MATERIA MEDICA

MATERIA MEDICA, Of Classification. A GENERAL name for every substance used in medicine, and by some extended even to every article used as food or drink. Thus the materia medica becomes exceedingly extensive: however, before we enter upon any particular discussion of the subject, it appears proper to give some general idea of medicines and their operation. A medicine, properly so called, is a substance which, when applied to the living human body, makes such an alteration in it as either to prevent the approach of disease, or to remedy a morbid state when already present. Such substances as may be used for these purposes without any great preparation are called simple medicines, or simples; and with these the writers on materia medica are chiefly conversant. In treatises written professedly on this subject, it is common to give a particular description of each article, the characteristic marks by which it may be distinguished from all other substances, and the methods by which an adulteration or an imperfection may be discovered in it, together with the dose in which it can safely be given: but as all these particulars are taken notice of in different parts of this work, it is only necessary here to mention the general classification, and enumerate the names of the various substances used in medicine, after giving, as hath been already promised, a brief and Of Classification. general account of their mode of operation. Concerning the manner in which medicines act, physicians have greatly differed, and each has followed his own particular theory. The followers of Boerhaave have supposed their action to be directly upon the solids and fluids; while those who build their theories on the hypothesis of Hoffman have asserted, that all medicines act immediately upon the nervous system, and from thence only in a secondary manner are their effects diffused over the solids and fluids. To discuss this question is not our business at present: neither indeed is it a matter of great consequence whether it be discussed or not; seeing all parties must own, that certain effects follow the use of certain particular substances, whether these substances act first upon the nervous system or upon the solids and fluids. From their operations on the human body medicines are most usually divided into classes. Some are found to have the property of rendering the solid parts of the body more lax than before, and are therefore called relaxing medicines: Others there are which have an effect directly contrary, and are therefore called indurating medicines: A third kind are found to excite inflammation in the part to which they are applied, applied, and are therefore called inflammatory medicines: And, lastly, a fourth kind are found remarkably either to increase or diminish the vigour of the body, or what is called the tone of the solids; and have therefore got the name of tonics if they increase, and sedatives if they diminish, this tone. Some medicines are supposed neither remarkably to increase nor diminish the tone of the solids; but to perform their office either by correcting some morbid matter in the body, or by evacuating it: in the former case they are called alterants, in the latter evacuants. These are the general divisions or classes into which medicines are commonly divided; but when we begin more particularly to consider their virtues, a great many inferior divisions arise.—Of the relaxing medicines, some, when externally applied, are supposed only to soften the part; and in that case are called emollients: while others, which have a power of converting the humours stagnating in any inflamed part, into pus, are called maturationists, or suppuratives. Sedative medicines, externally applied, are sometimes called paregories: when taken internally, if they take off a spasm then existing in the body, they are called antispasmodics; if they mitigate pain, anodynes; if they produce a quiet sleep, hypnotics; or if they produce a very deep and unnatural sleep, together with a remarkable stupefaction of the senses, they are then called narcotics. Tonic medicines obtain the name of corroboratives, analeptics, or nerve medicines, when they slightly increase the contractile power of the solids; but of astringents, if they do this in a great degree, especially if at the same time that they indurate the solids they also coagulate the fluids. Some of these medicines have received names from their supposed virtue of promoting the growth of the flesh, consolidating wounds, and stopping fluxes of blood: but it is now discovered that no medicines whatever are endowed with any such powers; and therefore the divisions into farco-tics, traumatic, or vulneraries, &c. are seldom used.—If astringent medicines are used with an intention to drive, by the constriction which they occasion, any kind of matter from the surface towards the internal parts of the body, they are called repellents; but if they insensibly expel any kind of stagnating matter from the parts where it is contained, they are then called discentents; and lastly, stimulants, or attractives, if they bring a greater flux of humours to the part to which they are applied. As to medicines of the inflammatory kind, they are divided into vesicatories or blisters, which by their application raise watery bladders on the skin; and cathartics, escharotics, or corrosives, if they eat into and destroy the substance of the solid parts themselves. Another subdivision has been added, viz. that of rubefactive medicines, or such as only induce a redness on the part to which they are applied; but these belong to the vesicatories, and what proves only rubefactive to one will frequently blister another. The alterants are divided into absorbents, such as by their alkaline quality neutralise and destroy any acid matter which may be in the stomach; and antiseptics, or those which correct any putrid matter in it; coagulants when they thicken the humours, and resolvents if they thin them; heating medicines when they increase the velocity of the blood, and refrigerating if they diminish it. The evacuating medicines are divided according to the nature of the humour they evacuate. Thus, if they evacuate the contents of the stomach by vomiting, they are called emetics; if they induce purging, they are called cathartics; if they only evacuate the immediate contents of the intestines, they are named ecoprotics; or if a moderate evacuation is produced, without sickness or pain, they are called laxatives.—The medicines which gently promote the expulsion of humours through the pores of the skin, are called diaphoretics. If they do this in great quantity and with violence, they are called sudorifics. Such as excite urine, are called diuretics. Such as produce their evacuation by the glands of the palate, mouth, and salival ducts, are called salivating medicines; those which promote the evacuation of mucus from the throat, are called apophlegmatics; while those which evacuate by the nose, are called ptarmics, errhines, sternutatories; and those which promote the menstrual flux, emmenagogues.—To the order of evacuants also some reduce those medicines which expel any unnatural bodies, as worms, stones, and flatus. Those which destroy worms are called anthelmintics; those which dissolve the stone in the bladder, lithontriptics; and such as expel flatus, carminatives. According to these divisions Mr Vogel classes the articles of his Materia Medica; but Dr Lewis chooses to arrange them according to the natural qualities of the substances themselves, and not their effects on the human body. 1. Writers on the materia medica (he observes) have taken great pains in arranging the various articles of which it is composed, into different divisions and subdivisions, according to their real or reputed medicinal powers. 2. It has been imagined, that the whole materia medica is reducible under the three distinctions of alteratives, evacuants, and restoratives: the first comprehending all that has any power to alter the constitution, without sensibly increasing or diminishing any of the natural evacuations; the second, whatever visibly promotes those discharges; and the third, all that contributes to lessen them, and make the increase greater than the waste. These divisions being too general, they are broken into subdivisions; and these again are further divided into different classes, under more restrained denominations, as cardiac, carminative, hysteric, stomachic, &c. 3. Specious as this plan may appear to be, he imagines the execution of it, to any useful purpose, would require a far more extensive knowledge of the nature and operation of medicines, than has yet been attained to. A just and useful method of simples is scarcely to be expected, while those properties on which the method is founded are imperfectly known, and in many articles only conjectural. 4. In all the arguments that have been hitherto contrived upon this plan, there appears a striking incongruity among the several articles of which even the ultimate subdivisions are composed; substances extremely dissimilar being classed together, as cantharides and tea, tobacco and bran, hemlock and cowslips, scurvyscurvy-grafs and raisins, arum root and liquorice, wormwood and parsneps, cinnamon and nettles, raspberries and chalk, artichokes and alum, cloves and coffee, mustard-feed and black cherries, &c. Nor are these incongruities to be laid always to the charge of the authors, the nature of the system itself, rendering them often unavoidable; for the particular effect which entitles a medicine to a particular class, may be produced by substances very dissimilar, and even opposite, in their general powers: thus the alvine excretions are restrained by starch, wax, tormentil-root, opium; among the capital diuretics are cantharides, nitre, salt, fixt alkaline salts, squills. It should seem, that the method of arrangement cannot be a just one which requires substances so discordant to be ranked together, and which further requires each of these substances to be ranked over again, in other classes, along with other substances to which they are equally discordant. 5. There is also a material imperfection in this scheme, even in the primary divisions. Steel and its preparations act, in different circumstances, both as evacuant and restoratives. Mercury and antimony afford, in their different preparations, both evacuant and alteratives; and there are many other drugs which are sometimes used as alteratives, and sometimes as evacuant: indeed, all evacuant, in diminished doses, seem to act merely as alteratives. It should seem therefore, that "the division of the whole materia medica into alteratives, evacuant, and restoratives," is a division not founded in nature, even if there was no objection to the vague meaning of the appellations themselves. 6. Cartheuser has divided the materia medica on a plan which appears more rational. Instead of the operations of medicines in the human body, which are precarious, complicated, and greatly diversified according to the dose, the preparation, and the circumstances of the patient, he takes for the basis of his arrangement their more simple, obvious, and constant properties, as bitterness, sweetness, astringency, acidity, &c. Having considered the nature of bitterness, for instance, in general, he examines what effects medicines possessed of this property are capable of producing in the body, and in what circumstances they may be expected to be serviceable, and then proceeds to an account of the particular bitters. 