AMYGDALUS, the almond-tree; a genus of the monogynia order, belonging to the icandria class of plants.—Linnæus classes the persica or peach-tree along with the amygdalus; but for this, on account of the universally received distinction, we refer to the article PERSICA.
Species. 1. The communis, or common almond. This is cultivated more for the beauty of its flowers, than for its fruit. There are two varieties of this, one with sweet, the other with bitter kernels, which often arise from the fruit of the same tree. 2. The dulcis, or jordan-almond, has a tender shell, and a large sweet kernel. The leaves are broader, shorter, and grow much closer, than those of the common sort. The flowers are very small, and of a pale colour inclining to white. 3. The fativus, with narrow spear-shaped leaves. The flowers of this species are white, and much smaller than those of the common almond; its shoots are also smaller, and its joints closer; nor is the tree so hardy, and therefore it should have the advantage of a warm situation, otherwise it will not thrive. This sort flowers early in the spring,
spring, but rarely bears fruit in Britain. 4. The oriental, with spear-shaped silvery leaves, was found growing near Aleppo, from whence the fruit was sent to France, and thence into Britain. The leaves of the oriental very much resemble sea-purplian. The flowers are very small, and are not succeeded by fruit in Britain. 5. The nana, or dwarf-almond, seldom rises more than three feet high, and sends out many side branches. The roots are very much subject to put out suckers, by which it may be increased in plenty; but if these are not annually taken away, they will starve the old plants. This species flowers in April, and makes a fine appearance.
Culture. See PERSICA.
Medicinal Uses. Sweet almonds are of greater use in food than as medicines: but they are reckoned to afford little nourishment; and, when eaten in sustenance, are not easy of digestion, unless thoroughly comminuted. They are supposed, on account of their soft unctuous quality, to obtund acrimonious juices in the prime via: peeled sweet almonds, eaten six or eight at a time, sometimes give present relief in the heart-burn.
Bitter almonds have been found poisonous to dogs and sundry other animals; and a water distilled from them, when made of a certain degree of strength, has had like effects. Nevertheless, when eaten, they appear innocent to men, and have been unfrequently used as medicines: Boerhaave recommends them, in substance, as diuretics which heat but moderately, and which may therefore be ventured upon in acute diseases.
The oils obtained by expression from both sorts of almonds are in their sensible qualities the same. The general virtues of these oils are, to blunt acrimonious humours, and to soften and relax the solids: hence their use, internally, in tickling coughs, heat of urine, pains, and inflammations; and, externally, in tension and rigidity of particular parts.
The milky solutions of almonds in watery liquors, commonly called emulsions, contain the oil of the subject, and participate in some degree of the emollient virtue thereof: 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. 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 excellently fitted for medicinal use. In this form, camphor and the resinous purgatives may be commodiously taken. See MATERIA MEDICA, [99.]