phoretic, and, for the most part, diuretic. It has been employed in chronic rheumatism, syphilitic affections, schirrus, &c. Stoerk, of Vienna, introduced it into practice. Dose 1 gr. to 5. ACORUS (calamus). Sweet flag. History. This is a perennial plant, growing in marshy places and rivulets. It is plentiful about Norwich, and in many of the marshy commons near London. That used in medicine has been mostly supplied from the Levant. Qualities. The root, which is the part employed, has a warm bitterish taste, and an aromatic odor. Both its smell and taste are improved by drying. Medical properties. Aromatic and tonic. It has been employed in intermittent fevers. Dr. Thomson thinks that its powers are not sufficiently appreciated as a stomachic in cases of dyspepsia. Dose Эj to 3j. ADEPS (Fat.). See CHEMISTRY and PHAR MACY. ERUGO. See CUPRUM. ESCULUS (hippocastanum). Horse chestnut. History. The horse chestnut tree is originally from the north of Asia, but it has been introduced into almost every part of Europe. It flowers in May. Qualities. Its fruit is principally composed of fecula, and is eaten by forest animals. In times of scarcity it has been used as food by man, but its acrimony should be destroyed by fire when so employed. The bark of the tree is astringent, and slightly aromatic to the taste. Medical properties. Tonic. It has been employed (the bark of it) as a substitute for the Peruvian bark. Dose 9j to 3j. AGRIMONIA (eupatoria). Agrimony. History. An indigenous and perennial plant, found about the borders of hedges and fields. It flowers in June and July. Qualities. An agreeable aromatic odor and bitterish taste. Medical properties. Tonic and deobstruent, not much employed. ALCOHOL (ardent spirit). See CHEMISTRY and PHARMACY. ALLIUM. (sativum) Garlic. (Porrum) Leek. (Cepa) Onion. History. Garlic is a perennial; it grows wild in Sicily, and is cultivated in our gardens. It flowers in July. The leek is a native of Switzerland and flowers in June; it is a biennial. The common onion also flowers in June; it is perennial.. Qualities. The bulbs, especially of these plants, possess an offensive odor, and an acrimonious taste; these principles are the weakest in the common onion. Medical properties. Garlic is diuretic and stimulant, and expectorant, and anthelmintic; the leek is principally employed as a diuretic, and onion seems to have nearly the same properties with the garlic, but in an inferior degree. Onions are recommended by some in some kinds of gravelly affections, but it is questionable whether they are otherwise useful than as a diuretic. Dose, 31 to 3ij. ALOE. (vulgaris) Common or Barbadoes aloes. (Spicata, socotorina) socotrine or spiked, or Cape aloes. (Caballina) fecid aloes. History. The plant producing the aloe is perennial, and grows in different parts of the south of Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, but the spiked yields the best extract, and this is principally brought from the Cape of Good Hope. The greater part, however, of what are now sold as socotrine aloes are brought, we are told, from Bombay, and are the real hepatic aloes. The leaves of the plant are cut off close to the stem in the preparation of the extract; the juice of them is pressed out, which is boiled, skimmed, and exposed to the sun's heat, so as to get dry. It is preserved in skins, and thus imported. The fetid, or horse, or caballine aloes is only used by farriers. Qualities. The socotrine extract appears in small pieces, with a glossy varnished surface, and of a reddish-brown color. Its smell is said to resemble myrrh, others compare it to the odor of the russet apple decaying. The Barbadoes aloe is in larger pieces: its odor is much stronger, and has rather a fatty animal character. Its bitter taste, which is intense, is not accompanied with the aroma which characterises the socotrine species. Medical properties. Strongly cathartic; exerting its action principally on the lower bowel. It is a stimulant purgative, and therefore employed in sluggish habits; it is much used in chlorosis. Aloe however is for the most part employed in combination with other purgatives, which act more mildly, and upon other parts of the intestinal canal. Dose, grs. v. to xv. ALTHEA (officinalis). Marsh mallow. History. Perennial and indigenous; found on the banks of rivers and marshes, especially salt