. Opium, Compound Squill Pills. Dried Pitch. Compound Pow¬ der of Aloe. - Cinnamon, APPENDIX. Former Names, Powder, opiate. Rose, Damask. Sugar, brown. Sal Ammoniac, muriated. Salt Muriatic. Seneka, the Root. Virginian Snake- root. Spermaceti. Spirit, campho¬ rated. Rectified Spirit of Wine. Proof Spirit of Wine. Antimony, Sul¬ phur of precipi¬ tated. New Names. Powder of burnt Hartshorn with Opium. Damask Rose, Pe¬ tals. Mo ist Sugar. Muriat of Ammo¬ nia. Murlat of Soda. Senega Root. Serpentary Root. Cetaceum. Spirit ofCamphor. Rectified Spirit. Proof Spirit. Precipitated Sul- phuret of Anti¬ mony. Firmer Names. Flowers of Sul¬ phur. Crystals of Tartar. CamphoratedTinc- ture of Opium. Tincture of muri¬ ated Iron. Frankincense. Wine of tartariz- ed Antimony. Vitriol, blue. Ointmentof Tar. ■— - — — yellow Resin. — - - Sper¬ maceti. Zinc, calcined. - — — vitriolatcd. New Names, Sublimed Sulphur • Supertartrate of Potash. Compound Tinc¬ ture of Cam¬ phor. Tincture of Muri¬ ate of Iron. Resin of the Spruce Fir. Solution of tarta- rized Antimony. Sulphate of Cop¬ per. Tar Ointment. Resin Cerate. Cetaceous Oint¬ ment. Zinc, Oxyd of. Zinc, Sulphate of* We have given here the New Names lately introduced int the last London Pharmacopoeia, also all the different appellations of Colleges, in order that the reader of our Family Herbal may know what changes have taken place in the Medical Nomen¬ clature, and not find himself at a loss to discover upon any occa¬ sion, his old friends under a new mask ; but we lament that such change should ever take place; for it is immaterial to the patient whether he be ordered calomel , or submuriate of Mercury ; but it makes a great difference to him, if the compound forms pills of oxi- muriate of Mercury , formerly called corrosive sublimate, from similarity of sound ; so very advantageous it is to preserve constantly the old accredited names. When chemicals and drugs were first sent out to India under the new names , the practitioners were at a loss to discover what these were, and it required another six months before the new nomenclature arrived. There is, however, this advantage in changing the names of the medicines, patients averse to Peruvian Bark, take the Cinchona with pleasure ; and those fearful of Calomel, are ordered by the Physician the sulmu~ riale of Mercury without the prejudice of the party interfering. TABLE, Exhibiting the relative parts of Opium , and particular Preparations of Antimony, Arsenic , and Mercury, in some Compound Medicines. Confection of Opium, in about thirty six grains contains one grain of Opium, Solntion of Tar tar izal Antimony , in a fluid-ounce, holds two grains of Tar- tar'ued Antimony. Arsenical Solution. A fluid-ounce holds four grains of Oxyd of Arsenic. Solution of Oxymuriat of Mercury. A fluid-ounce holds half a grain of Oxy - muriat of Mercury. Mercurial Pills, Three grains contain one grain of Mercury. Pills cf Submuriat of Mercury. In about five grains is contained one grain of Sub muriate. Soap Pills with Opium, Five grains contain one grain of Opium. Powder of burnt Hartshorn with Opium, Ten grains contain one grain of Opium. Compound Powder of Chalk xcith Opium. Two scruples contain one grain of Opium. Compound Powder of Ipecacuanha . Ten grains contain one grain of Opium, Compound Powder of Kino. One scruple contains one grain of Opium. Strong Mcrcural Ointment. Two drams contain one dram of Mercury. Mild Mercurial Ointment . Six drams contain one dram of Mercury. GENERAL INDEX * V > * ■ . r, ' . fl V - y , ■ y ' . !«■ I • ' * • GENERAL INDEX A A CETATED Ceruse, Ointment A of - - - - 19 Acetated Kali - 264 — - , Medical use - 2 66 Acid of Benzoin - - 441 Aconite, Inspissated Juide of 551 Adcock, Mr.. - 128 ./Egyptian Mimora - - 862 - - Natural History 862—853 Agues, cause of - - 99 Agriculture of Wheat - 80 Agrimony, Common - 470 - — , its uses in Cutane¬ ous Diseases - - ib . Akenside, Dr. on Ipecacuan 736 Alkanet Root. See Bugloss, Dyer’s Alkanet. See Bugloss, Officinal Allspice. See Pimento Water 480 Almond Tree - - 471 * - Natural History 471—472 - Bitter, poisonous qualities - - 472 - - , Medical use 472—474 - Emulsion - ' 475—864 ■ - Milk - - ib. - Oil - 474 - - , culinary preparations 476 Aloes and Assafoetida, Pills of 288 Aloes, Socotrine - - 344 — - , Barbadoes, or Hepatic 345 - -, Horse - 346 - Medical use -346—347 - - , Powder of, with Cenella 347 - - ., Prescriptions - 351 - -, compound, Pills of 815 Aloetic Powder, with Guaiacum348 - — - , with Iron ib. - Pills - - ib. Alston, Professor, on the culti¬ vation of the White Poppy, and the obtaining of Opium in Britain - 509 Ammonia, Liniment