7. This method is of real use, but its use is limited to a small part of the materia medica. There are many of the medicinal simples, in which we can distinguish no prevailing qualities of this kind; there are many, in which different qualities are blended together; and many which, though similar in these kinds of qualities, are very dissimilar in their operations in the human body: thus though gentian and aloes agree in having a bitter taste, and sugar and manna in being sweet, their medicinal virtues are respectively very different. Accordingly, the author is obliged in some cases to depart from his general plan, and found the division on the medicinal effects: he makes one class of purgatives and emetics, and another of vaporose incubiants and narcotics: this last class consists of tobacco, elder-flowers, saffron, opium, and poppy-seeds, substances certainly very discordant in all their qualities that relate to medicinal intentions. 8. In this article, instead of attempting a medicinal distribution of the simples, which we apprehend not to be practicable to any good purpose, and which, as hitherto executed, seems more likely to mislead the reader than to promote true knowledge, we shall take them in the order of the alphabet; and even in this order, we shall seldom perhaps find substances more dissimilar come together, than those which have been joined into one class by some of the systematic writers. It may be proper, however, to premise some general observations on certain classes of medicines in Cartheuser's manner, and thus to preserve the less exceptionable parts of his plan, with some amendments. ART. I. ACIDS. Class 1. Vegetable { native; as sorrel, wood-sorrel, juice of lemon, oranges, barberries, and other fruits. produced by fermentation; as vinegar and tartar. Class 2. Mineral: the acids of vitriol, nitre, and common salt. 9. THE medical effects of acids, duly diluted and given in proper doses, are, to cool, quench thirst, correct a tendency to putrefaction, and allay inordinate motions of the blood. By these qualities, in hot bilious temperaments and inflammatory disorders, they frequently restrain moderate haemorrhages, and promote the natural secretions; in some kinds of fever, they excite a copious diaphoresis, where the warm medicines, called alexipharmic, tend rather to prevent this salutary discharge. 10. Vegetable acids, particularly the native juices of certain plants and fruits, have some degree of a saponaceous quality; by means of which they attenuate or dissolve viscid phlegm and deterge the vessels, and thus prove serviceable in sundry chronic disorders. Invertebrate scurves have sometimes yielded to their continued use, especially when given in conjunction with medicines of the acrid or pungent kind: experience has shown, that the acrid antiscorbutics have much better effects when thus managed than when exhibited by themselves; hence in the succi scorbutici of our dispensatory, Seville orange juice is usefully joined to that of the cochlearia and nasturtium. 11. The mineral acids instantly coagulate blood: the vegetable dilute it, even when inspissated or thickened by heat; in which state, watery liquors will not mingle with it. Hence in some fevers, where water runs off by the kidneys almost as pale and insipid as it was drunk, vegetable acids render the urine of the due colour and quality. The mineral acids (the spirit of nitre in particular) combined with vinous spirits, have a like effect. 12. Acids are prejudicial in cold, pale, phlegmatic habits, where the vessels are lax, the circulation languid, bile deficient, and the power of digestion weak. In these cases, an acid is often generated in the stomach, from milk and most vegetable foods; which, whilst it continues in the first passages, occasions uneasiness about the stomach, flatulencies, sometimes griping pains of the bowels, and vomitings. ART. II. INSIPID EARTHS capable of ABSORBING ACIDS. Oyster-shells, Chalk, Crabs claws and eyes so called, Some marles, Coral, red and white, Lime-stones, Pearls, Marbles, Bezoar, Spar. 13. The virtues of these substances are, to absorb or destroy acidities in the first passages, and consequently to remove such disorders as proceed from that cause. The cordial, alexipharmic, antifebrile, and other like virtues attributed to these medicines, appear to have little foundation; or at best, are only secondary ones. When united with the acid, they form a neutral saline compound, possessing some degree of an aperient and detergent quality, though too inconsiderable to be in general regarded. 14. The absorbent earths were all strangers to medicine in the earlier times; and their use does not seem to have been established before the last century; when some practitioners, from an opinion that most kinds of diseases proceeded from a preternatural acid, introduced a great variety of antacid bodies, both of the earthy and saline kind, and very liberally exhibited them on almost every occasion. 15. It is certain, that in children, and adults of a weak constitution, and whose food is chiefly of the vegetable acident kind, sundry disorders are occasioned by acidities; these readily discover themselves by four eruptions, the pale colour of the face, and in children by the four smell and green colour of the alvine faeces, which are sometimes so manifestly acid as to raise a strong effervescence with alkaline salts. In these cases, and these only, the use of absorbent earths is indicated. 16. If there are really no acid juices in the ventricle, these earths are apt to concretize with the mucous matter usually lodged there, into hard indissoluble masses; which have sometimes been thrown up by vomit, or found in the stomach upon dissection. Hence indigestion, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, obstructions of the bowels, and other disorders. Sometimes the stomach and intestines have been found lined with a crust, as it were, of these earthy bodies, which must not only have prevented the separation of the gastric liquor, but likewise have closed the orifices of the lacteal vessels, so as to obstruct the passage of the chyle into the mass of blood. 17. Some suppose the earthy powders capable (without the concurrence of any acid) of passing the lacteals along with the chyle; and allege, in support of this opinion, that, when triturated with water, they are in part taken up and carried with it through a filter of paper; the filtrated liquor leaving, upon evaporation, a portion of whitish earthy matter. This experiment (allowing the consequence to be justly drawn from it) is itself erroneous: the residuum proceeds from the earth naturally contained in the water, not from that employed in the experiment; for if pure distilled water be made use of, it will leave no residuum, though long triturated, or digested with the earth. 18. All these bodies, particularly those of the animal kind, contain, besides their purely alkaline earth, a portion of glutinous matter. An instance of this we have in crabs-eyes, which if macerated in the weaker acids, or in the stronger sufficiently diluted with water, the earthy part will be dissolved, and the animal-glue remain in form of a soft transparent mucilage. The glutinous substance increases their tendency to concretize in the stomach; and thence those which contain least thereof should be preferred to the others. The mineral earths contain the least of this kind of matter, and some of them are very easy of solution; chalk, for instance; which may therefore be given with greater safety than the animal-absorbents. These substances, divested of their conglutinating matter by means of fire, are reduced into acrimonious calces or limes, and thus become medicines of a different class. 19. The teeth, bones, hoofs, and horns of animals consist of the same principles with the animal-absorbents above-mentioned, but combined in different proportions: the quantity of gelatinous matter is so large, as to defend the earthy part from the action of weak acids; whilst the earth, in its turn, protects the gluten from being easily dissolved by watery liquors. Hence these bodies in their crude state, though recommended as possessing singular virtues, are not found to have any virtue at all. 20. Experiments have been made for determining the degree of solubility, or comparative strength of these earths; the principal of which are arranged in the two following tables, one taken from Langius, and the other from Homberg. TABLE of the quantity of Acid destroyed by different Absorbents. Ten grains of Some kinds of Lime-stones 160 Destroyed the acidity of Drops of Spirit of Salt. Oyster shells 120 Chalk 100 Shells of Garden-snails 100 Calcined Cray-fish 100 Pearls 80 Tooth of the Sea-horse 80 Volatile Salts 80 Fixt Salts 60 Coral, red and white 60 Crabs-eyes 50 Egg-shells 50 Mother of Pearl 50 Crab-claws 40 Jaw-bone of the Pike fish 30 TABLE of the quantity of Absorbent Earths soluble in Acids. 576 grains of Spirit of Salt dissolved of Crabs-eyes 216 Mother of Pearl 144 Pearls 128 Oyster-shells 156 Hartshorn 165 Coral 186 Oriental Bezoar 118 Occidental Bezoar 123 Quick Lime 199 Slacked Lime 193 576 grains of Spirit of Nitre dissolved of Crabs-eyes 297 Mother of Pearl 202 Pearls 219 Oyster-shells 236 Hartshorn 234 Coral 233 Oriental Bezoar 108 Occidental Bezoar 144 Quick Lime 180 Slacked Lime 216 24. These 24. These experiments do not sufficiently ascertain the point intended by them: in the first set, the quantity of acid is too vague and indetermined; in the second, we are not told whether the acid was perfectly saturated; and in both, the acids made use of were so very different from any that can be supposed ever to exist in the human body, that little can be concluded from them with regard to the medical effects of these absorbents. Trial should have been made with the mild vegetable acids, as the juices of certain fruits, sour fermented liquors, or rather with sour milk. Nevertheless these tables, though not so perfect as could be wished, have their use in the hands of such as can make proper allowances. ART. III. EARTHS NOT DISSOLUBLE in Acids,or other liquors. These may be ranged in two classes. Class 1. Hard crystalline earths: as the ruby, garnet, emerald, sapphire, hyacinth, and other precious stones; crystal, flint, &c. 25. THESE kinds of substances were introduced into medicine, and many fabulous virtues attributed to them by the superstition of the earlier ages. Some of them are still preserved in foreign pharmacopœias, but at length very justly expunged from ours, notwithstanding what some late writers of repute speak of their medical virtue. These indissoluble hard bodies are not capable of producing any other effect, than by their rigid angular particles (which, though levigated with the utmost care, the microscope still discovers in them) to offend or wound the intestines. In levigation, they wear off so much from the hardest marble instruments, as will equal or exceed their own weight: from this circumstance we may account for their having sometimes appeared to act as absorbents. Some of these stones, exposed to a vehement fire, become in some measure friable; but nevertheless remain indissoluble. Most of the coloured ones by this treatment lose their colour; and in this state, prove nearly of the same quality with common crystal: such are, the sapphire, emerald, amethyst, and corneian. Others melt into a blackish vitreous matter, from which a portion of iron is obtainable by proper fluxes; as the hyacinth and garnet. Geoffroy concludes from hence, that these stones really possess some medical virtues, depending upon their metallic part; but the quantity of metallic matter, sufficient to give them a considerable tinct, is so exceedingly small, and so inclosed in a stony matter not at all soluble by any of the known menstrua, as scarce to admit of any possibility of its acting in the human body. Class 2. Softer earths: the talky, gypseous, and argillaceous. 26. THE talc and gypsums have rarely been used as medicines. Some of the former, from their unctuous softness and silver hue, stand recommended externally as cosmetics; and some of the latter, on little better foundation, internally as astrigents. But they have long been deservedly rejected by the judicious practitioners. They seem to possess the ill qualities of the alkaline earths, (concreting with the mucus of the stomach, &c.) without any of their good ones. 27. Several of the clays, boles, and terræ figillatæ, were highly celebrated by the ancients as astrigents and alexipharmics, and some of them still continue in esteem; though it is certain they have no great claim to the virtues that have been attributed to them. Their real effects are, to give a greater degree of consistency to the fluids in the first passages, and in some measure defend the solids from their acrimony. 