marshes. It flowers in June and July. Qualities. The root of marsh-mallow is without much smell or color, it abounds with mucilage. Medical properties. Demulcent, employed for the purpose of sheathing from irritation in urinary and bowel, and sometimes in pulmonary and cynanchial affections. Ad libitum. ALUMEN. (Super sulphas aluminæ et potassæ). Alum. History. It is found native in some places either effloresced on bituminous schistus, as at Gottwig in Austria; or uniting with the soil in volcanic regions, as at Solfatara near Naples, where the only processes requisite for its extraction are lixiviation and evaporation.' But alum is principally obtained from schistose clays, which have iron in their composition. The largest alum mine in this country is said to be at Hurlett, near Paisley. Qualities. Alum has a sweetish acidulous, and rough or astringent taste. Its form is that of a octohedral crystal, with sides of equilateral triangles. It is without odor. Medical properties. Astringent, used both externally and internally to check discharges and restrain hæmorrhage. Alum whey is much employed by some in fluor albus. Dose grs. 5 to 9j. AMMONIE MURIAS. (Sal ammoniac). History. Found native in the neighbourhood of volcanoes. It was originally manufactured in Egypt by subliming the root of camel-dung; but it is now principally prepared by mixing muriate of soda with artificially formed sulphate of ammonia and carbonate of lime. The greater part of the sal ammoniac used in London, we are told, is now made in the north of England. Qualities. Sal ammoniac possesses a bitterish saline taste. Owing to a degree of moist ductility it is not very easily powdered; it is usually formed in cakes of about an inch in thickness, and of an hemispherical form. Medical properties. Sal ammoniac was formerly in considerable use as an internal remedy against obstructions and viscidities, as they are called by the humoral pathologists. Its present employment is principally external, as a cooling, discutient, and stimulant application. Dose grs. x. to 3. AMMONIACUM. See Heracleum. AMYGDALUS (communis). Dulcis or sativa, sweet almond. Amara, bitter almond. History. The almond tree originally came from Barbary and Syria. It is cultivated now in the southern parts of Europe, and even in England; but the fruit does not well ripen here. It nearly resembles the peach. There is no apparent variety in the tree which produces the two kinds of kernel. Qualities. The sweet almond, when the kernel is taken off, is inodorous, and has a bland taste; the bitter almond, by trituration, gives out the odor of the peach; it contains the hydrocyanic acid. Medical properties. The sweet kind are more in employment as food than as medicine. They are demulcent, and are used in the form of emulsion. Dr. Thomson tells us that, on the ground of the bitter almonds containing the prussic acid, he has been led to employ them both in affections of the lungs and the stomach, and has found them very efficacious; he has also used the emulsion from them in some cutaneous disorders with advantage. AMYLUM. See Triticum hybernum. N. B. As starch is the fecula of wheat, so is sago of the sagu tree, one of the various species of palms (the pith). Tapioca of the Jatropha manihot (the roots). Salep of the orchis muscula (the bulbs). Arrow root of the maranta arundinacea (the pith). This being the true Indian arrow root; but the most part of what is commonly sold in the shops as arrow root is merely the fecula of potatoes. AMYRIS (elemifera). Elemi (Gileadensis). Balsam of Gilead. History. The tree, from which the resin called elemi is procured, grows in Carolina and the Brasils; the resin is obtained by making incisions into the bark; it dries in the sun as it flows from these incisions. The Gilead balsam is obtained from a tree which is a native of Abyssinia, but which is said to have been transplanted into Judea 1730 years before Christ. Qualities. The elemi smells somewhat like fennel seeds: it is of a pale or yellowish color, semi-transparent, and brittle externally, but more soft and ductile within. Balsam of Gilead has a strong pungent odor resembling turpentine. It is of a yellowish color, but charges by keeping; its interior is paler than its surface. Medical properties. Elemi is stimulant, but very rarely used as an internal medicine. The Gilead balsam is