of - 20 - , Foetid Spirit of 288 Anemony, Meadow, or Pasque Flower - 460 — , Medical use - ib. Angelica, Wild - 279 Aniseed, compound Spirit of 306 — - — Water - - ib. Anise - 305 Arabic Emulsion - 475—864 Arbutus, Trailing - - 451 - — — , its use in Fluxes 452 Arnica, Mountain - - 714 — - — - , various Me¬ dical applications - - 715 Artichoke - - - „ 674 - — , its use in Dropsy 675 Arum, Common - 750 — 752 - , Conserve. See Wake Robin Asarabacca, common - 466 - , a powerful eva¬ cuation - 467 ■ — - — , Compound Powder ib. Ash, Dr. on Foxglove - 605 Ash, flowering - - 871 - , Medical use - - 873 Assafoetida, Tincture of 28T - ? Emulsion of ib , ■ - - , Piaster of - 288 - - — - , Pills of - ib. - — - — , compound, Pills of 28T Asses’ Milk, mock - - 281 Avens, common - - 506 - , used as a substitute for Chincona in Intermittent Fe- vers - - 507 B. BALM, common - 580 Balsam of Canada - - 773 - - of Gilead - - 372 - - , Mr. Bruce’s account of the Tree - 372- -373 - •, Medical virtues - 374 — - ■, its use in Turkey ib. Barberry - - 359 - - - Jam - - 360 Bark Bread - - 796 - , common Peruvian 114 — — , varieties - - 115 - , adulterations - 117- -118 « — - , Chemical Analysis 119 3 M 890 GENERAL INDEX. Bark, Medical uses - - 121 — — •, its various appellations 12*2 — , its use in Intermittents 122 —123 — — ■, forms of exhibiting it 123-126 — — , Red Peruvian - - 127 - - , Salt of - - - 128 — , Preparations 128 — 133 — — , Tinctures and Extracts 130 —132 - , Prescriptions 133 — 134 - - , Remarks on the Infusion of 134 - - — and Lime Water used as a Tonic - 137 — — , Recipes - - , - 138 Bark Tree, Winter’s - 552 — — - and Caneila Alba com¬ pared - 552 — 553 Barley 64 . . — , History and Medical Virtues - ib. «— — — , Decoctions of - 65 Basil, common - - 587 - - , in Green Sickness and King’s Evil - ib. Bastard Dittany. See White Fraxi- nella Bear-Berry. See Arbutus, Trailing Beddoes, Dr. on Foxglove 601 Benjamin, or Benzoin Tree 440 - - Acid - - 441 - Flowers of - 442 - - - compound Tincture of 443 Benzoic Acid, methods of sepa¬ rating from Resin - - 442 Bergins, Dr. on Ipecacuan 737 Betony Wood - 584 — - - , origin of the Proverb relative to its Virtues - ib. Bile - - 18 Bingtea - - - 218 Birthwort, Climbing - 748 — - , -its use in Piles and Fistulas - - 749 - — - , Long-rooted - 746 - , Medical use - 747 Bistort, Greater - - 379 - - ■, Medical virtues - 380 Black Mustard, common 614 r - - - , in Chronic Dis¬ eases - 615 Blood, Experiment of Laurel Water on - - •» 490 Blue Cardinal Flower - 726 - - ■ - , use in the Lues Venerea - - 727 Boerhaave, Dr. his account of Saffron - - - 41 Boyse, Ann, poisoned with Laurel Water - - 492 Bran - 8B- Brathwaite Boughton, Sir Geo. interesting case of - 667 Breads 77 Brewing j 66 • - , Mashing - - 67 - - , Tunning 73 - , Fining 74 Brodie, Rev. P. B. on Cowhage64& Brookes, Dr. on the Hop 82 5r Brook-lime -• - - 2k — , History and Medi¬ cal use 22 Broom, common - - 654 - , Dr. Cullen on - 652* Brown, Dr. on Cowhage 636 Bruce, Mr. his account of the Balm Tree - 373 Buckthorn, Medical properties 150 . . , preparations 150 — 151 Bugle, Creeping - - 585 , its use in Sore Throats ib. Bugloss, Dyer’s 96 - , History - 96 — 97 Bugloss, Officinal - - 165 - , Medical use 165 — 166 — ■ — — , common - - 167 - , History - 167—168, - , virtues - - 168 Burdock - - - - 678 , use n Chronic Dis¬ eases - 679 Burgundy Pitch Plaster, com¬ pound - - 540 — 780 Butcher’s Broom - - 85t Bubon , Lovage-1 caved — - - , Medical virtues 290 Buckbean 98 • - , History - 98 — 99 — - , Medical virtues 99 — 101 Buckthorn ... 149 C. CABBAGE TREE, Bastard 631 - - - •, Offici¬ nal preparations - - 632 Cajeput Tree -• - 672 - ■, an Aromatic Oil 673 Calamint - 579 Calamy, Cerate of 20 Camomile, common - - 715 - , Flowers of, exhi¬ bited - 71S - , Spanish - - 728 — - , use in Pains of the Head - 721 Camphor Tree - 38 1 • - , Natural History of 381 —383 - - — , Medical use 323 GENERAL INDEX. 891 Camphor, its use when combin¬ ed with other Medicines 387 - - , Dose - - 389 - - — , Exhibitions - 390 Camphorated Mixture - 391 - - - — - Tincture of Opi¬ um - ib. — - Emulsion - ib. - Acetic Acid 392 ■ - - - Spirit of Wine ib. Cancer in the Breast cured by the Deadly Nightshade 179 Cancers, whether cured by Ex¬ tract of Common Hemlock 319 Canella, Laurel-leaved - 464 - - - Medical use - 465 Caper Bush, common - 445 - , Medical and Culinary uses - 456 Carraways - 302 — — - , Spirit of - 303 Carbonate of Potash - 261 ■ - , Pure of Potash 262 — - , Medical use - 263 Cardamom - 5 - , History and Medical Virtues - 6 - - , Tincture 7 - , enters into several Compositions - - . ib. Carrot, Wild - - 282 - , Garden - - 283 Cascarilla - 840 • - , or Willow-leaved Croton - 805 Tincture and Resi¬ nous Extract of Cassia, ./Egyptian - , Natural History - , Medical use ■ - , Simple Infusion ■ - — , Tartarised Infusion — - - j Infusion of, with Ta¬ marinds - - , Compound Tincture of ■ - , Compound Powder of - Extract and Electuary of • — — — , Prescriptions Cassia, Purging - , Natural History 807 417 ib. 418 419 ib. ib. ib. 420 ib. 421 423 424 Medical use and pre- 424—425 Palma Christi, See parations Castor Oil. common Catechu Mimosa - , Medical use - , Electuary of - , Tincture of * , Prescriptions 866 867 868 869 ib. Cathartics, on the action o t 107 Caustic Kali, with Lime - 261 - Ley. See Wate* of Potash Celandine, greater - ~ 542 , Medical use - 543 Centaury, smaller - - 147 - — , Chemical and Medi¬ cal properties - - 148 Chamberlaine, Mr. on Cowhage 635 Chambers on the Hop - 824 Chaste Tree - 589 - - - , its use in preserv¬ ing the chastity of Monks ib. Cherry, common winter 17i - — , why it ought not to be excluded from the Pharma¬ copeias - 172 - - - Laurel - - 486 - Medical Virtues - 487 Chewing Tobacco - - 197 Chian, or Cyprus Turpentine Tree 837 Chinese Smilax - - 644 Christmas Rose. See Black Helle¬ bore Cinnamon Tree - - 395 - , Natural History of 396 - , Medical use - 397 - , Water of - ib. - , Tincture of - 398 - , compound Tincture of ib. - , Spirit of 399 Cinquefoil, common - 505 - , an Astringent ib. Cistus Cretan - 439 - History 539 — 540 Clove Tree - - - 537 - , Chemical properties 537 —538 Clyster, Purging - - 287 Cotfee Tree - - 198 - , account of, from the Arabian MS. at Paris 100-102 Coffee-houses - 200-205 - prohibited at Con¬ stantinople - - 201 - , account of their introduction into England 205 - , how introduced into Europe and America 207 Coffee-tree, account of its cul¬ ture in Arabia Felix - 208 - , manner of preparing and drinking among the Ara¬ bians - 209 — - , how to make - 213 - , Medical use 213 — 214 - — Milk - - - 214 Colophony. See Black Resin Coltsfoot - - =710 3 M 2 892 GENERAL INDEX. Coltsfoot, use in Scrophula 711 Columna, Fab i us, cured of an Epilepsy by the Valerian Root - - - - 35 Congo Tree - 220 Contrayerva 89 - - - , History - ib. Contrayerva, Medical use - 90 - - , Preparations 91 Convicts, affecting narrative of several Scorbutic - - 663 Copaiva Tree - - 438 - - — - , Natural History ib. - , Medical Virtues 439 Coriander - 294 - - — , Medical Virtues 295 Corn Poppy - 534 ^ - — - , Preparations 534-536 Cowhage - '634 — — - , Mr. Chamberlain’s account of its Medical Vir¬ tues - 635 - - - mode of administer¬ ing it - 637 — - , its use as a Vermifuge 640 — — - ■ Lozenges - 641 - — its property of causing Itching - 642 -r— ■■ . m, . testimonials in favor of .... 643 Coxe, Rev. W. on the Christi¬ ana Deal ... 800 Crack Willow - - 829 Cress, Greater Indian - 377 - - -, Virtues - - 378 Crowfoot, Upright Meadow 561 - — - Medical uses - ib. Cubebs 31 Cucumber, Bitter - - 812 - — — ~ -, History and Dose 812 —813 — — — — — , compound Extract of 814 Cullen, Dr. on Sugar - 60 — ■- , on the use of Guai- acum in a Spirituous Tinc¬ ture .... 431 - ■■■'■■ — — , on the Hop - 826 Currant, Black - - 155 _ Medical Virtues 155-156 ■ — - -, Wine, Jelly, and Sy¬ rup .... 156 - — , Red - - 152 t— ■ — ’ Wine - - 153 — — Jelly - 153—154 D. DEMONIACS, ancient - 671 Damask Rose - - 498 — - - — - — , Natural History 498 Dandelion - » 676 Dandelion, use in liver com¬ plaints - - - 671 Darma, a famous Chinese saint 224 Davis, Mr. Thomas, on the tim¬ ber yielded by various spe¬ cies of Pines - - 798 Davis, Mr. See Rhubarb. Deal, Christiana - - 800 Dick, Sir Alexander - ' 404 Dick, Sir John. See Rhubarb 405 Dimsdale’s Powder - 636 Distillation for Volatile Oils 564 Dittany of Crete - - 581 Dog Rose ... 500 - , Medical Virtue ib. Dragon’s Blood Tree - 355 - - - Medical use 35 6 Dragon’s Blood. See Red Saunder’s Tree Drdke, Dr. on Foxglove 594 Dried Carbonate of Soda 271 — - , Medical use ib. Duncan, Mr. W. his testimonial relative to the Opium of Mr. T. Jones - 521 Dwarf Elder - - - 326 — — — — , Medical Virtues 327 E. EATON, Frances, nearly poi¬ soned by Laurel Water 492 Edwards, Bryan, on Sugar 59 Elaterium - - - 811 Elder - 323 - -, Rob - - - 324 — — Ointment - - ib. - - Wine - - - 325 — - Flower Wine - 326 Elecampane. See Inule, common Electuary of Scammony - 108 Elm, common - - 241 - , Bark of, good in the Le¬ prosy - - - - 242 Emulsion of Gum Ammoniac 286 ■ - - of Assafcetida - 287 Enema, Foetid - - 287 — — - , Opiate - - 288 Eringo-leaved Lichen - 885 — - - - , Medical use 887 Essences, Fragrant, method of obtaining from oranges, &c. 659 Essential Oil of Scotch Fir 788-797 Ethereal Tincture of Aloes 350 Eyebright, common - 588 - - — , its use for the Eyes ib. F. FAITH powerful in the cure of Diseases - - - 97 Falconer, Dr. See Rhubarb Fennel, Gigantic 28* GENERAL INDEX. 