28. Most of these bodies contain, besides the tenacious indissoluble earth, which is their principal characteristic, (1.) A portion of an earth soluble in acids, similar to those of the first section. (2.) Of acid, separable by distillation in a strong fire: this acid is always of the same nature with that obtained from vitriol, sulphur, and alum. (3.) The coloured ones contain likewise small quantities of iron, reducible, by inflammable fluxes, into its metallic form. In consequence of the first of these ingredients, these earths may be looked upon in some measure as absorbent: the acid appears to be united with a part of the absorbent earth into a saline compound, approaching to an aluminous nature; whence they have some degree of astrigency: whether they receive any peculiar virtue from the iron, is greatly to be doubted; since it is in a very crude state, and in quantity extremely small. 29. These earths unite with water into a turbid liquor, slippery and smooth to the touch, and remain for some time suspended; the sand, grit, or other grosser matters, which are often found naturally mingled with them, subsiding. They may be freed by means of acids from their alkaline earth; by coction in water, from their saline matter; and the coloured ones from their iron by digestion in aqua regis, the only menstruum we are acquainted with that will extract the ferruginous matter of argillaceous and bolar earths. This purified, they have all nearly the same appearance and qualities. Exposed to a strong fire, they lose their soft glutinous quality, and are reduced into hard masses, indissoluble as at first. ART. IV. GLUTINOUS vegetable and animalsubstances. Class 1. Vegetable. Pure gums: Vegetables aboundingwith mucilage: Tragacanth, Orchis root, Seneca, Althæa root, The gums of cherry, plum,and other European trees. Quince-seeds, &c. 30. GUMS and mucilages are glutinous vegetable productions, of no particular taste or smell, soluble in water, but not in vinous spirits or in oils. They differ from one another, only in degree of tenacity: the more tenacious are called gums; those which are less so, mucilages. The first naturally exude from certain trees and shrubs; the latter are extracted by art. Almost all vegetable substances contain some portion of these, which, after the resinous part has been extracted by spirit, may be separated from the remaining matter by means of water. 31. The general virtues of these kinds of substances are, to thicken the fluids, and defend the solids from them when grown sharp or corrosive. Hence their use in a thin acrimonious state of the juices, and where the natural mucus of the intestines is abraded. Class Clas. 2. Animal. 32. Most animal-substances (the fat excepted) contain a viscous matter, in many respects similar to the foregoing, and capable of being extracted by strong coction in water. 33. Animal glues and gellies have the general qualities of the vegetable gums and mucilages; with this difference, that the former are more nutrimental, and apt to run into a putrid state. Considered as the subjects of chemistry, the difference betwixt them is very great: those of the animal kind are changed by fire into a volatile alkaline salt, and a fetid oil; the vegetable into an acid liquor, and a very small portion of oily matter, considerably less fetid than the former. ART. V. Soft UNCTUOUS Substances. Clas. 1. Infipid vegetable oils; and substances abounding with them, as almonds, and the kernels of most fruits; linseed, and the medullary part of sundry other seeds. Clas. 2. Animal fats; as spermaceti. 34. UNCTUOUS vegetables unite with water, by trituration, into a milky liquor; and give out their oil upon expression.—These kinds of oils and animal-fats dissolve not in any menstruum except alkaline ones; which change their quality, and reduce them into a soap, diffusible in water, but more perfectly in vinous spirits: from this compound, the oil may, by a skilful addition of acids, be recovered in a purer state than before, and rendered soluble, like essential oils, in spirit of wine. 35. The medical virtues of these substances are, to obtund 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, commonly called emulsions, tho' much less emollient than the oils themselves or animal-fats, have this advantage, that they may be given in acute or inflammatory distempers, without danger of the ill consequences which the others might sometimes produce: fats and oils, kept in a degree of heat no greater than that of the human body, soon become rancid and acrimonious; whilst emulsions tend rather to grow sour. ART. VI. ASTRINGENTS. Galls, Balaustines, Tormentil-root, Terra Japonica, Bilfort root, Acacia, &c. 36. ASTRINGENT substances are distinguished by a rough austere taste; and changing solutions of iron, especially those made in the vitriolic acid, of a dark purple or black colour. 37. Astringents yield their virtues by infusion both to water and vinous spirits, generally in greatest perfection to the former. Oils extract nothing from them; nor do they give over any of their virtue in distillation: nevertheless their astringency is considerably abated by evaporating decoctions of them to the consistence of an extract, and totally destroyed by long keeping. 38. The medical effects of these kinds of substances are, to constringe the fibres, and incrassate or lightly thicken the juices. Their more experienced use is in disorders proceeding from a debility or flaccid state of the solids; in hæmorrhages, from a thinness of the blood, laxity or rupture of the vessels; in preternatural discharges of other kinds, after the offending matter has been duly corrected or evacuated; and in external relaxations. 39. In some cases, they produce the effects of aperients; the vessels, constringed and strengthened by them, being enabled to protrude the circulating juices with greater force. 40. A good deal of caution is requisite in the use of these medicines, especially those of the more powerful kind. In plethoric habits, inveterate obstructions, critical evacuations, and in all kinds of fluxes in general before the morbid matter has been expelled, or where there is any stricture or spasmodic contraction of the vessels, astringents prove eminently hurtful. Where critical dysenteries or diarrhoeas are restrained by styptics, the acrimonious matter, now confined in the intestines, corrodes or inflames them; and sometimes occasions a gangrene of the parts. ART. VII. SWEETS. Sugar, Raisins, Honey, Liquorice, &c. 41. THE vegetable sweets are a very numerous tribe; almost every plant that has been examined, discovering in some of its parts a saccharine juice. The bottoms of flowers, and most kinds of seeds and grain when they begin to vegetate, are remarkably sweet. 42. Vegetable sweets are extracted both by water and vinous spirits, most readily by the first, but in greatest perfection by the latter. Nothing of their taste arises in distillation with either of these liquors: nevertheless, by long boiling with water they become somewhat less agreeable; but are not much injured by being treated in the same manner with rectified spirit. 43. The purer sweets, as sugar, promote the union of distilled oils with watery liquors, and prevent the separation of the butyraceous part from milk: from this quality, they are supposed to unite the unctuous part of the food with the animal juices. Hence some have concluded, that they increase fat: others, that they have a contrary effect, by preventing the separation of the unctuous matter which forms the fat from the blood: and others, that they render the juices thicker and more sluggish, retard the circulation and cuticular excretion, and thus bring on a variety of disorders. But sweets have not been found to produce any of these effects in any remarkable degree: common experience shows, that their moderate, and even liberal, use is at least innocent; that they reconcile, not only to the palate, but to the stomach also, substances of themselves disgustful to both; and thus render salutary what would otherwise be injurious to the body. 44. The unctuous and mucilaginous sweets, as the impure sugars, liquorice, &c. have a considerable degree of emollient and lubricating virtue.—Those ac- Acids, &c. accompanied with a manifest acid, as in the juices of most sweet fruits, are remarkably relaxing; and if taken immoderately, occasion diarrhoea and dysenteries, which sometimes have proved fatal. ART. VIII. ACRIDS. 45. ACRIDS are substances of a penetrating pungency. Applied to the skin, they inflame or exulcerate it: chewed, they occasion a copious discharge of saliva: and snuffed up the nose, they provoke sneezing. 46. These substances, considered as the subjects of pharmacy, may be divided into three classes, Yielding their acrimony 1. In distillation with water: as horse-radish, mustard, scurvy-grass, &c. 2. By infusion only: as the greater celandine, pyrethrum, &c. 3. Neither to infusion, nor distillation: as arum and dracunculus. 47. The general effects of acrid medicines are, to stimulate the vessels, and dissolve tenacious juices. In cold leucophlegmatic habits, stagnations of the fluids, and where the contractile power of the solids is weak, they prove powerful expectorants, deobstruents, diuretics, and emmenagogues; and if the patient is kept warm, sudorifics. In hot bilious constitutions, plethoric habits, inflammatory distempers, where there is already a degree of irritation, where the juices are too thin and acrimonious, or the viscera unfound, these stimulating medicines prove highly prejudicial, and never fail to aggravate the disease. 48. Certain acrid substances have been lately recommended in dry convulsive asthmas: of the efficacy of the squill in particular, for the cure of this disorder, several instances are related in the Commercium Litterarium of Norimberg for the years 1737 and 1739. Cartheuser thinks, that not the asthma itself, but a particular effect of it, was removed by this medicine. He observes, that in all asthmas the free circulation of the blood through the pulmonary vessels is impeded; and hence, during every paroxysm, the lungs are in a kind of cedematous state: that if this oedema, becoming habitual, remains after the fit is over, it is either perpetually occasioning fresh ones, or gives rise to a dropsy of the breast: that acrid medicines, by removing the oedema, remove what was originally an effect of the asthma, and in time a cause of its aggravation. ART. IX. AROMATICS. 49. AROMATICS are substances of a warm pungent taste, and a more or less fragrant smell. Some of the spices are purely aromatic, as cubeb, pepper, cloves; some substances have a sweetness mixed with the aromatic matter, as angelica root, aniseed, fennel seed; some an astringency, as cinnamon; some a strong mucilage, as casia lignea; some a bitterness, as orange-peel. The aromatic matter itself, contained in different subjects, differs also not a little in its pharmaceutical properties. It is extracted from all by rectified spirit of wine; from some in great part, from others scarcely at all, by water. The aromatic matter of some substances, as of lemon-peel, rises wholly in distillation both with spirit and water; that of others, as cinnamon, rises wholly with water, but scarcely at all with spirit; while that of others, as pepper, is in part left behind after the distillation of water itself from the spice. 