scarcely employed at all in this country. In the east it is used as a cosmetic. Dose 9j. ad 3j. ANCHUSA (tinctoria). Alkanet. History. The anchusa tinctoria is a native of the south of Europe; it is sometimes cultivated in our gardens, but the alkanet of commerce principally comes from the neighbourhood of Montpelier. Qualities. Alkanet root has a bitterish astringent taste. To alcohol, ether, and oils, it imparts a fine red color; to water it yields only a brown color. The coloring principle resides in the bark. Medical properties. Astringent, but scarcely employed for any other purpose than to give color. ANETIUM (graveolens), common dill. (Fœniculum) sweet fennel. History. The plant which produces the dill seeds is cultivated in this country, but is a native of Spain and Portugal; it is an annual. The fennel is a biennial plant; both the root and the seeds of this are employed. Qualities. Dill seeds have an aromatic smell, with rather a pungent aromatic flavor. The roots of the fennel have not much odor, and they are but slightly aromatic to the taste. Fennel seeds are more fragrant, and have a warmer taste. Medical properties. Dill seeds are carmina tive; the water from them is exceedingly useful as a vehicle for children's medicines, when an aromatic carminative quality is required. Fenrel is very little used, being not at all superior to caraway or anise seed. Dose grs. 10 to ǝj. ANGELICA (archangelica). Angelica. History. This plant is umbelliferous and biennial; it is chiefly cultivated in the northern parts of Europe, but has been found wild in Britain. All the parts of the plant, including the roots, are employed. Qualities. Angelica has a fragrant aromatic smell, which is most concentrated in the roots. From the fresh roots a gum resin exudes when the roots are wounded, which is very strong in the virtues of the plant. Medical properties. Tonic and aromatic, but very little used. An agreeable sweet-meat is made of the stalks. Dose, 3j. ad 3ij. ANGUSTURA. Angustura, or bonplandia, or cusparia bark. History. The bonplandia trifoliata which affords the angustura bark grows abundantly in South America. It is an evergreen, and rises to the height of from sixteen to eighteen feet, with leaves of two feet in length. Qualities. Angustura or cusparia bark is very bitter, pungent to the taste, and slightly aromatic: it breaks with a short and resinous fracture. It has a peculiar odor; when powdered it is yellow. Medical properties. Stimulant and tonic. It has been used as a substitute for cinchona bark, especially in intermittents. Dose grs. 10 to 3j. ANISUM. See Pimpinella anisum. ANTHEMIS (nobilis). Chamomile (pyrethrum). Pellitory. History. The chamomile is indigenous and perennial; it is principally cultivated in physical gardens for medicinal use. The pellitory is a native of Barbary, of the Levant, and of the south of Europe; but is occasionally cultivated in England. It is the root of this plant which is employed. The flowers of the pellitory resemble in form those of the chamomile. Qualities. The smell and flavor of the chamomile are well known. The taste of the pellitory root is at first scarcely sensible, but in a very short time it occasions a burning sensation in the mouth and fauces. Medical properties. Chamomile flowers are emetic in a large quantity, but tonic and stomachic in a smaller quantity. They are used externally for fomentations, &c. The pellitory root is chiefly employed as a sialogogue; in tooth ache, &c. Dose 9j. to 3j. ANTIMONIUM. Stibium. Antimony. Sulphuret of antimony. History. Antimony has been met with in its metallic state at Stahlberg in Sweden, and more recently at Allemont in France; but it is most commonly mineralised with sulphur, and in this state of sulphuret it is not an uncommon production of nature. The crude antimony of commerce is the sulphuret separated from its stony parts mechanically and by fusion. Qualities. It is without any odor, and almost tasteless; its form is that of a large gray mass, which, when broken into, appears striated and metallic. It is insoluble both in water and alcohol. Medical properties. Sulphuret of antimony is not active unless it meet with an acid solvent in the stomach, when it becomes violent in its operation, so that its effects are extremely uncertain. Its use is now principally confined to veterinary practice. In the