893 Fennel, Medical use Preparations Fennel, Sweet Medical virtues - 286 ib. - 308 309 Fenugreek - 653 Ferrier, Dr. on Foxglove 600 Fever. See Bark Fig-tree, common History 876 877 435 355 354 Fits in Children Flag, Sweet - , Medical Virtue Flax .... 330 — — 5 how to dress it so as to look like Silk - - 333 Flower, Dr. on the cure of Consumption - - 598 Fcetid Hellebore, its Decoction used for expelling the round Worms - 1 - 558 - - Tincture ib. Fordyce, Sir William. See Rhubarb Fothergill, Dr. his successful use of oil in Putrid Fever 17 Foxglove - 590 - , Parkinson on - 591 - Gerard on - 592 — - — , Ray on - - ib, - — , Salmon on - 593 - in inflammatory dis¬ eases - 594 - , in active Hsemorr- hages, &c. - - - ib. • - , letter to Dr. Beddoes on the use of it in Pulmonary ^ Consumptions - - 594 - - , Dr. Flower on 598 - , cases of its use in Consumption, 596, 597, 600, 601 - — , Dr, Ferrier on 600 - , Dr, Withering ©n 602 - , Dr, Darwin on 599 - , Dr. Beddoes on 601 - in Anasarcous and Dropsical Effusions - 602 - , Dr. Ash on - 605 in Palpitation of the Heart, Aneurism, and Hydra- cephalus - 605 in Mania, &c. 606 - •, Infusion and Decoc¬ tion of - - - ib. — - , Tincture of - 607 - — , Prescription - ib. Fraxinella, White - 432 - - , Medical Virtues 433 Freake, Mr. on the Hop 819 — 824 Frontiniac, English - 326 Fumitory, common - 627 — - , Dr. Cullen on ib. G GARDEN Carrot * - Galand, Mr. his account of the Coffee-houses in Constanti¬ nople - Galbanum, Tincture of - - - , Plaster — - , Prescription Garlic, common, cultivated - , Medical and general use - - - Galls, Oaks Garencieres, Dr. his account of Sugar - Gemander, Water , Medical Virtues Gentian, Yellow Root of. its use 283 202 292 ib. 293 341 341 768 50 586 ib. 243 244 Extract of, and Bitter Infusion - -, Compound Infusion - -, Compound Wine of Preparations Gentian, Purple Geoffroy, M. on Ipecacuan Gerard on Foxglove Gesner, Conrad Ges-ner, on White Hellebore Gin - Ginger, Narrow-leaved 1 — - - , History - — ■■ ", Kinds Ginseng Medical uses Syrup of Tincture of Preparations >, Preserved Wine Medical use Glanders in Horses, experiment of the use of Laurel-water in Glass, formed out of Potash and Flint - ---- Glauber’s Salt - v Goat’s Thorn, or Milk Vetch - } Medical use Goose Grass Medical Virtues Goose-foot, Stinking - — Medical use Gout, cause of - , cured by Moxa - , cured by the 695- Salt of Harts’-horn — ? cured by violent exercise — , cured by rubbing • — , cured by the stings of Nettles - — . See Officinal Guaiacum 245 246 246 247 248 736 592 179 856 848 1 2 ib. 3 ib. ib. ib. 4 ib. 874 875 489 253 274 654 655 94 95 239 240 704 -700 , 703 ib. 704 ib. S94 GENERAL INDEX. Gout, cu#ed by the Oil of Cam¬ phor - 386 Grimes, Mr. See Foxglove Grom well, common - 168 - , History, and Medi¬ cal use - - 164 Ground Ivy - 572 — - Ray’s account of Mr. Oldacre, cured of an in¬ veterate Head-ach by - ib. Guaiacum Officinal - 426 Guaiacum Officinal, Natural History - 427 - - •, its use in Rheuma¬ tisms, Gout, &c. - - 428 - , Tincture of - 429 - , Ammoniated Tinc¬ ture of - - ib. — - , Compound Decoc¬ tion of - - - 430 - - Prescriptions - ib. Gum Arabic, Mucilage of 863 H. HABIT, the power of, unequal 194 Hart’s Tongue - - 883 Haygarth, Dr. his advertise¬ ment respecting the Thorn- apple - 187 Hedge Hyssop - - 23 — - , History - 24 ■ - , Powers and uses 24 —26 Hedge Mustard - - 621 - , its use in Coughs ib. Hellebore, Black - - 554 — - - - , History and Medi¬ cal use - 555 - - , Tincture of - 556 * - , Prescriptions - ib. Hellebore, White, or Veratrum 856 - — , Prescription - 859 Hemlock Water-Drop wort 312 - - , affecting instances of its poisonous qualities 313 • — - Water - - 315 - - , a dreadful poison 316 - - , common - - 317 - - , Dr. Stoerck’sExtract of - 318 — - , Inspissated Juice of 321 Henbane - - - 181 - - , instances of its poi¬ sonous effects - - 182 - , beneficial effects of 183 Hildyard, Rev. John. See Foxglove Holly - - - - 280 Holy Thistle - - - 724 Home, Dr. on Madder - 85 |3oney of Roses - - 496 Honey of Squills - - 336 Hop, Natural History - 816 - , most convenient way of picking - 817 - , Medical Virtues - 819 - , various accounts of its medical virtues - 819 — 826 - , Extract of - 826 Hops 67 Horehound, common - 573 - ■— , its use in Consump¬ tions - 574 - - — Candied - ib. Horse Chesnut ' - - 367 - , Medical Virtue 368 Horse Raddish - - 612 — - , compound Spirit of .... 