50. With regard to the general virtues of aromatics, they warm the stomach, and by degrees the whole habit; raise the pulse, and quicken the circulation. In cold languid cases, phlegmatic habits, and a weak flaccid state of the solids, they support the vitality, and promote the salutary secretions. In hot bilious temperaments, plethoric habits, inflammatory indispositions, dryness and strictures of the fibres, they are generally hurtful. ART. X. BITTERS. Gentian root, Lesser centaury, Hops, Carduus, &c. 51. BITTERS for the most part yield their virtue both to watery and spiritous menstrua; some more perfectly to one, and others to the other. None of the substances of this class give over any thing considerable of their taste in distillation, either to water or to spirit; their bitterness remaining entire, and frequently improved, in the extracts. Such as are accompanied with flavour, as wormwood, may by this process be reduced into simple flavourless bitters. 52. These substances participate of the virtues of astringents and aromatics. Their general effects are, to constringe the fibres of the stomach and intestines, to warm the habit, attenuate the bile and juices in the first passages, and promote the natural evacuations, particularly of sweat and urine. In weakness of the stomach, loss of appetite, indigestion, and the like disorders, proceeding from a laxity of the solids, or cold sluggish indisposition of the juices, these kinds of medicines do good service. Where the fibres are already too tense and rigid, where there is any immoderate heat or inflammation, bitters very sensibly increase the distemper; and, if their use is continued, communicate it to the kidneys: hence the urine becomes high-coloured, small in quantity, and at length suppressed; a dropsy soon succeeding. If the kidneys were before so lax as to remain now uninjured, yet the other viscera become gradually more and more rigid, and a tabes is at length brought on. 53. Bitter substances destroy insects, and prevent putrefaction. Hence they are recommended as anthelmintic, and externally as antiseptics. ART. XI. EMETICS and CATHARTICS. Hellebore, Colocynth, Julip, Seammony, Speccacouha, Gamboge, &c. 54. THESE substances consist of a resinous part, in which the purgative or emetic quality resides: and a gummy saline one, which acts chiefly as a diuretic. The first is extracted or dissolved by vinous spirits; the latter by water. Nothing arises in distillation from either. 55. The acrid resins, exhibited by themselves, tenaciously adhere to the coats of the intestines, by their stimulating power irritate and inflame them, and thus produce sundry violent disorders. Hoffman relates, lates, that he has sometimes observed convulsions, and a paralysis of both sides, from their use. 56. These inconveniences may be avoided, by previously triturating them with substances capable of dividing their tenacious texture, and preventing their adhesion: by this means, they become mild and safe, operate without disturbance, and at the same time more effectually answer the purposes intended by them. 57. Some have endeavoured to correct the ill quality of the resinous purgatives, by the addition of acids and aromatic oils. Acids weaken their power, but have no other effect than what a diminution of the dose would equally answer. The pungent essential oils may serve to warm the stomach, make the medicine fit easier, and thus prevent the nausea, which sometimes happens; but as soon as the resin begins to exert itself in the intestines, these oils, instead of correcting, increase its virulence; being themselves apt to occasion the inconveniences which they are here intended to prevent, an irritation and inflammation of the bowels. Alkaline salts or soaps have a better effect; as they dispose the resin to solution, and promote its operation. 58. The medicines of this class seem to act by liquefying the juices, and stimulating the coats of the stomach and intestines. If the irritation is strong and sudden, their action is quick and upwards: if slow, downwards. Cathartics given in a liquid form, or in very sensible habits, often prove emetic; and emetics, where mucus abounds, cathartic. They operate more violently in robust constitutions, than in those of a contrary temperament; the vessels being in the former more tense and rigid, and consequently less capable of bearing an equal degree of irritation. 59. The action of these medicines is extended beyond the primæ viæ: This appears evident from the increase of the pulse which always accompanies their operation; and from the common observation of children being purged by the milk, if the nurse has taken a cathartic. Some of them, particularly hellebore, are said to purge, if only applied externally in issue.—Purgatives, even of the more powerful kind, exhibited in suitable small doses, in conjunction with the milder aperients, may be introduced into the habit, so as to prove notable deobstruents, diuretics, and diaphoretics, without acting sensibly by stool. A CATALOGUE of the SIMPLEX used in the MATERIA MEDICA, exhibiting at one view their TECHNICAL NAMES, ENGLISH NAMES, PARTS USED IN MEDICINE, VIRTUES, and the different PREPARATIONS FROM THEM.—The particular methods of making the Preparations and all Compound Medicines are shown under the article PHARMACY. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED IN MEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Abies ruber, (Pinus abies, Lin.) The fir-tree. The wood, tops, and cones. Diuretic and diaphoretic. A decoction. Abrotanum femina (Santolin, chamæcyper, Lin.) Lavender cotton. The leaves. Stimulant, detergent, and anthelmintic. Decoction. Abrotanum mas, (Artemisia abrotanum, Lin.) Southernwood. The leaves. Stimulant, detergent, aperient, and sudorific. Decoction. Abinthium Romanum (Artemisia pont., Lin.) Roman wormwood. The leaves and tops. Stomachic. An oil, extract of conserve, and several distilled waters. They also enter the common fomentation and green oil. Abinthium vulgare (Artemisia abinthium, Lin.) Common wormwood. The leaves. Stomachic. Acacia Germanica (Prunus spinosa, Lin.) The sloe. Inspissated juice. Astringent. Acacia vera (Mimosia nilotica, Linn.) Acacia. Inspissated juice. Astringent. Acetosa, (Rumex acetos., Lin.) Sorrel. Juice. Astringent and antiscorbutic. An essential salt for taking out spots in clothes. Acetosella (Oxalis acetosel., Lin.) Wood sorrel. The leaves. Astringent and antiscorbutic. A conserve. Acetum. Vinegar. Cordial and refrigerant. A distilled spirit. Aconitum (Aconit. napell., Lin.) Wolf's-bane. The leaves. Narcotic. Adianthum verum (Adianth. capill., Ven. Lin.) Maiden-hair. The leaves. Attenuating and aperient. Decoction. Aër dephlogisticatus. Dephlogisticated air. Supposed to be antiseptic and corroborative. List ofSimplex. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED INMEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. List ofSimplex. Aër mephticus. Fixed air. Antiseptic. Aër nitrosus. Nitrous air. Very antiseptic. Æs. See Cuprum. Braß. See Copper. Agaricus, (Boletus pinilaricis, Lin.) Agaric. Cathartic. An aqueous extract, but now much diffused. Agaricus quercinus. Agaric of the oak, touchwood and spunk. Styptic. Agrimonia, (Agrimonia Eupator, Lin.) Agrimony. The leaves. Attenuant and tonic. Albumen ovi. White of an egg. Disentient. Alchemilla, (Alchemilla vulg. Lin.) Ladies-mantle. The leaves. Astringent. Alkekengi, (Physalis, Lin.) Winter-cherry. The fruit. Aperient and diuretic. Alliaria, (Erysimum, Lin.) Sauce-alone, or Jack-by-the-hedge. The leaves. Sudorific and antiseptic. Allium, (Allium sativum, Lin.) Garlic. The roots. Stimulant, attenuant, and diuretic. A syrup and oxymel. Aloes, (Aloe, Lin.) Aloes. Infused juice. Cathartic. Ingredient in several tinctures and pills. Alsine, (Alsine med. Lin.) Chickweed. The leaves. Refrigerant. Althææ. Marshmallow. The root. Emollient. A syrup and ointment. Alumen. Alum. The whole. Strongly astringent A styptic powder, styptic water, whey, &c. Ambragrisea. Ambergrise. The whole. A high cordial. A tincture or essence. Ammi vulgaris. Bishop's-weed. The leaves. Stimulant. An ingredient in the therisaca. Amomum verum. True amomum. The seeds. Aromatic. An ingredient in the therisaca. Amomum vulgare, (Sison, Lin.) Bastard stone-par-fley. The seeds. Carminative and diuretic. Amygdala, (Am. com. Lin.) Sweet and bitter almonds. The fruit. Relaxing. Expressed oil and emulsion. Amylum. Starch. Astringent. Anacardium occidentale. Cashew-tree. The nuts. Corrosive. Anacardium orientale (Avicenn. officinalis, Lin.) Malacca bean. The nuts. Tonic and cordial, but very doubtful. A confection. Anagallis. Pimpernel. The leaves. Sudorific and Nervine. Extract, or inspissated juice. Ananas, (Bromelia, Lin.) The pine-apple. The fruit. Refrigerant. Ancusa. Alkanet. The root. Only used for its colour. Anethum. Dill. The seeds. Carminative. Distilled oil, water, and spirituous extract. Angelica. Angelica. The roots, leaves, and seeds. Aromatic. Several compound waters. Anguillæ hepar. Eel's liver. Diuretic and tonic, (Boerhaave.) Anisum, (Anis. pimpinell. Lin.) Anise. The feed. Aromatic and tonic. An essential oil, a spirituous compound water, &c. Anthora, (Aconit. anthor. Lin.) Wholesome wolfbane. The roots. Cathartic and anthelminthic, but uncertain. Antimonium. Antimony. Diaphoretic, cathartic, emetic, or caustic. A number of chemical preparations. See CHEMISTRY, n° 211, 250, 449, —459. KERMES Mineral, and REGULUS of Antimony. Aparine, List ofSimples. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED INMEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. List ofSimples. Aparine, (Gallium aparine, Lin.) Goosegrass, or clivers. The leaves. Aperient. Apis. The bee. The whole insect powdered. Diuretic. Apium, (Apium graveol. Lin.) Smallage. The roots. Carminative. Aqua ferrata. Water in which hot iron bath been quenched. Tonic. Aqua marina. Sea-water. Cathartic and alterative. Aquæ minerales. Mineral waters. Tonic and alterative. Aquæ sulphureæ. Sulphureous waters. Alterative. Argentina, (Potentilla argentina, Lin.) Silverweed. The leaves. Corroborant. Argentum vivum. Quicksilver. A most powerful alterant. Several chemical preparations; see CHEMISTRY, n° 154, 207, 251, 256, 417, 421. An ingredient in several other officinal preparations. Aristolochia longa, rotunda, et tenuis. Birthwort. The roots. Attenuating and stimulant. Armeniaca, (Prunus Armeniac. Lin.) The plum-tree. The fruit. Refrigerant. Arsenicum. Arsenic. Corrosive. Artemisia, (Artemisia vulg. Lin.) Mugwort. The leaves. Antispasmodic. Infusion. Arum. Wake-robin. The root. Stimulant. A compound powder. Afarum. Afarabacca. The roots and leaves. Errhine, cathartic, and emetic. A compound powder. Asparagus. Asparagus. The root. Supposed diuretic, but uncertain. Asperula. Woodruff. The flowers. Attenuant and aperient. Asphodelus. Asphodel, or king's spear. The roots. Emollient and suppurative. Atriplex, (Chenopod. vulvar. Lin.) Stinking orach. The leaves. Antispasmodic. A spirituous tincture, decoction, or conserve, recommended by Tournefort and others. Avena. Oats. The grain. Emollient. Decoction. Aura electrica. Electricity. A violent stimulant. Aurantia curassaviana. Curassow oranges, or apples. The fruit. Stomachic. Ingredients in several stomachic tinctures. Aurantium, (Citrus aurant. Lin.) The orange. The leaves, fruit, and flowers. Cordial, stomachic, and refrigerant. An essential oil, a distilled water, and a conserve. Auricula Judæ, (Tramell. verruc. Lin.) Jews-ears. The whole. Purgative, or alstringent; uncertain. Auripigmentum. Orpiment. Corrosive, but less so than arsenic. Auxungia viperina. Viper's fat. Emollient. Balaustia, (Punica granat. Lin.) Balaustine, or double-flowered pomegranate tree. The flowers. Alstringent. Ingredient in a powder. Balsamita, (Tanacetum balsaminum, Lin.) Costmary. The leaves. Aromatic. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED IN MEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Balsamum Canadense. Balsam of Canada. Diuretic and tonic. Balsamum Copayvæ. Balsam of Copivi. Diuretic and tonic. An empyreumatic oil, and an ingredient in some tinctures. Balsamum Gileadense. Opobalsam, or balsam of Gilead. Said to be a most extraordinary vulnerary. Balsamum Peruvianum. Balsam of Peru. A fine warm aromatic. An ingredient in many tinctures, and some ointments. Balsamum Tolutanum. Balsam of Tolu. Aromatic and corroborant. An ingredient in several tinctures, elixirs, and a kind of pectoral pills. Bardana major, (Arctium lappa, Lin.) Burdock. The roots and feeds. Aperient, diuretic, and sudorific. Decoction. Bechen album, (Centaurea bechen, Lin.) The root. Stimulant. Bechen rubrum, (Statice limon, Lin.) The root. Stimulant. Belladona, (Atropa belladon, Lin.) Deadly nightshade. The juice. Narcotic. An extract of the juice. Bellis minor, (Bell. peren, Lin.) Common daisy. The leaves. Attenuant. Berberis vulgaris, (Berberis vulgar, Lin.) Barberry. The bark and fruit. Astringent. A jelly. Beta, (Bet. vulg, Lin.) The beet. The leaves. Cathartic and erthine. Betonica. Betony. The leaves. Corroborant. Bezoar. Bezoar-stone. Many virtues falsely ascribed to it; now found to be only an absorbent. Bilis animalis. The gall or bile of animals. Cathartic. Bistorta, (Polygon. bistort, Lin.) Bistort or snake-wort. The roots. Powerfully astringent. An ingredient in a powder. Bolus Armena. Armenian bole. Astringent. An ingredient in several powders. Bolus Gallica. French bole. Astringent and slightly absorbent. An ingredient in some powders. Bonus Henricus, (Chenopod. bon. Hen., Lin.) English mercury, all-good, or good Henry. The leaves. Laxative. Borax. Tincar, or borax. The whole. Diuretic and emmenagogue. An ingredient in a powder, and a salt prepared from it. See CHEMISTRY, n° 265—272. Branca ursina, (Acanth. moll., Lin.) Bear's-breech. The root. Emollient. Brassica oleracea, (Brassica olerac., Lin.) Cabbage. The leaves. Refrigerant and laxative. Bryonia alba. White briony. The root. Discutient and violently cathartic. Bucabunga, (Veronica bucabung, Lin.) Brooklime. The leaves. Attenuant and antiscorbutic. Bursa pastoris, (Thlaspi bursa, Lin.) Shepherd's purse. The leaves. Astringent, but very doubtful. MATERIA MEDICA. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED IN MEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Cacao, (Theobroma cacao, Lin.) Chocolate tree. The fruit. Analeptic. Chocolate. Calamintha, (Melissa calamintha, Lin.) Calamint. The leaves. Aromatic and stilant. Calamus aromaticus, (Acor. ver. Lin.) Sweet-scented flag. The roots. Aromatic and stomachic. Calendula. Garden marigold. The flowers. Attenuating and fudoric, but very doubtful. Calx viva. Quicklime. A violent corrosive, and powerful alterant and absorbent. A medicated water. Camphor, (Laur. camphor. Lin.) Camphire tree. The concreted effential oil. Refrigerant and diaphoretic. A solution in rectified spirit, in expressed and essential oils. Ingredient in many other compositions. Canella alba. White cinnamon, or canella alba. The bark. Aromatic and stimulating. An ingredient in several tinctures. Cannabis. Hemp. The seeds. Aperient and refrigerant, but doubtful. Decoctions and infusions. Cantharides. Spanish-flies. Violently stimulating and vesicatory. A spirituous tincture. Caparis, (Capar. spinos. Lin.) Caper-bush. The bark of the root, and flowerbuds. Aperient and stomachic. Pickled. Caprifolium, (Leonisceracaprif. Lin.) Woodbind, or honeysuckle. The leaves and flowers. Aperient and diuretic. Cardamines, (Cardamine pratens. Lin.) Cardamine. The flowers. Antispasmodic. Cardamomum majus, (Anom. cardam. Lin.) Greater cardamom. The seeds. Aromatic and stimulant. } A spirituous water and tincture. Ingredient also in several officinal compositions. Cardamomum minus, (Anom. cardam. Lin.) Lesser cardamom. The seeds. Aromatic and stimulant. Cardiaca, (Cardiac. leonur. Lin.) Mother-wort. The leaves. Antispasmodic. Carduus benedictus, (Gentaur. benedict. Lin.) Blessed-thistle. The leaves and feed. Stomachic. An ingredient in a stomachic tincture. Carlina, (Carlin. acaul. Lin.) Carline-thistle. The root. Diaphoretic. Carthamus, (Cartham. tint. Lin.) Bastard saffron. The seeds. Cathartic. Carum, (Carum carvi, Lin.) Caraway. The seeds. Aromatic. An essential oil, a spirituous water. Ingredient also in many officinal compositions. Caryophyllata, (Geum urban. Lin.) Avens, or herb benet. The root. Aromatic. An essential oil. Caryophyllus aromaticus. The clove-tree. The flower-cups. Strongly aromatic. Ingredient also in many officinal compositions. Caryophyllus ruber, (Dianth. caryophill. Lin.) Clove July-flowers. The flowers. Aromatic. A syrup. Cascarilla, (Croton. cascar. Lin.) Cascarilla. The bark. Aromatic and stimulant. Infusions. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED IN MEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Cassia fistularis. Cassia. The fruit. Purgative. An ingredient in two electuaries. Cassialignea, (Laurus cassia, Lin.) Cassia. The bark. Aromatic. Cassumunar. Cassumar. The root. Stomachic and carminative. Castoreum, (Castor fiber, Lin.) Castor. Nervine and antispasmodic. A simple water; a spirituous water; a tincture. Ingredient in many officinal compositions. Cataputia major, vel palma Christi, (Ricinus communis, Lin.) Palma Christi. The seeds. Purgative. An expressed oil. Cataputia minor, vel tithymalus, (Euphorb. lithyr, Lin.) Broad-leaved spurge, or cataputia. The juice. Violently inflammatory. Inspissated juice. Celery, (Apium graveolens, Lin.) Celery. The leaves. Laxative. Centaureum minus, (Gentian. centaurea, Lin.) Lesser centaury. The tops. Stomachic. Ingredient in some tinctures and infusions. Cepa, (Allium cepa, Lin.) The onion. The roots. Attenuating and diuretic. Cera alba. White wax. Emollient. Ingredient in many plasters and ointments. Cera flava. Yellow wax. Emollient. Ingredient in almost all ointments. Cerasus, (Prunus cerasus, Lin.) The cherry-tree. The fruit. Refrigerant. Ceterach, (Asplen. ceterach, Lin.) Spleenwort. The leaves. Diuretic. Chamædrya, (Teucrium chamædr., Lin.) Germander. The leaves and tops with the feed. Sudorific and diuretic. Chamæmelum, (Anthemis nobilis, Lin.) Camomile. The flowers. Stomachic, carminative, and emollient. An essential oil, a simple water, and extract. Chamæpithys, (Teucrium chamæpit., Lin.) Ground-pine. The leaves. Aperient. Cheiri, seu Leucjum luteum, (Cheiranth. cheiri, Lin.) Wallflower. The flower. Aperient, cordial, and attenuant. Chelæ cancerorum. Crab's claws. Absorbent. Levigated. Chelidonium majus. Common celandine. The leaves and roots. Inflammatory. Chelidonium minus, (Ranunc. ficaria, Lin.) Pilewort. The leaves and root. Emollient. China, (Smilax China, Lin.) China. The root. Diaphoretic and diuretic. Cicer, (Cicer arietin., Lin.) Red chices, or chick peas. The seeds. Lithostriptic and diuretic, but very doubtful. Cichorium, (Cichor. intyb., Lin.) Wild succory. The roots and leaves. Laxative and antiscorbutic. Cicuta major, (Conium maculat., Lin.) Hemlock. The leaves. Resolvent and alterant. List ofSimples. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED INMEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. List ofSimples. Cinnamomum,(Laurus cinnam.Lin.) The cinnamon tree. The bark. Aromatic and cor-roborant. An essential oil, a simple andspirituous distilled water,and an ingredient in a greatnumber of compositions. Clematis. Virgin's bower. The root. Purgative. Coccinella, (Coccuscattii, Lin.) Cochineal. Sudorific, but chief-ly used for col-ouring. Cocculus Indicus,(Menisperm. co-cul. Lin.) Indian berry. The fruit. Narcotic. Cochlearia. Scurvy-grafs. The leaves. Stimulating andattenuant. A conserve and spirit. An in-redient in some other offi-cial preparations. Coffea. The coffee-tree. The fruit. Stomachic and cor-roborant. A decoction. Colchicum, (Col-chic. autumnal.Lin.) Meadow saffron. The root. Powerfully diure-tic. A syrup and oxymel. Colocynthis, (Co-lum. colocynth.Lin.) Coloquintida, orbitter-apple. The medullary partof the dried fruit. Violently cathartic. An ingredient in some cathar-tic pills and extracts. Columbo. Columbo. The root. A most excellentantiseptic andstomachic. A vinous tincture. Confolida major,(Symphyt. officin.Lin.) Comfrey. The root. Emollient. Contrayerva, (Dor-stenia, Lin.) Contrayerva. The root. Aromatic and dia-phoretic. Gives name to a powder, andis an ingredient in the the-riaca. Corallina, (Sertu-laria, Lin.) Coralline. Absorbent. Corallium rubrum. Red coral. Absorbent. Coriandrum, (Cori-andr. sativ. Lin.) Coriander. The seeds. Carminative andstomachic. An ingredient in several offi-cial compositions. Cornu cervi. Hartshorn. Emollient and nu-tritious. Shavings, a jelly, a volatile al-kaline salt and spirit, andan empyreumatic oil. Cornu cervi calci-natum. Calcined or burnthartshorn. Absorbent. Cotus, (Cof. Arab.Lin.) Cotus. The root. Attenuant and diu-retic. Cotula setida. May-weed, or wildchamomile. The leaves. Antispasmodic. Craffula. Orpine. The leaves. Emollient and a-stringent. Creta alba. White chalk. Absorbent. Crithmum. Samphire. The leaves. Aperient, stom-achic, and diu-retic. Crocus. Saffron. The chives, orfleshy capilla-ments growingat the end ofthe flower. Aromatic and cor-dial. A spirituous tincture; a vi-nous tincture; a syrup; andan ingredient in many offi-cial compositions. Cubeba, (Piper,Lin.) Cubebs. The fruit. Aromatic and sti-mulant. An ingredient in several offi-cial compositions. Cucumis hortensis. The garden cucum-ber. The seeds. Refrigerant. Cucumis agrestis. Wild cucumber. The fruit. Violently cathartic. The juice inspissated. Cucurbita. The gourd andpompion. The seeds. Refrigerating. An expressed oil. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED IN MEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Cupressus. The cypress. The fruit. A strong astringent. Cuprum. Copper. A violent emetic, diuretic, and alterative. Calcined, and producing salts by combination with several acids, and with volatile alkali. See CHEMISTRY, n° 142, 200, 278, 298, 332. Curcuma, (Curcuma longa. Lin.) Tumeric. The root. Aromatic, astringent, and emmenagogue. Cydonia. The quince. The fruit and seeds. Stomachic and corroborative. A syrup and jelly of the fruit, and mucilage of the seeds. Cyminum. Cumin. The seeds. Aromatic and antispasmodic. An essential oil, and an ingredient in some officinal compositions. Cynoglossum. Hound's tongue. The root. Narcotic, but doubtful. Cynosbatum, (Rosa canin. Lin.) The wild briar, dog-rose, or hip-tree. The fruit and flowers. Refrigerant and antiscorbutic. A distilled water and conserve. Cyperus longa. Long cyperus. The root. Aromatic and carminative. Dactylus, (Phoenix dactylif. Lin.) The date-tree. The fruit. Emollient and slightly astringent. Daucus Creticus, (Athamant. Cretensis. Lin.) Candy carrot. The seeds. Aromatic. Ingredient in mithridate and theriaca. Daucus sativus, (Daucus carota, Lin.) The carrot. The roots. Powerfully antiseptic. A poultice from them for cancers, and a marmalade. Daucus silvestris. Wild carrot. The seeds. Aromatic. Dens leonis, (Leonotod. tarax. Lin.) Dandelion. The root and herb. Attenuant, but doubtful. Dictamnus Creticus, (Dictamn. origan. Lin.) Dittany of Crete. The leaves. Aromatic. An essential oil; and ingredient in several officinal powders. Digitalis. Fox-glove. The leaves. Emetic and cathartic. Doronicum Germanicum, (Arnica montan. Lin.) German leopardsbane. The leaves and roots. Violently emetic and cathartic. Dulcamara, (Solan. dulcamar. Lin.) Bitter, sweet, or woody nightshade. The herb and root. Diaphoretic, attenuant, and cathartic. Ebulus, (Sambuc. ebul. Lin.) Dwarf-elder, or Danewort. The root, bark, leaves, and fruit. Strongly cathartic. A rob from the berries. Elatine, (Veronica officinal. Lin.) Fluellin, or female speedwell. The leaves. Diuretic and attenuant. Gives name to one of the officinal honeys. Eleutheria. See CASCARILLA. Endivia, (Cichor. endiv. Lin.) Endive. The leaves and roots. Aperient and refrigerant. Erigerum. Groundsel. The leaves. Emetic. Eruca. Rocket. The seeds. Stimulant. Eryngium, (Eryng. maritima. Lin.) Eryngo, or sea-holly. The root. Aperient and diuretic. Erysimum, (Erysim. officinal. Lin.) Hedge-mustard. The leaves. Attenuant and diuretic. Eupatorium cannabinum. Hemp-agrimony, water-agrimony, or water-hemp. The leaves. Attenuant and corroborant. List ofSimples. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED INMEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. List ofSimples. Faba Indica, seuSancti Ignatii. St Ignatius's bean. The seeds. Antispasmodic. Faba vicia. The garden-bean. The seeds and flow-ers. Nutritive and cos-metic. A distilled water from theflowers. Fagopyrum, (Pa-pyr. fagopyr.Lin.) Snakeweed. The seeds. Refrigerant. Farina tritici velavenæ. Bran. Disentient. Ferrum. Iron. Corroborative andalterant. Infusions in wine; the metalreduced to a calx by rust,or by fire, and some saltsproduced from it by combi-nations with different acids.See CHEMISTRY, n° 146,242—245, 279, 299. Fœx vini rubri. Lees of red wine. Disentient and re-pellent. Ficus, (Ficus carica.Lin.) The fig-tree. The fruit. Emollient and sup-purative. Filipendula, (Spi-rea filipend.Lin.) Common dropwort. The root. Astringent and cor-roborant. Filix mas, (Polypod.Filix, Lin.) The male fern. The leaves and root. Anthelmintic anddeobstruent. Flores cerevisiæ. Yeast. Inflammatory. Fœnum Græcum,(Trigonell. san-græc. Lin.) Fenugreek. The seed. Emollient. Fœniculum dulce etvulgare, (Aneth.sænic. Lin.) Sweet and commonfennel. The seeds, roots,and leaves. Aromatic, stimu-lant, and carmi-native. An essential oil. Fœniculum aquati-cum, (Pharmac.Ross. (Phelland.aquat. Lin.)) Waterwort. The leaves andseeds. Corroborant. Formica, (Formicarusa, Lin.) The ant. The whole insect. Stimulant. An oil and acid spirit. Fragaria, (Fragar.vesc. Lin.) The strawberrybush. The leaves andfruit. Astringent, corro-borant, and refri-gerant. Frangula, (Alnusnigr. Lin.) Black alder. The bark. Violently cathartic. Fraxinella, (Dict-amnus albus,Lin.) White or bastarddittany. The root. Diaphoretic. Fraxinus, (Fraxin.excelsior, Lin.) The ash-tree. The bark and seeds. Astringent and sti-mulant. Fuligo ligni splen-dens. Shining woodsoot. Antispasmodic. A spirituous tincture. Fumaria. Fumitory. The leaves. Stimulating and at-tenuant. Fungus melitenfis,Pharmac. Ross.(Cynomor. coc-cin. Lin.) Galanga minor,(Marant. ga-lang. Lin.) Galangal. The root. Stomachic. Galega. Goat's rue. The herb. Diaphoretic, butvery doubtful. Gallæ. Galls. Astringent. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED IN MEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Gallium luteum,(Gall. ver. Lin.) Yellow ladies bed-straw, or cheefe-rennet. The tops. Astringent. Genista, (Genist.tinctor. Lin.) Broom. The leaves, flowers,and seeds. Diuretic and ca-thartic. Gentiana alba,(Laserpitium la-tifol. Lin.) Lesserwort. The root. Gentiana, (Gen-tian. lut. Lin.) Common gentian. The root. Stomachic and sti-mulant. A spirituous tincture, and aningredient in many officinalcompositions. Geranium Robert-ianum. Herb Robert. The leaves. Astringent, butvery doubtful. Ginseng, (Panaxquinquefol. Lin.) Ginseng. The root. Stimulant and cor-roborant. Glaucium lu-teum, (Iris pseu-dodoris, Lin.) Yellow water-flag,bastard acorus, orwater flower-de-luce. The roots. Strongly cathartic. Glycyrrhiza, (Gly-cyr. glabr. Lin.) Liquorice. The root. Emollient and pec-toral. An extract and powder. Aningredient in many officinalcompositions. Gramen caninum,(Triticum repens,Lin.) Quick-grass. The roots. Aperient. Grana paradisi,(Ammum, Lin.) Grains of paradise. The seeds. Aromatic and sti-mulant. Granatum, (Punicagranatum, Lin.) The pomegranate. The fruit and bark. Refrigerant andastringent. Gratiola. Hedge-hyssop. The leaves androot. Emetic and cathar-tic. Guajacum. Lignum-vitæ, orguajacum. The wood andbark. Aperient, stimu-lant, and corro-borative. An extract, two tinctures,and a gummy resin. Aningredient in many officinalpreparations. Gummi arabicum. Gum-arabic. Astringent and mu-cilaginous. An ingredient in a great num-ber of officinal composi-tions. Gum. ammoniacum Gum ammoniac. Aperient, antispas-modic, and emol-lient. A solution. An ingredient inseveral pectoral composi-tions. Gum. asafœtida. Asafœtida. A powerful anti-spasmodic. An ingredient in very manyofficinal compositions. Gum. bdellium. Bdellium. Sudorific, diuretic,and emollient. Gum. benzoïn. Benzoïn. Cosmetic. An ingredient in several ano-dyne compositions. Gum. elemi. Elemi. Aromatic. An essential oil, and givesname to ointment. Gum. galbanum. Galbanum. Antispasmodic. An ingredient in many anti-hyberic medicines. Gum. gambogia. Gamboge. Emetic and cathar-tic. Gives name to a certain kindof pills. Gum. kino. Kino. Astringent. Gum. labdanum. Labdanum. Stomachic. An ingredient in the stom-achic pills and plasters. Gum. larici,(Pharm. Ross.) Gum. lacca. Gum lac. Astringent. A tincture. Gum. mastich. Mastich. Corroborant. Gum. myrrha. Myrrh. Antispasmodic andcorroborant. A tincture, and an ingredientin many officinal composi-tions. List ofSimples. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED INMEDICINE. VIRTUE. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. List ofSimples. Gum. olibanum. Olibanum. Astringent, but un-certain. An ingredient in some pow-ders, and other officinalcompositions. Gum. opoponax. Opoponax. Attenuant and sti-mulant. An ingredient in some officinalcompositions. Gum. sanguis dra-conis. Astringent. An ingredient in some stypticand balsamic medicines. Gum. Senegal. Astringent and mu-cilaginous. Gum. styrax cala-mit. Storax. Stimulant and cor-roborant. An ingredient in some tinc-tures and pills. Gum. styrax liquida Liquid storax. Ingredient in a mercurialplaster. Gum. thus. Frankincense. Supposed corrobo-rative. An ingredient in the theriaca,and some plasters. Gum. tragacanth. Gum tragacanth,commonly gum-dragon. Astringent and cor-roborant. Hæmatites. Blood-stone. Astringent and cor-roborative. Hedera arbores,(Hederabelix. Lin.) Ivy. The leaves, berries,and resin. Diaphoretic. Hedera terrestris,(Glechoma hederac.Lin.) Ground-ivy. The leaves. Aperient and cor-roborant. Helenium. Elecampane. The root. Aperient and pec-toral. An ingredient in several offi-cial compositions. Helleboraster,Pharmac. Brunf-wic. (Helleborussætid. Lin.) The root. Helleborus albus,(Veratrum alb.Lin.) White hellebore. The root. Most violently em-etic and erthine. A tincture and honey. Helleborus niger. Black hellebore. The root. A powerful altera-tive and emme-nagogue. A tincture and extract. Helleborus niger,Pharmac. Ross.(Adonis vernal.Lin.) The root. Hepatica nobilis,(Anemone hepatic.Lin.) Noble liver-wort. The leaves. Corroborant. Hermomodactylus,(Iris tuberosa,Lin.) Hermomodactyl. The root. Purgative, butdoubtful. Herniaria, (Her-niar. glab. Lin.) Rupture-wort. The leaves. Astringent. Hippocastanum,Ph. Ross. (Escul.hippocast. Lin.) The bark. Hirundinaria, (As-clep. vincetox.Lin.) Swallow-wort, ortame-poison. The root. Sudorific, diuretic,and emmenagogue. Hordeum, (Horde.distich. Lin.) Barley. Refrigerant. A decoction. Horminum, (Salv.hormin. Lin.) Garden clary. The leaves andseeds. Corroborative. Hydrolapathum,(Rumex aquatic.Lin.) Great water-dock. The leaves androots. Alterant and laxa-tive. Hyoscyamus, (Hy-oscyam. nig. Lin.) The common wildor black henbane. The leaves. Narcotic. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED INMEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. List ofSimple. Hypericum, (Hy-peric. perforat.Lin.) St John's-wort. The leaves, flowers,and seeds. Diuretic, sudorific,and alterant. Gives name to a colouredoil. Hypocistis, (Cyti-sus hypocist. Lin.) Hypocistis. Astringent. Juice inspissated. Hyssopus, (Hyssop.officinal. Lin.) Hyssop. The leaves. Aromatic. A distilled water. Jalappa, (Convolv.jalap. Lin.) Jalap. The root. Cathartic. An extract, a simple tincture,a compound tincture, a resin,and powder. Japonica terra. Japan earth. Astringent. A tincture, troches, and con-fection; and an ingredientin several officinal compo-sitions. Imperatoria, (Im-per. ostrut. Lin.) Master-wort. The root. Aromatic. Ipecacuanha, (Vis-ta ipecac. Lin.) Ipecacuanha. The root. Emetic and cathar-tic. A vinous tincture, and a pow-der. Iris Florentina. Florentine orris. The root. Aromatic and sti-mulant. An ingredient in several pec-toral medicines. Iris nostras, (Irisgerman. Lin.) Flower-de-luce. The root. The same with theformer. Juglans, (Jug. reg.) The walnut-tree. The fruit. The kernel emol-lient, the shellastringent. Jujuba, (Rhamnusnizyph. Lin.) Jujubes. The fruit. Emollient and bal-samic. Juncus odoratus. Sweet-rush, or ca-mel's-hay. The herb. Aromatic. An ingredient in theriaca. Juniperus, (Junip.commun. Lin.) Juniper. The berries, wood,and resin. Carminative andstomachic. An essential oil, and spirituouswater. Ingredient in agreat number of officinalcompositions. Kali, (Saltsol. Lin.) Glafs-wort. Astringent and cor-roborant. An alkaline salt. Kermes, (Coccusquerc. ilic. Lin.) Kermes. Analeptic and cor-roborant. A confection. Lac. Milk. Supposed narcotic. A saccharine salt. Lactuca, (Lactucativ. Lin.) Lettuce. The juice. Lamium album. White archangel,or dead-nettle. The leaves andflowers. Supposed corrobo-rant. Lavendula, (La-vend. spic. Lin.) Greater, or broad-leaved lavender. The flowers. An excellent cor-dial and aroma-tic. An essential oil, a simple andcompound spirit, and aconserve. An ingredient insome officinal preparations. Laurus, (Laur. no-bilis. Lin.) The bay tree. The leaves and ber-ries. Carminative andantispasmodic. An expressed oil. Lazuli lapis. A strong emetic. Lentiscus, (Pistacialentisc.) The lentisc or ma-fich tree. The wood. Astringent. Lepidium, (Lepid.latifol. Lin.) Common broad dit-tander, pepper-wort, or poorman's pepper. The leaves. Antiscorbutic anddiuretic. Levisticum, (Li-gust. levist. Lin.) Lovage. The root and seed. Aromatic. Ingredients in some compoundwaters. Lichen cinereus ter-restris, (Lichen.canin. Lin.) Asp-colouredground liver-wort. The whole. Recommended byDr Mead as aspecific againstthe bite of a maddog, but withoutfoundation. Principal ingredient in thepulvis antilyssus. List ofSimplex. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED INMEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. List ofSimplex. Lignum campe-chenfe, (He-mutox. campech.Lin.) Logwood. The wood. Astringent. An extract. Lignum rhodium,(Genist. canarien.Lin.) Rose-wood. The wood. Cordial. An essential oil. Lilium album,(Convul. maius.Lin.) White lily. The root and flow-ers. Emollient and an-tispaudmodic. Limon, (Citrus li-mon. Lin.) The lemon-tree. The fruit. Aromatic, antiscor-butic, and cordial. An essential oil. Linaria, (Antir-rhin. linar. Lin.) Toad-flax. The leaves. Diuretic and ca-thartic, butdoubtful. Lingua cervina,(Asplen. scolo-pend. Lin.) Hart's tongue. The leaves. Aperient. Linum catharti-cum. Purging flax, ormill-mountain. The leaves. Cathartic. Linum vulgare,(Lin. usitatiss.Lin.) Flax. The seed. Emollient. An expressed oil. Liquida ambra. Sweet gum, or sto-rax tree. The resinous juice. Cordial. Lithospermum,(Lithosperm. of-ficin. Lin.) Gromwell. The seeds. Resolvent. Lobelia, Pharmac.Ross. (Lobel. fi-philit. Lin.) The root. Alterant. Lumbricet limacesterrestres. Earth-worms andsnails. Aperient and ana-leptic. Decoction in milk. Lupinus, (Lupin.alb. Lin.) White lupines. The seeds. Anthelmintic. Lupulus, (Humul.lup. Lin.) Hops. The loose leafyheads whichgrow upon thetops of the stalks. Diuretic and stom-achic. Lycoperdon, (Ly-coperd. bevisi.Lin.) Puff-ball, or dustymushroom. The whole. Styptic. Lycopodium, Pha.Ross. (Lycopod.clavat. Lin.) Macis. See NuxMoschata. Majorana, (Origan.majoran. Lin.) Sweet marjoram. The leaves and flow-ers. Aromatic and er-rhine. An essential oil. Malabathrum. Indian leaf. Aromatic. An ingredient in mithridateand theriaca. Malva, (Malv. ro-tundifol. Lin.) The mallow. The leaves andflowers. Emollient. A conserve of the flowers. Malus. The apple-tree. The fruit. Refrigerant andlaxative. Mandragora, (A-trop. mandrag.Lin.) The mandrake. The leaves. Narcotic. Manna, (Fraxin.orn. Lin.) The manna ash. The concretedjuice. Cathartic. Gives name to an officinal lo-hoch, and enters several o-ther compositions. Marrubium, (Mar-rub. vulg. Lin.) White horehound. The leaves. Stomachic and spe-ricient. An ingredient in theriaca. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED IN MEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Marum Syriacum,(Teucrium mar-lin.) Syrian herb ma-rich. The leaves. Aromatic and er-rhine. An ingredient in some cepha-lic infuſſ. Matricaria, (Ma-tricaria parthen-lin.) Feverfew. The leaves andflowers. Aperient and an-tipasmodic. Mechoacanna,(Convolv. me-choan. lin.) White jalap. The root. Cathartic. Mel. Honey. Aperient and deter-gent. Melilotus, (Trifol.melilot. lin.) Melilot. The leaves andflowers. Emollient and car-minative. Gives name to a plaster. Melissa, (Meliss.officin. lin.) Balm. The leaves. Aromatic. An infusion, and simple wa-ter. Melo, (Cucumismelo, lin.) The melon. The seeds. Refrigerant andemollient. Mentha crispia,(Pharmac. Ross.) Danish or Germancurled mint. The herb. Aromatic and cor-dial. A distilled water, essential oil,and essence. An ingredientin several officinal prepara-tions. Mentha vulgaris,(Menth. virid.lin.) Spearmint. The herb. Aromatic and cor-dial. A distilled water, essential oil,and essence. An ingredientin several officinal prepara-tions. Mentha piperitis. Pepper-mint. The herb. Aromatic and cor-dial. A distilled water, essential oil,and essence. An ingredientin several officinal prepara-tions. Mercurialis, (Mer-cur. annua, lin.) French mercury. The leaves. Emollient and laxa-tive. A syrup. Meum, (Ethusameum, lin.) Spignel. The root. Aromatic and car-minative. Mezereon. Mezereon, orspurge olive. The root, bark, andberries. Violently cathartic. Millefolium, (A-chil. millefol.lin.) Millefoil, or yar-row. The leaves andflowers. Mildly astringentand aromatic. An essential oil. Millefolium nobile,Pharmac. Ross.(Achill. nob.lin.) Millepedæ. Wood-lice, hog-lice, or flaters. Diuretic. The insects dried and powder-ed; an infusion in wine; al-so an ingredient in someother officinal preparations. Minium. SeePLUMBUM. Morus diabolii,(Scabios. succis.lin.) Devil's bit. The leaves androots. Diaphoretic. Morus nigra. The mulberry-tree. The fruit and barkof the roots. Refrigerant, astring-ent, and anthel-minthic. A syrup from the juice of thefruit. Moschus. Musk. Diaphoretic andantispasmodic. A julep. Mungos, (Pharm.Brunf. et Ross.) Myrobalani. Myrobalans. The fruit. Purgative. Muscus Islandicus,feu Catharticus,Pharm. Ross. et.Brunf. (Lichen.island. lin.) TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED IN MEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Myrrhis, (Sison Canadense, Lin.) Sweet cicely. The leaves and feeds. Diuretic. Myrtillus, (Vaccinium myrtil, Lin.) Whortle-berry. The leaves and berries. Astringent. Napus, (Rapa napus, Lin.) Sweet navew, or navew gentle. The seeds. Aromatic. An ingredient in the theriaca. Rapa sylvestris, (Brassica nap. Lin.) Rape. The seeds. Aromatic and stimulant. An expressed oil. Nardus Celtica, (Valerian. Celt. Lin.) Celtic nard. The roots. Stomachic and carminative. Ingredients in the mithridate and theriaca. Nardus Indica, (Andropog. nardus, Lin.) Indian nard. The roots. Stomachic and carminative. Ingredients in the mithridate and theriaca. Nasturtium aquaticum, (Sisymb. nastur. aquat. Lin.) Water cresses. The leaves and juice. Aperient and antiscorbutic. An ingredient in the succi scorbutici. Nasturtium hortense, (Lepid. sativ. Lin.) Garden cresses. The leaves and feeds. Aperient and antiscorbutic, but much weaker than the former. Nepeta, (Nepet. catar. Lin.) Nep, or catmint. The leaves. Aromatic and cordial. Nephriticum lignum, (Guilandin. moring. Lin.) Nephritic wood. The wood in substance. Diuretic, but uncertain. Nicotiana, (Nicotian. tabac. Lin.) Tobacco. The leaves. Violently emetic, cathartic, and narcotic. An extract recommended by Stahl and other German physicians. Nigella, (Nigel. sativ. Lin.) Fennel-flower. The seeds. Aperient and diuretic, but uncertain. Ninfi, (Pharmac. Brunf. et Ross. (Siam. ninfi, Lin.) Nitrum, (Nitrum. nativ. Lin.) Nitre or salt-petre. Diaphoretic, diuretic, and refrigerant. An acid spirit and fixed alkaline salt, an aqueous decoction or solution, troches. An ingredient in many other officinal preparations. Nummularia, (Ly-simach. nummular. Lin.) Moneywort, or herb twopence. The leaves. Antiscorbutic. Nux moschata, (Myristica, Lin.) The nutmeg-tree. The fruit, and covering called mace. An excellent aromatic, cordial, and stomachic. An expressed oil, falsely called oil of mace; an essential oil; a simple water; a spirituous water; an ingredient in many officinal compositions. Nux pistachia, (Pistac. terebinth. Lin.) The pistachia tree. The fruit. Emollient and analeptic. Nux vomica, (Strychnos nux vom. Lin.) Nux vomica. The fruit. Used only as a poison for dogs, &c. Nymphaea alba. White water-lily. The roots and flowers. Astringent and corroborative. Ochra, (Ochra ferris, Lin.) Yellow ochre. Astringent, but very weak. Oliva, (Olea Europaea, Lin.) The olive-tree. The fruit. Emollient. An expressed oil used in almost all ointments, plasters, &c. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED IN MEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Ononis, (Onon. arvenf. Lin.) Rest-harrow, cammock, or petty-whin. The root. Aperient and diuretic. Opium, (Papaver Orientale, Lin.) The Asiatic poppy. The inspissated juice. A most excellent anodyne and cordial when properly applied, but a very fatal poison if taken in too great quantity. Purified by straining, called the Thebaic extract; a vinous and spirituous tincture, called liquid laudanum. Also a capital ingredient in many officinal preparations. Origanum, (Origan. vulg. Lin.) Wild marjoram. The leaves. Aromatic. An essential oil. Oryza, (Oryza sativ. Lin.) Rice. The grain. Emollient and refrigerant. Ostrea, (Ostrea edul. Lin.) Oysters. The shells. Absorbent. Levigated. Oxylapathum, (Rumex acetosus, Lin.) Sharp-pointed dock. The roots and leaves. Alterant and laxative. Oxycoccus, Phar.Ross. (Vaccin. ocycece, Lin.) Pæonia, (Pæon. officinal. Lin.) Male and female peony. The roots, flowers, and seeds. Emollient and antispasmodic. Ingredients in some anti-epileptic powders. Palma, (Cocos nucifera, Lin.) The palm-tree. The kernels of the fruit. Emollient and anodyne. An expressed oil used in stomachic plasters. Papaver album, (Papaver somnifer. Lin.) The white poppy. The heads. Anodyne. A syrup. Papaver erraticum, (Papaver rhæas, Lin.) Red poppy, or corn-rose. The flowers. Valued chiefly for the colour they communicate. A syrup. Paralytis, (Primula elatior. Lin.) Cowslip. The flowers. Corroborant and antispasmodic. A syrup. Pareira brava, (Cis. fampelos pareir. Lin.) Pareira brava. The root. Attenuant, diuretic, and lithontriptic. Parietaria, (Parietar. officinal. Lin.) Pellitory of the wall. The leaves. Emollient and diuretic. Ingredient in a nephritic decoction. Pastinaca, (Pastina. sativ. Lin.) Garden parsnep. The roots and seeds. Emollient and aromatic. Pastinaca sativ. (sic.) Wild parsnep. The seeds. Aromatic. Pentaphyllum, (Potentill. repens, Lin.) Cinquefoil. The root. Astringent. Pechurim faba, Pharmac. Ross.(An species laur.? Lin.) Perficaria urens, (Perfic. hydropip. Lin.) Bitter arsmart, lake-weed, or water-pepper. The leaves. Diuretic and detergent when externally applied. Perficaria mitis. Spotted arsmart. The leaves. Antiseptic and astringent. Perfica. The peach-tree. The leaves, flowers, and fruit. Laxative, anthelmintic, and refrigerant. Peruvianus cortex, (Cinchona offic. Lin.) The quinquina, or Jesuit's-bark tree. The bark. A most excellent corroborative. An extract, a resin, a spirituous tincture, a compound tincture, a tincture in volatile spirit; also an ingredient in the stomachic tincture. Petafites, List ofSimplex. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED INMEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Petafites, (Tussilag. petasit. Lin.) Butterbur. The roots. Aromatic, aperient, and deobstruent. Petroleum. Rock oil. Anodyne and corroborative when applied externally. Petroleum Barbadense. Barbadoes tar. Discutient, sudorific, and corroborative. Petroselinum, (Apium petroselin. Lin.) Common parsley. The roots, leaves, and seeds. Aperient and somewhat aromatic. The seeds an ingredient in an electuary. Peucedanum, (Peucedan. officinal. Lin.) Hog's-fennel, or sulphur-wort. The root. Aperient, stimulating, and erthine. Pimpinella sanguiforba, (Sanguiforba officinalis, Lin.) Burnet. The leaves. Astringent. Pimpinella faxifraga. Burnet faxifraga. The root, leaves, and seeds. Diaphoretic, diuretic, and antiscorbutic. Pinus sylvestris. The pine tree. The kernels of its fruit or cones, and resin. The kernels emollient; for the resin, see TERPIN-THINA. Piper album. White pepper. } Highly aromatic and stimulant. A simple distilled water, and an essential oil. Piper longum. Long pepper. Piper nigrum. Black pepper. Piper Jamaicaense. Jamaica pepper, pimento, or all-spice. Piper Indicum, (Capicum annuum, Lin.) Guinea pepper. Pix liquida. Tar. Attenuant and stimulating. An infusion in water, and an ingredient in a kind of pectoral pills. Pix arida. Dry, or stone pitch. } A warm adhesive resinous substance. Ingredients in several plasters, ointments, and cerates. Pix Burgundica. Burgundy pitch. Plantago latifolia, (Plantago major, Lin.) Common broad-leaved plantane. The leaves. Astringent. Plumbum, (Plumbum nativum, Lin.) Lead. Astringent and refrigerating, but very dangerous. Several chemical preparations. See CHEMISTRY, n° 401—405. A tincture and extract, or solution in vegetable acids; also an ingredient in several ointments, &c. Polium montanum, (Polium teucerium, Lin.) Poley-mountain. The tops. Aromatic. Ingredient in the Mithridate and theriaca. Polygala amara, (Polyg. amar. Lin.) The root. List ofSimplex. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED INMEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. List ofSimplex. Polypodium, (Polypod. vulgar. Lin.) Polypody. The root. Laxative. Populus nigra. Black poplar. The buds. Aromatic. Used only in an ointment, but capable of being applied to better purposes. (Lewis.) Porrum, (Allium porrum, Lin.) The leek. The root. A stimulating diuretic. Portulaca, (Portulac. olerac. Lin.) Purslane. The seeds. Refrigerant. Primula veris. Primrose. The herb and root. Aromatic and stomachic. An infusion and distilled spirit. Prunella, (Prunell. vulg. Lin.) Self-heal. The leaves. Attenuant and detergent. Pruna brignolensis. Brignole plums, or prunelloes. Pruna Gallica. French, or common prunes. } Gently laxative. Pruna Damascena. Damascen plums, or damsons. Pruna Silvestris. See Acacia. Pyllyllium, (Plantago pssyll. Lin.) Fleawort. The seeds. Emollient and laxative. Ptarmica, (Achil. ptarmic. Lin.) Sneezewort, or bastard pellitory. The root. Errhine and stimulating. Pulegium, (Mentb. puleg. Lin.) Pennyroyal. The leaves. A warm aromatic. A simple water, a spirituous water, an essential oil; and an ingredient in some other officinal compositions. Pulmonaria maculosa, (Pulmon. officinal. Lin.) Spotted lung-wort, or sage of Jerusalem. The leaves. Said to be aperient and analeptic. Pulsatilla nigricans, (Pharmac. Ross. (Anemone pratensis. Lin.)) The herb. An extract and distilled water. Pyrethrum, (Anthemis pyrethr. Lin.) Pellitory of Spain. The root. Promotes the salival flux. Quassia, (Quassia amara. Lin.) The root. An excellent stomachic and tonic. An extract. Quercus, (Quercus robur, Lin.) Oak tree. The bark. Strongly astringent. Quercus marina, (Pharm. Ross. (Fucus vesiculosus, Lin.)) Raphanus rusticanus, (Raphanus sativus Lin.) Horse-radish. The root. Stimulating and attenuant. A compound water. Rapa. The turnip. The roots and seeds. Aperient, and slightly aromatic. Rhaharbarum, (Rheum palmat. Lin.) Rhubarb. The root. Cathartic and stomachic. Toasted; a watery infusion; vinous and spirituous tinctures; and an ingredient in several officinal compositions. Rhaponticum, (Rheum rhapont. Lin.) Rhapontic. The roots. Laxative. Ribes nigrum. The black-currant bush. The fruit. Refrigerant and detergent. } A gelly. Ribes rubrum. The red-currant bush. The fruit. Ditto. Rhododendron. LIST OFSIMPLEX. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED INMEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Rhododendron,Pharm. Ross.(Rhodod. chrysanthum, Lin.) The herb. Rosa damascena. Damask rose. The flower. Aromatic and gently laxative. A distilled water and syrup. Rosa rubra. The red rose. The flower. Astringent and corroborative. A conserve, honey, tincture, troches, vinegar, and syrup. An ingredient in several officinal compositions. Rosmarinus hortensis, (Rosm. officinal. Lin.) Rosemary. The tops and flowers. A fine aromatic and cordial. An essential oil; a distilled spirit called Hungary water. An ingredient in many cordial and antispasmodic medicines. Rubia tinctorum. Madder. The root. Aperient and detergent. Rubus arcticus,Pharm. Ross. Rubus idæus. The rasp-berry bush. The fruit. Refrigerant. A syrup. Rubus niger, (Rubus fruticosus, Lin.) The bramble. The leaves. Astringent. Ruscus, (Rusc. aculeatus, Lin.) Butcher's-broom, or knee-holly. The root. Aperient. Ruta, (Rut. graveol. Lin.) Broad-leaved rue. The leaves and seeds. Powerfully stimulating, attenuating, and detergent. An extract, an essential oil, distilled water, and conserve. Sabadilla, Pharm. Ross. (An species veratr.? Lin.) The seeds. Sabina, (Junip. sabin. Lin.) Savin. The leaves or tops. A stimulating aperient. An essential oil; distilled water; watery extract; and an ingredient in several officinal compositions. Saccharum album. White sugar. } Emollient & laxative Saccharum candum. Sugar-candy. Sagapenum. Gum sagapenum. Aperient and debilitant. An ingredient in several antispasmodic medicines. Sal alkali vegetabile. Vegetable alkaline salt, or pearl-ashes. Aperient, diuretic, and caustic. The basis of a great number of neutral salts. Sal alkali minerale. Mineral alkali, salt of Soda, or basis of sea-salt. Ditto. Ditto. Sal catharticus a-marus. Epson salt. Cathartic. Magnesia. Sal commune. Common salt. In small doses stimulant, in large ones cathartic. Salicaria, Pharm. Ross. (Lythrum Salicaria, Lin.) Purple loose-strife. The herb. Astringent. Salix, (Salix fragilis, Lin.) The crack-willow. The bark. Corroborant. Salvia, (Salvia officinal. Lin.) Common sage. The leaves. Moderately stimulating and astringent. Infusions. Salvia sylvestris. Wood sage. The leaves. Ditto. Sambucus, (Sambucus niger, Lin.) Common black-berryed alder. The leaves, bark, flowers, and berries. Cathartic, aromatic, and aperient. A rob for internal use from the berries, and an ointment and oil from the flowers and bark; the flowers are also ingredients in some compound waters. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED IN MEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Sanguis draconis. Dragon's blood. Astringent. An ingredient in some officinal compositions. Sanicula, (Sanicul. Europa, Lin.) Sanicle. The leaves. Supposed to be corroborant. Santalum citrinum, (Santal. alb. Lin.) Yellow sanders. The wood. Greatly recommended by Hoffman as a restorative. Santalum rubrum. Red sanders. The wood. Used only for its colour. Santonicum. Worm-feed. Anthelmintic. Sapo durus. Hard Spanish soap. } Resolvent and stimulating. The first gives name to a plaster, liniment, balsam, and pills; the second is an ingredient in the milder caustic; and the third in an anodyne plaster. Sopa mollis. Common soft soap. Sapo niger. Black soap. Saponaria, (Saponar. officinal. Lin.) Soapwort or bruise-wort. The herb and root. Aperient, corroborant, and sudorific. Sarcocolla. Gum sarcocolla. Supposed a vulnerary. Sarsaparilla, (Smilax. sarsap. Lin.) Sarsaparilla. The root. Alterant, and diaphoretic. Infusions and extracts. Sassafras, (Laurus sassafras, Lin.) Sassafras. The root. Alterant, aperient, and corroborant. An essential oil; an ingredient in some officinal preparations. Satureia, (Satureia hortensis. Lin.) Summer favoury. The leaves. A very pungent warm aromatic. Satyrium mas, (Orchis bifol. Lin.) Orchis. The root. Coagulant and corroborative. Salep supposed to be a preparation from a root of this kind (Lewis). Saxifraga alba, (Saxifrag. granulat. Lin.) White-flowered faxifrage. The roots and leaves. } Supposed to be aperient, diuretic, and lithontriptic, but without just foundation. Saxifraga vulgaris. Meadow faxifrage. The leaves and seeds. Scabiosa, (Scabios. arvens. Lin.) Scabious. The leaves. Aperient, sudorific, and expectorant. Scammonium. Scammony. Strongly cathartic. Gives name to a powder, and is an ingredient in some officinal preparations. Scilla, (Scill. maritima. Lin.) The squill, or sea-onion. The root. Powerfully diuretic, stimulant, and expectorant. A syrup, vinegar, oxymel, pills; the root dried, baked, and made into troches. Scordium, (Teucr. scordium, Lin.) Water germander. The leaves. Deobstruent, diuretic, and sudorific, but doubtful. An ingredient in mithridate, theriaca, and several other preparations. Scorzonera, (Scorzon. humilis, Lin.) Viper's grass. The root. Cordial and stimulant, but doubtful. Scrophularia, (Scrophular. nodos. Lin.) Fig-wort. The leaves and root. Supposed corroborant, but doubtful. Sebesten, (Cordia myxa, Lin.) Sebesten plum. Emollient. Sedum majus, (Sedum album, Lin.) Greater houseleek. The leaves. Refrigerant. Sera, (Cassia fera, Lia.) Sena. The leaves. Cathartic. Spirituous tinctures, compound powders, and a syrup. MATERIA MEDICA. List ofSimplex. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED INMEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Seneka, (Polygal. senek. Lin.) Seneka. The root. Cathartic, diaphoretic, diuretic, and sometimes emetic. Serpentaria Virginiana, (Aristolochia serpentaria Lin.) Virginian snake-weed. The root. A warm diaphoretic and diuretic. A spirituous tincture; a compound decoction; and an ingredient in a number of tinctures. Serpyllum, (Thymus serpyll. Lin.) Mother of thyme. The herb. Aromatic. Seselis vulgaris, (Tordyli officin. Lin.) Common hartwort. The seeds. Agreeable aromatics, but neglected. Lewis. Seselis masfiliensis. Italian hartwort. The seeds. Sigillum Salomonis, (Convallaria Polygon. Lin.) Solomon's seal. The root. Probably emollient. Simarouba. Simarouba bark. Astringent. Sinapi, (Sinapis nigra, Lin.) Mustard. The seeds. Strongly pungent and stimulant. An expressed oil. Solanum, (Solan. nigr. Lin.) Nightshade. The leaves. Powerfully evacuant. Spermaceti. Spermaceti. A mild emollient. Gives name to a lochock. Spina cervina, (Rham. cathart. Lin.) Buckthorn. The berries. Strongly cathartic. A syrup. Spiritus vini. Vinous Spirits. Cordial and stimulant. Used as menstruum for tinctures, &c. in almost every preparation of that kind. Spongia, (Spongia officinal. Lin.) Sponge. Used as a tent for dilating ulcers, &c. Burnt. Stannum, (Stann. chrysalin. Lin.) Tin. Anthelmintic. Powdered. Staphigragia, (Delphin. staphisagr. Lin.) Stavesacre. The seeds. A violent cathartic taken internally. Its external application destroys lice and other insects. Stoechas, (Lavendul. stoechas, Lin.) Arabian stoechas, or French lavender. The flowers. Aromatic. An ingredient in mithridate and theriaca. Stramonium, (Datur. stramon. Lin.) Thorn-apple. The herb. Narcotic. An extract. Suber, (Querc. sub. Lin.) The cork-tree. The bark. Astringent. Succinum, (Succin. electric. Lin.) Amber. Astringent and corroborant. A tincture, balsam, essential oil, and an ingredient in several officinal preparations. Sulphur. Sulphur, or brimstone. Laxative, diaphoretic, and alterant. Solutions in different kinds of oils, called balsams, and an ingredient in some ointments. Sumach, (Rhus coriaria, Lin.) Common sumach. The leaves and seeds. Astringent. Tacamahac. Gum tacamahac. Discutient, emollient, and suppurative. An ingredient in several plasters. Tamarindus, TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED IN MEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Tamarindus, (Tamarind. indica, Lin.) Tamarinds. The fruit. Refrigerant and laxative. Ingredients in some laxative electuaries. Tamariscus, (Tamarix Gallica, Lin.) The tamarisk-tree. The leaves and bark. Astringent. Tanacetum, (Tanacet. vulgar., Lin.) Tansy. The leaves, flowers, and seeds. Stimulating, antispasmodic, and anthelmintic. Thapsus barbatus, (Verbasc. thapsus, Lin.) Great white mullein. The leaves and flowers. Analeptic. A spirituous extract from the flowers. Tartarum. Tartar. Refrigerant and cathartic. Purified from its earthy parts, and called cream of tartar, the basis of some useful purging salts. An alkali is also prepared from it by fire. Terebinthina Chia. Chian, or Cyprus turpentine. } Warm stimulating diuretics and aperients. An essential oil. The residuum forms the resina alba et nigra, or white and black rosin of the shops, used in almost every ointment. Terebinthina Veneta. Venice turpentine. Terebinthina Argentoratenfis. Straiburgh turpentine. Terebinthina communis. Common turpentine. Thea bohea et viridis. Bohea and green tea. The leaves. Cordial, diuretic, and diaphoretic. An infusion. Thlaspi, (Thlaspi. arvens., Lin.) Treacle, or mithridate mustard. The seeds. Aromatic and stimulant. Ingredient in theriaca. Thymus citratus. Lemon thyme. The leaves. An agreeable aromatic. A distilled water and essential oil. Thymus vulgaris. Common thyme. The leaves. An agreeable aromatic. A distilled water and essential oil. Tilia, (Tilia Europaea, Lin.) The lime, or linden tree. The flowers. Antispasmodic. Tithymalus. The spurge. The juice of the root. Most violent and inflammatory cathartics. Tormentilla, (Tormentill. erect., Lin.) Tormentil, or sept-foil. The root. Astringent. An ingredient in several officinal compositions. Trifolium paludosum, (Menyanthes trifoliata, Lin.) Marsh trefoil, or buck bean. The leaves. Laxative and alterant. Triticum. Wheat. The grain and flour. Nutritive and glutinous. Starch. Turpethum, (Convolv. turpeth., Lin.) Turbith. The root. Violently cathartic. An extract. Tussilago, (Tussilag. farfar., Lin.) Coltsfoot. The leaves and flowers. Emollient and mucilaginous. An ingredient in pectoral decoctions. Valeriana sylvestris, (Valer. officin., Lin.) Wild valerian. The root. Antispasmodic. A tincture in proof spirit, and in volatile spirit; also an ingredient in several cephalic and anti-epileptic medicines. Veronica mas, (Veron. officin., Lin.) Male speedwell. The leaves. Aperient. Infusions. LIST OFSIMPLEX. TECHNICAL NAMES. ENGLISH NAMES. PARTS USED INMEDICINE. VIRTUES. PREPARATIONS FROM THEM. Vinum. Wine. Cordial and corroborant.Laxative. A menstruum for a great number of medicinal substances.A syrup. Viola, (Viola odorat. Lin.) The single March violet. The flowers. Vipera, (Coluber viper. Lin.) The viper. The flesh and fat. Restorative and emollient. A vinous tincture; an ingredient in theriaca. Vitis vinifera. The vine. The leaves, sap, flowers, and fruit. Astringent, diuretic, aromatic, and pectoral. Wine. The dried fruit or raisins are ingredients in some pectoral and stomachic medicines. Winteranus cortex, (Winteran. aromat. Lin.) Winter's bark. Aromatic. Urtica. The nettle. The herb. Refrigerant and diuretic. Uva ursi, (Arbutus uv. urs. Lin.) The leaves. Astringent and lithontriptic. Zedoaria, (Kampferia rotund. Lin.) Zedoary. The root. Stomachic and corroborant. An extract with proof-spirit. Also an ingredient in some cordial medicines. Zincum. Zinc. Supposed to be a good antiepileptic. The metal reduced to a calx by fire. Calamine and tutty are a kind of ores of this metal. These last are the basis of two officinal ointments. A salt produced by its combination with the vitriolic acid. See CHEMISTRY, n° 157. Zinziber, (Anom. zinzib. Lin.) Ginger. The root. Aromatic. A syrup. Also an ingredient in many officinal compositions. N. B. To most of the articles taken from the Pharmacopœia Rossica (lately published at Petersburg,) no virtues are annexed in the above list, because none are mentioned in the original. M A T M A T Mathematics.