article PHARMACY we shall have to speak of various combinations and preparations of this medicine. ARBUTUS (uva ursi). Bearberry. History. This shrub grows wild in the heaths of Scotland, and in the north of Europe; it is an evergreen, with leaves something like the myrtle. The plant must be procured in the autumn. Qualities. Astringent and bitter, giving its qualities both to water and alcohol. Medical properties. De Haen first used it in affections of the kidneys and bladder; it is occasionally employed, and perhaps deserves to be more so, in affections of the mucous surfaces which appear in the form of discharges, and in diabetes. Dr. Bourne recommended it in the hectic of phthisis. Dose, 9j. ad 3j. ARCTIUM (lappa). Common burdock. History. An indigenous biennial plant, growing in waste places, and on the road-side; it flowers in July and August. The root and the seeds are the parts used. Qualities. Burdock root is sweetish, with a small degree of bitterness and astringency; it is without any odor. The seeds of the plant are slightly aromatic. Medical properties. Diuretic and slightly da phoretic. Very little used. Dose 3j. to 3ij. ARGENTUM. Silver. History. Silver is found in its metallic sta but seldom without an alloy of other meth; its richest mines that are known are in Meno and Peru. Its ores are sulphurets, oxides, and salts. Qualities. When pure it is of a brilli white, tasteless, and without odor. Its lustre à lost by long exposure to the air. Medical properties. In its metallic state t has no medicinal powers; combined with nit acid it is a medicine of much efficacy both ternally administered and externally apple. Dose, internally, of the nitrate of silver gr. ARISTOLOCHIA (serpentaria). Serpentaria, snake root. History. The root of this plant, which is native of North America, is perennial. Te plant flowers in May, and its seeds ripen s September. Wate Qualities. The root dried has an aromate odor, and a warm pungent bitter taste. extracts its qualities. Stimulant, diaphore Medical properties. and slightly diuretic; occasionally used advantage in low fevers. Dose grs. 10 to 3ß. ARMORACIA. See Cochlearia. ARNICA (montana). Leopard's bane. History. A native of the northern parts of Europe, and cultivated in our gardens. It flowe in July; the flowers, root, and whole herb, are employed in medicine. Qualities. The flowers have a taste slighty bitter and pungent, as have the leaves; the root tastes more acrid. The resinous part of the plant is soluble in alcohol and ether. Medical properties. Stimulant and slightly diaphoretic. Employed by some in paralys of long standing. The Germans recommended the root as a substitute for the cinchona bart Dose grs. 5 to 10. ARSENICUM. Arsenic. History. This metal is found native in t metallic state, in the state of sulphuret, oxidised and acidified. Its color is of a bluish-gray The white arsenic of commerce, which is an oxide or, as it has lately been termed, arsenious acid is principally brought into this country fro Germany. Qualities. White oxide of arsenic, or commer arsenic, is without smell; it has a sweetish taste. and after a little time time it is exceedingly cor rosive. It is partly soluble in water. Medical properties. Tonic, and externally employed as an escharotic. It has been given with much success in intermittent fevers, and in many other affections where debility is consp cuous. Dose gr. to 9f3. ARTEMISIA (abrotanum), southernwood. (Maritima) sea wormwood. (Santonica) worm-seed. (Absinthium) common wormwood. History. The southernwood is a native of the south of Europe, it is perennial, and commonly cultivated in our gardens. The sea-wormwood is also perennial, and grows wild in salt marshes it flowers in August. The wormseed plant is a native of Persia and Tartary, but is cultivated in English gardens; it flowers in September. The common wormwood is indigenous, and flowers in August. The tops and seeds of the plants are the parts principally in use. Qualities. The odor of southernwood is of well-known fragrancy; the plant has a nauseous bitter taste. Water, and more especially alcohol, extract its virtues. The sea wormwood is slightly fragrant; it has a bitterish aromatic taste. The wormseed plant differs but little from the common southernwood; the wormwood is of a stronger odor, which is not so pleasant as the southernwood. Its