613 Hume, Mr. his account of the number of poisons at Rome 278 Hungarian Balsam - - 773 Hydrophobia - - 16 Hyson Tea - - - 218 I. INDIAN Pink - 102 - - , its efficacy against Worms 103- -104 Indian Rubber - 808 - , Indians make boots of it - ib. Infusion of Rhubarb - 413 Ink, how to make 769 Inula, common - 712 Ipecacuan - 732 - — , Varieties 732- -733 — * - , its use in a variety of complaints - 734 ■ - - , its use as an Emetic 735 — - , modes in which it is exhibited - 737 • - , Wine of - 738 • - - — ? Powder of, and Opium - ih. - , Prescriptions 739 Iris, Florentine - 43 - , History - ib. - , Medical Virtues - 44 Italian proverb concerning Fox- glove - - 593 J. JALAP, Bindweed - 110 - , History - ib. - , Medical uses - in - , Tincture of - 112 Jam, Raspberry - 502 James, King, his letter respect¬ ing Silk - - 757—759 Jones, Mr. his letter to the GENERAL INDEX 895 President for the encourage¬ ment of Agriculture. See Rhubarb - 407 Jones, Mr. his letter to the Pre¬ sident of the Society for the Encouragement of Arts, &c. en the cultivation of Poppy 512 ■ - , his description of instruments used in the scari¬ fication of Poppy 516 — 517 Juices of Succulent Plants 609 Juniper - 845 - - Berries - - 846 - , compound Spirit of 847 - - , Lycian - - 849 K. KALI, Pure - - - 260 - , Water of - - 257 - , Medical use - - 260 - , Liinevyith - - 261 - - , Caustic with Lime - ib. - , Prepared - - 261 - , Water of Sub-Carbonate of - 263 • - , Acetated - 264 - , Vitriolated - - 267 - , Tartarized - - 270 Kernels of Stone Pine - 797 Kerr, Mr. his account of the manner of collecting the White Poppy in the East 509 Kcempferia, Round j - - 8 - , History, pud Me¬ dical Virtues - 9 - - 5 Cordial Confection 10 L. LAUDANUM Plaster, common 540 —781 Ladies-smock, common 619 - , Medical use 620 Lamp Black - - - 795 Langrish, Dr. See Cherry Laurel Larch, common White - 772 - — , place of growth 800 Darken, Mr. his letter to Dr. Lettsom on Tea - 231 — 233 Latham, Dr, on the Hop - 820 Laurel Water, various experi¬ ments with - 488 — - - , poisonous effects of - 491—432 Lavender - 582 -7- - , Spirit of - - 58 3 - - , compound Spirit of ib. - Water - - ib. Lawrence, Mr. G. E. on the English Opium - - 582 Lemon. - - - - 661 Lemon, Medical use of the Juice - - - 662— 666 - Juice, Syrup of - 668 — - Peel, candied - * ib. — — — ■— Pudding - - 669 - , how to keep - ib. Leprosy, cured by the Bark of Elm - 242 Lettsom, Dr. on Tea - 231 Lettuce, Wild - - - 682 - , use in Dropsies - 683 Lewis, Dr. on White Saunders 93 - , on Wake-Robin 751 Lily, White - - - 357 - - , Medical Virtues - ' 358 Lime Water, compound - 430 Linseed - 331 - , its use in Colds - 332 Linseed Oil - 332 Liquorice, common - - 643 • - — , Extract of - >648 - ? Troches of - 649 — - — Troches with Opium 530 - 649 Lister, Dr. See Rhubarb Liverwort, Ash-coloured 884 Logwood - - - 454 - Medical use - 455 Lungwort, common - - 161 - , History, and Medical use - 161 Lungs, decayed, cured by the use of Sugar - .56 . yj. MACE, expressed Oil of - 835 Madden, Dr. See Cherry Laurel Madder, Dyer’s - - 83 ■ - -, History - 83 '-84 - , Medical use - 84 - , its effects in colouring the bones 85 Mahogany Tree - - 455 - •, History, and MedU cal Virtues - 456 Malt 65 -67 Male Fern - - - 879 - - , used as a cure for . Worms - 880 Mandrake - 173 — - - , superstitious notions respecting - - - 174 Mania, how far cured by Cam¬ phor - 384 Marjoram, Wild - - 575 - - , Sweet - - 576 - - , Oil of, used in Tooth- ach - Marris, Mr. See Foxglove Marshmallow - 625 896 GENERAL INDEX. Marshmallow, Decoction and Syrup of - 626 Martyn, Professor, on Water Cresses - - - 617 Masterwort, common - 298 • - - , Virtues - - 299 Mastich Tree - 838 — - — , commonly chewed by the Turkish women 839 Meton, Dr. on the Hop - 822 Mault, Mr. on the method of curing the Orchis-root - 741 Mayo, Dr. John, on the Hop 820 Mercury, action of, moderated by Camphor - 388 Mezereon - 369 - , deleterious qualities of the Berries - - 370 — - , Medical Virtues ib. - - »•-, Prescriptions - 371 Mistletoe - - 832 - -, Medical Virtue 833 Monro, Di\ Don. on Ipecacuan 735 Moseley, Dr. on Sugar - 53 Motherby, Dr. on the Hop 826 Moxa, Preparation of - 691 — - , extract from Sir William Temple on 692 ■ - , Sir W. Temple’s mode of using - - 700 Mucilage of Quince Seeds 494 Mugho Pine, the - 796 Mugwort - - 690 ■ - , use in Hysteric Fits 691 Mulberry, common - - 755 - - , History - 755—760 • - , two kinds of - 758 Mulberries, Syrup of - 761 Mullein, great Broad-leaved 237 - - — , Medical use - 238 Mustard Cataplasm - - 615 N. NASH, Mr. killed by smelling to different kinds of Tea 231 Natron^ Vitriol ated - 274 Tartarized - - 275 Nettle, common - - 753 — - Broth, good in Scurvy 