taste is exceedingly bitter and very nauseous. Medical properties. Anthelmintic and deobstruent. None of the species are at present much in use. The santonica species, as its name imports, has been principally employed as an anthelmintic. Dose, 3fs to 3j. ARUM (maculatum). Arum, or wake-robin, or cuckoo-pint. History. A perennial and bulbous-rooted plant, growing under hedges and on bank sides; it flowers in May, and its berries ripen in August. Qualities. Arum-root is white and without much smell. It occasions, when chewed, a burning heat in the mouth and fauces, and, when the sliced root is applied to the skin, excoriation and vesication are produced. Medical properties. Stimulant and expectorant. It has been employed in obstinate rheumatism and in sympathetic head-aches. Dose grs. 5 to Эj. ASARUM (Europæum). Asarabacca. History. This is a perennial plant, growing in the northern counties of England; it loves moist and shady situations. The leaves and root are employed. Qualities. The fresh leaves have not much smell, but they have a nauseous, bitter, and slightly aromatic flavor. They give out their qualities to water. The recent root has an aroma which is lost in drying. Medical properties. The leaves are emetic, cathartic, and diuretic; but they are only used as a stimulatory or errhine in modern practice, and for this purpose a little of the powder is to be snuffed up the nostrils. ASSAFETIDA. See Ferula assafætidu. History. A common plant, growing in shady places, and in woods; it is perennial, and flowers in June and July. Qualities. Fern root is sweet and mucilaginous to the taste, accompanied by a slight bitter. It is without any odor, at least its smell is very weak. Medical properties. Astringent; it has been principally used in this country as an anthelmintic. Madam Noufer's celebrated worm specific was principally composed of it. Dose 31 to 3ij. ASTRALAGUS (tragacantha). Tragacanth. History. The shrub which produces the gum tragacanth is a native of Persia; the gum exudes through the heat of the summer, and is collected by the natives for exportation. Qualities. The best gum is inodorous, and of a whitish color; it is imported in pieces of a vermiform shape. Medical properties. Demulcent; it is more viscid than the acacia gum, and therefore better adapted for allaying mucous membrane irritations. Dose 31 to 3ij. ATROPA (belladonna). Deadly nightshade. History. This is a perennial and indigenous plant; it is cultivated in gardens; it flowers in June, and its berries ripen in September. The plant is named from the beautiful appearance of its berries. Qualities. The leaves are the parts of the plant that are employed; they are without smell, but have a slightly nauseous and acrid taste. Every part of the plant is highly poisonous; its qualities are given out to water. Medical properties. Narcotic. It has been used for dilating the pupil of the eye previous to operation. Externally it has been employed for foul ulcers and cancerous sores. Dose, grs. f gradually to 10. AURANTIUM. Orange. See Citrus. History. The oat is a well-known annual plant, much cultivated in northern countries, in some of which it constitutes a great part of the common sustenance even of man. The time and mode of its first introduction into Europe seem uncertain. Qualities. Oats are without much smell; their taste is slightly bitter; they seem to oe principally composed of fœcula. Medical properties. Demulcent. Grit or oatmeal gruel is very useful in catarrhs. The oat in this way is also much employed as an enema. BARYTA. Barytes. History. This earth is found in its native state combined with carbonic and sulphuric acid. The carbonate of barytes is in the north of Britain, and the sulphate or ponderous spar in Germany. Qualities. The carbonate of barytes is without smell or taste, but it is poisonous. It is of a dirty white or gray color externally, and is nearly insoluble. The sulphate is also inodorous and without taste, of a color sometimes approaching to yellow or brown, with an intermixture of red and blue. Medical properties. It is only the muriate of barytes that is used medicinally, and this is but seldom employed. A solution of it in the dose of five or six minims has been administered in scrofula, &c. BELLADONNA. See Atropa. This metal is only used for the preparation of subnitrate of bismuth, for which see