754 Nightshade, Woody - - 141 - - — , History and Medi¬ cal use - - 142 — 143 Nightshade, Deadly - - 176 - , a fatal poison 177 - — - - — , Medical Virtues 177 —180 - , curious instance of the effect of 177 Norway Spruce Fir-tree 778 History 778-780 Nutmeg ^Tree - 834 - History 834—835 - Volatile Oil of ib. — - , Spirit of - 836 Nut, Vomic - 169 — - — * — , its use in the de- struction of Rats, &c. 1 o O. OAK, common - 762 - Saw -dust, used in dyeing 763 Bark, used in tanning ib. Medical Virtue - 767 — — • Prescriptions - 769 Bark, substitute for - 766 Oat, cultivated 81 — — , History - ib. - , Medical use 82 Oil, its use in the bite of a Vi- per - 15 • — , its effects in Hydrophobia and the Plague 16—17 — , its effects in Putrid Fever 17 — , its use in Dropsy 18 - , Preparations ib. Oil produced from Grape-stones in Italy - 160 • — , Linseed - 331 Oldacre, Mr. See Ground Ivy Olive, European 13 . , History ib. - , Medical use - 14 - - Oil - , - ib. Onion, common - 343 ib. . . , Sea - 334 — - ■, Medical use - 335 Opiate, or Thebaic Pills - 445 Opiate Electuary - 530 Opium, combined with Cam- phor - - _ - 388 Pills of - 445 - - -, generally corrupted with cow-dung. See Poppy, White - - 509 — - — , English ib. — - , Turkey - 523 ———***, East Indian ib. - , Narcotic Virtues - 524 «- - , Purified 528 • - Tincture of ib. - , Ammoniated Tincture 529 - Pills, Watery Extract, and Opiate Powder - ib. - , Confection of - 530 - , a table showing the proportion of, in some com¬ pound Medicines — , Prescriptions. See Pop¬ py, White. - a 531—532 GENERAL INDEX. 897 Opium, its effects counteracted by Lemon juice - - 667 Orach. See Goose-foot Orange - 657 • - , Essences of - «- 659 - , Wine and Pie - ib. * - Tarts - - - 660 * - - Puffs - ib. Orchis, Male - 740 • - , method of curing 741 Oxymel of Squills - - 336 Oxymuriatie Alkaline Water 269 , Medical use ib. P. PALMA Christi, common 802 • - - - , Medical use 803 — - , Prescription for a Clyster - 804 Palmated Larkspur - - 547 1 — - — -, its use in cutaneous diseases, and in destroying lice, &c. - 548 Pausic, or three-coloured Violet 730 — — — a remedy for Crusta Lactea - ' - 731 Paregoric Elixir - - 394 Pareira Brava - - 853 — . . , its use in Co¬ lics - 854 Parkinson on the virtues of Di- gitalics, or Foxglove- - 591 Parsley, common - - 307 — ■ - - , virtues - - ib. Parsnip, rough - - 300 Peach Tree, common - 478 - - — , Medical Virtue ib. Pearson, Dr.George, introduces into medical practice Phos¬ phate of Soda - - 273 Pearson, Dr. on the English Opium - 521 Pennyroyal Mint - - 571 - , employed as a popular remedy - ib. Peony, common - - 544 - , its use in Epilepsy ib. Pepper, Black 30 • - •, History 31 • - , Medical use - 31 — 33 — — , White - 32—33 — - , Guinea - - 144 ■ - , History - - ib. • - , Medical use - 145 Peppermint - - - 569 ■ - - - Water - - 570 — — - , Spirit of - ib. - - - — , Oil of ib. Percival, Dr. on Salep - 741 Peruvian Bark, combined with Camphor ^ - 389 Pills of Aloes and Assafcetida 288 . . Aloes and Ginger 348 * . . • compound of Aloes 349 - Aloes and Assafoetida ib. * ■ . - Aloes with Colocynth ib. — . — Aloes and Myrrh - 350 Pimento, or Jamaica Pepper 479 — - - — , Natural History and Medical Virtues - - 480 Pines, on the Timber of - 798 Pink Clove - 459 - - , Syrup of - 460 Pitch - 794 Phosphate of Soda - - 271 * — - — — - , Medical use 273 Plantain, common Great - 86 - - - — , Medical uses - 87 - - - , is excluded from the Pharmacopoeias 88 Plaister of Assafcetida - 288 Poison of the Deadly Night¬ shade, its manner of operat¬ ing - - - 178 - — - , antidote against ib. Poison Nut. See Nut Vornic Poll Evil in Horses, experiment of the use of Laurel Water in 488 Pomegranate Tree - - 481 — — — — — - , Medical Virtues ib. Poppy, White - 508 - «, History - ib. . . quantity export¬ ed from the Ganges - 509 ■ - - - - , manner of col¬ lecting - - ib. - - «, account of its first cultivation, for Opium, in Britain - 510 - - - , Preparations of, from the English - - 522 — . — . , Medical Virtues 525 Potash, Natural History of 249 - , Properties of - 250 — - methods of obtaining 250 —251 — - — , Water of 256 — - , Medical use - - 259 * - , formerly strongest com¬ mon Caustic - - ib. — — — , with Lime, formerly milder common Caustip - 260 — — , Carbonate of - 261 - , pure Carbonate of ib. - , Solution of Super-Car¬ bonate of - 263 — — — , Sulphate of - 266 - , Tartrate of, and Soda 275 Powder of Squills - - 337 Pulmonary Consumptions, on the use of Digitalis in - 594 Pus - v 59ft GENERAL INDEX. 838 Procreation, provocatives to 589 Prune, common, or Plum-tree 484 — . ■, their opening qualities 485 Q. QUASSIA, Bitter - - 447 — - , its use in Fevers 448 Quassia, Simaniba - - 449 — - - ■, Medical use - 450 Quince Pudding - - 494 •— ■— - ■ Tree, common - 493 - , Officinal and Culinary preparations - 494 R. RAISINS Raspberry Bush * - Syrup of - - - Jam, Dumplings, Tarts, and Cream Rats, how to destroy Rattlesnake Root rMilkwort Ray, on Sugar ° — — , on Foxglove Red Poppies, Syrup of — - , Prescriptions Red Saunders Tree produces Dragon’s Blood Resin, Yellow - , common - , Black — — , Liquid - Rhododendion, Yellow-flower¬ ed - — - , Medical use Rheumatism. See Officinal Guai- acum Rhubarb - - - , History of its intro¬ duction into England — - - , Medical use — - Mine - - % Tincture — — - , compound Tincture — - ~, Tincture of, with Aloes - - , Tincture of, with Gentian - — - - — , compound Pills of *, reasons for culti vat- 158 501 502 ib. 170 629 52 592 535 536 650 ib. 787 790 ib. 796 456 457 ing it in Britain Rochelle Salt - Rome, number of Poisons in Rosemary, common - - , History and Medi¬ cal use •, Spirit of Oil of Rose, Red Officinal 403 413 414 ib. 415 ib. ib. 416 404 275 278 27 28 29 ib. 495 Rose Water - , Prescriptions Roses, Conserve of - , Infusions of — — -, Honey of Rue, common 499 ib. 495 496 ib. 434 , its use in the Fits of Chil¬ dren - Russel, Lord William. - 435 See Tormen- til S. SACRED Tincture Saffron - • - , History - 38 — - , Medical use Saffron Walden, why so called Saffron, common Meadow - , Medical Virtues • - , Oxymel of - Salep. See Orchis, Male Salmon on Foxglove Salt of Tartar - Saltwort, Prickly. See Potash Sarsaparilla - Sarsaparilla, Decoction of Sassafras Tree - - , Volatile Oil of Sauce Alone Mustard Saunders, White or Stinking Hedge History Medical Vir¬ tues Savin, common - , Extract of - , Ointment 402 Saxifrage Medical Virtue Small -, Medical Virtues Scammony Bindweed - - - , History 350 38 -40 40 42 39 361 362 363 593 262 249 841 843 375 376 622 92 ib. 93 851 852 ib. 458 ib. 304 ib. 105 106 tive -, is a strong Purga 106- -, Dose good in Dropsy Preparations 108 — 109 - Powders of 108 — 109 - 783 place of growth Scurvy-grass, common - _ _ _ , compound J uice of Scurvy, on the use of Lemon- Scotch Fir 107 107 108 800 608 609 juice in * SeaEryngo. See Holly Sea Wormwood Seneka, Decoction of. See Rat¬ tlesnake Root 662 707 630 GENERAL INDEX. 809 Senna. See Cassia, Egyptian Sequin, Turkish Serinchamps, M. Sherry - Silk and Silk-worms Silk, manufacture of Silver Fir-tree - ■ - , use in Scurvy *> — - - — — — — , place of growth Simples, English Single Tea - Sloes, Conserve of Sloe-tree - Smoking Tobacco Snakeweed - - - * - , Medical Virtues Snake-root - - - Tincture of Snuff-taking Soap, on the formation of - Soap Liniment, compound - , Tincture of - , Prescriptions - 393- Soapwort - - -, its 417 202 701 158 756 757 776 777 800 487 219 483 482 196 379 380 743 744 194 255 393 ib. 394 469 use in the Vene¬ real Disease - 469 Soda, Natural History of - 253 - - , Properties of 254 - , method of obtaining 254—255 method of distinguishing 255 271 -273 274 275 Solution of Super-Carbonate of Potash - 263 - - * - — , Medical use 264 366 it from Potash — , dried Carbonate of - — , Phosphate of - 271- — , Sulphate of Tartrate of, and Kali Sorrel, common Souchong Tea -Southernwood - ' - — . ■, Decoction of, for Fomentations Spanish Flies, compound Plan¬ ter of ----- Spearmint - - - - , Distilled Water - - , Spirit of, and Vola¬ tile Oil of 219 686 687 615 562 563 ib. , compound Infusion of 568 19 882 800 781 782 335 ib. 336 ib . 337 Spermaceti Spleenwort Spruce, place of growth of Spruce Beer, how to make - Wine, how to make Squills Conserves of Tincture of -, Honey, &c. of •? drying of Squills, dried Sea - 337 - , Pills - - - 338 - -, Prescriptions - 339 Squire, Dr. on Cowhage - 645 St. Anthony’s Fire, of the use of Laurel Water in - 491 Starch 73 - , Mucilage of - 79 Stavesacre. See Palmated Larkspur St. John’s Wort, perforated 670 • — - - - — , its ancient use in expelling the devil - 671 Stoerck, Dr. See Hemlock, common Stone Pine - 797 - Kernels - ib. Stone, Dr. on the Hop - 821 Storax, Officinal - - 444 - - , Purified - - 445 “ — — — , Pills of - ib. Succory, Wild - 680 — - - , use in Venereal Ob¬ structions - 681 Sugar-cane 47 "" ~ ■“ a-, Chemical qualities 48 Sugarrcane, Medical uses 48 — 49 - — , History - 49 ■ - Syrups 62 - — — — — , Beer 68 Sulphate of Soda - - 274 . . , Medical use 275 Surnack, Elm-leaved - 329 — — — — , Medical use - 330 Swallow-wort - - - 277 . an antidote to Poison - - - 278 Sweet Bay, common - 396 — — — — — , Natural History of 401 Syrup of Clove, July-flower 460 • - Colchicum - - 363 - - Raspberry - - 502 - - - Squills - - 336 T. TAMARIND Tree - - - -, in Sore Throat