the article PHARMACY. BONPLANDIA. See Angustura and Cusparia. BOSWELLIA. Olibanum. History. Dr. Thomson considers with Mr. Colebrooke that the olibanum brought from India is the produce of the boswellia serrata, a large tree growing on the Indian mountains. It had been supposed to be the produce of the Juniperus lycia. It is a gum resin : the frankincense of the ancients. Qualities. Olibanum is in the form of transparent little grains, with but little taste, but having a fragrant odor, especially when burnt. Alcohol and ether are its solvents. Medical properties. Stimulant, diaphoretic, and slightly expectorant. Principally now used as a perfume. Dose, 91s to 313. BUBON (galbanum). A gum resin. History. The plant which produces the galbanum is a native of Africa; it is perennial. The gum resin flows out of it after incisions made into it. Qualities. It has a strong odor, and an acrid bitterish taste; it is diffusible, and nearly soluble in water; different parts of it yielding with more or less facility to different media. The part which is insoluble in ether being soluble in water. It is in Medical properties. Expectorant, antispasmodic, stimulant, and deobstruent. considerable use as an emmenagogue, mixed with other ingredients. Dose is to 31s. CAJEPUTUS. See Melaleuca. CALAMUS. See Acorus. CALUMBA. See Menispermum. History. Lime is scarcely found in nature without some combination. In most of the fossils in which it is met with it exists in the state of carbonate. Chalk is a soft, limestone a hard carbonate of lime. Qualities. Chalk is well known to be white or whitish, and without sinell or taste. Limestone is also inodorous and insipid, but colored according to its varieties. Medical properties. Antacid, and, applied externally, cooling, and absorbent. Quicklime, that is, lime in which the carbonic acid has been driven off by heat, is escharotic. See PHARMACY. CAMBOGIA. See Stalagmatis. CAMPHORA. See Dryobalans and Laurus. CANCER. (Pagurus) Crabs claws. (Astacus) crabstones, vulgarly crab's eyes. History. The claws of the crab have a crus CANELLA (alba). Canella. The bark. History. A common tree of Jamaica, and other of the West India Islands. The bark is sometimes confounded with that from the wintera aromatica. Qualities. The quilled canella is paler than the flat kind; the latter is said to be the bark of the older trees. Both manifest an aroma when broken into; this aroma is lost in the watery infusion. Medical properties. Stimulant, and slightly tonic. Some consider it antiscorbutic. Dose 9 to 31. CANTHARIS. Spanish fly, or blistering fly. History. This insect is found on several trees of Europe, particularly in the southern parts, namely, the ash, elder, and white poplar, &c. The largest are imported from Italy, but those from Spain are preferred. Qualities. The cantharides have an unpleasant odor, and an acrid taste; their properties are given out both to water and alcohol. Medical properties. Stimulant and diuretic. The tincture of them has been much employed in gleets, and other chronic discharges from mucous surfaces. They are well known as vesicatory of the skin. Camphor and mucilaginous drinks given with them in some measure modify their powerful action on the kidneys. Dose, gr. to gr. i. CAPSICUM (annuum). History. The capsicum is an annual plant, common to both the Indies, and cultivated in our gardens for the beauty of its berries, which are long pendulous pods. What is called Cayenne pepper is a mixture of the powder of the pods of many species of the capsicum. Qualities. The berry is aromatic in its odor, and exceedingly pungent to the taste. Water, alcohol, and ether, extract its virtues., Medical properties. Powerfully stimulant. It has lately been much employed as a gargle in malignant sore throats. Dose grs. v. to 91s. CARBO LIGNI. Charcoal. History. Charcoal is charred or burnt wood, as ivory black is of bone and ivory shavings. For medical use the charcoal is reduced to a fine powder, and heated in a crucible. Qualities. When charcoal is quite pure, it is shining and brittle; it is insipid and without odor. It is insoluble both in water and alcohol. Medical properties. Antiseptic. It is sometimes mixed with poultices in order to correct the gangrenous disposition of old and foul ulcers. It is also used either alone or in combination as a tooth powder. Dose, 91s to 9j. |