Tanning, process of Tansy, common — — — — , use in Gout -, Pudding 623 624 763 684 685 ib. Tar Water, how to make - 784 ■ , - — , its use in Medicine ib. Tar Ointment - 786 - process of manufacture 791 — 793 — , a Med* cine - - 793 Tartar, Sal^ of - - 262 - , Vitriolated - - 266 Tartarized Kali - - 270 - — — - Medical use 270 —271 @00 GENERAL INDEX. Tartrate of Soda and Kali 275 - . . . . — ■, Medical use 276 Tarts, Green Almond - 476 Tea ----- 215 — , on the two kinds of Green and Black - 216 - — , general description of the tree - 217 — , Green - 218 — , Rohea - - 219 — , of Japan - 224 — supposed miraculous ori¬ gin of - - - - ib. - , manufacture of - 225 — , but one species of - 226 - — , why first used in Infusion 228 -—234 — , manner of using in China and Japan - 229 — virtues of 230 - — , quantity of, imported into Europe - 236 Temperance the best cure for the Gout - 706 Temple, Sir William, on Moxa 692 Thorn Apple - 186 - - - --, a Narcotic Poison 187 — - - , Medical Virtues 188 •—190 Thornton Dr. his letter to Mr. Chamberlaine, on Cowhage 643 Thyme, Mother of - - 577 — - , common garden - 578 Tobacco - 190 - , History and introduc¬ tion of, into Britain - 191 - -, Medical Virtues 191 — 194 Tolu Tree, Balsam of - 436 . . . . , Tincture of - 437 — 1 - ■*-, Syrup - - ib. Tooth-ach, cured by Moxa 702 Tormentil, common - . 503 * — . -, its virtues as an As¬ tringent - 504 — - , account of its efficacy in various diseases, by a poor man - ib. Touchwood, or Agaric - 888 Tragacanth, Mucilage of Guil 655 — - - Mucilage of ib. - - compound Pow¬ der of. See Goat’s Thorn 656 Treacle 49 Tunky. See Single Tea Turmeric, Long-rooted - 11 — - , History - - ib. - , Medical uses - 12 Turpentine, Venice - - 773 — — - — , common - ib. , Oil of - - ' 775 Turpentine, Rectified Oil of 775 — - — ■ , Prescriptions ib. Turpentines, their Medical use 774 U. UNDERWOOD, Dr. on Cow¬ hage - 646 Upright Virgin’s Bower - 559 — - — - , its use in Ulcers, &c. - ib. V. VALERIAN, Wild - 34 * - — , History and Medici¬ nal use - 35 — 37 - - •, Tincture of - 37 Venn, Mr. on Tea - - 233 Vine, common - 157 — , History - 157—158 Vinegar of Squills - 336 — 337 Violet, Sweet - - 728 — — — , Syrup of the Flowers 729 - , Culinary preparation ib. Vitriolated Kali - - 267 — - - Medical use 268 Volatile Oils - 563 - - - ', on distillation for - 564 — — - — — — — ■, how to be pre¬ served after distillation - 567 Volatile Alkali, Foetid Spirit of 288 W WAKE-ROBIN * - - 750 - - - — , its use in Rheu¬ matic Pains - 751 Wall Pellitory - - 860 — . . , its use as a Diu¬ retic - 860 — 861 Wall-Stone Crop, or Wall Pep¬ per - 463 — - its use in Scor¬ butic Humours - - ib. Walnut-tree, common 770 - Wood - - 771 Walnuts, how to pickle - ib. Water, compound Lime - 430 Water Cresses - 617 - — - , Medical Virtues 618 Water Dock - 364 - - , Medical Virtues 365 Water-Hemlock, fine-leaved 310 — ; - ; - , Medical Virtues 311 Water- Parsnip, creeping 296 - - -, good in Cuta¬ neous Eruptions - - 297 Water of Potash - - 256 - - Pure Kali - - 257 - — Prepared Kali - 263 - Sub-Carbonate of Kali ib- GENERAL INDEX. 901 Water of ^xymuriatic Alkaline 269 Water Spe'eL^we^* $ ee Brooklime Water Trefoil. ^ ee Buckbean Wax Ointment “ ^ Waybread. See \ ^antain Whaley, Mary, po lsoned with Laurel W ater " " 402 Wheat, Winter - •" ” 76 — Flour - - ,76-T7 - , Medical use - “ i J White Briony Root - " ^2T — - , Medical Virtue 828 Wrhite Poppies, Syrup of 534- — 535 White Spruce Beer, how to make - - - - 7,^2 Wild, or Squirting Cucumber 80t^ • - , Inspissated Juice of - - - - 810 Willis, on Sugar - - 51 Willow, Crock - - 829 — — — , common White - 830 - - , Almond-leaved - ib . - - — , Bag-leaved - - 831 - - — , Great Round-leaved ib. Wine of Aloes - - - 351 Wine, Elder - 325 -, Raisin - - “158 - , Rhubarb - - 414 Wines, various - 159 Withering, Dr, on the Bear- Berry - - - 453 — — — . on Foxglove 602 —604 Wolf’s-Bane, or Monk’s Hood 549 W olf’s-Bane, Medical use 550 Wood-Sorrel - - - 461 - — , Medical use 462 Woodville, Dr. his case of the poisonous effects of the Thorn apple - - - - 1ST — — - - - , his letter to Mr. Jones, on the Opium produced from the milky juice of White Poppy - 521 Wormseed - 708 — — - — mode of giving them 709 Wormwood - - - 688 - - , Medical and other uses - 689 ______ — _ ? in Gout ~ ib. Worms. See Cowhage Wounds, kept from mortifying by Sugar - - - 61 W jight, Mr. on Tea - - 233 Wright, Dr. on the Bastard Cabbage-tree - - 632 Y. YARROW % common - 722 _ _ vuse in Piles - 723 Yellow Rosin, Ointment of 20 Yellow Water L *ag " " 44 _ _ _ _ — . Gerarde’s account of its viri ties - 45 Z. ZULICHEM, Dr. on G^ut. See Gout and Moxa THE END.