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 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 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, 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 maturants, or suppuratives. Sedative medicines, externally applied, are sometimes called paregorics: when taken internally, if they take off a spasm then existing in the body, they are called antispasmodics; if they mitigate pain, analgesics; 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 nervine 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 farcoctics traumatici, or vulneraries, &c. are seldom used.

If astringent medicines are used with an intention to drive, by the constrictions which they occasion, any kind of matter from the surface towards the internal parts of the body, they are called repellent; but if they insensibly expel any kind of stagnating matter from the parts where it is contained, they are then called diuretics; 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, cholagogues, or corroders, 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 absorbers, such as by their alkaline quality neutralise and destroy any acid matter which may be in the stomach; and antifebrics, 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 eccoprotics; 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 salivary 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 pharynics, erythinas, 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.

Writers on the materia medica (he observes) have taken great pains in arranging the various articles of which which it is composed, into different divisions and subdivisions, according to their real or reputed medicinal powers.

It has been imagined, that the whole materia medica is reducible under the three distinctions of alternatives, 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, hyperetic, stomachic, &c.

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.

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 clasped together, as cantharides and tea, tobacco and bran, hemlock and cowslips, soury-grafts and raisins, arum root and liquorice, wormwood and parsnips, cinnamon and nettles, raspberries and chalk, artichokes and alum, cloves and coffee, mustard-seed 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 intitles 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.

There is also a material imperfection in this scheme, even in the primary divisions. Steel and its preparations act, in different circumstances, both as evacuants and restoratives. Mercury and antimony afford, in their different preparations, both evacuants and alternatives; and there are many other drugs which are sometimes used as alternatives, and sometimes as evacuants; indeed, all evacuants, in diminished doses, seem to act merely as alternatives. It should seem therefore, that "the division of the whole materia medica into alternatives, evacuants, and restoratives," is a division not founded in nature, even if there was no objection to the vague meaning of the appellations themselves.

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.

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 inebriants 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.

In this article, instead of attempting a medicinal distribution of the simples, which we apprehend not to be practicable to any good purpose, we shall, after Dr Lewis, adopt the alphabetical mode of arrangement, as affording upon the whole a decided superiority over every other. We shall, however, premise, from the same ingenious author, some general observations on certain classes of medicines, in Cartheuser's manner; and thus preserve the less exceptionable parts of his plan, with some amendments.

**Art. I. Acids.**

| Class 1. Vegetable | Class 2. Mineral | |-------------------|-----------------| | Native; as forrel, wood-forrel, juice of lemon, oranges, barberries, and other fruits. | The acids of vitriol, nitre, and common salt. | | Produced by fermentation; as vinegar and tartar. |

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 immoderate hemorrhages, 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.

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 orbent, or dissolve viscid phlegm and deterge the vessels, and thus prove serviceable in sundry chronical disorders.

Inverterate scours 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 fucci seorbustici of our dispensatory, Seville orange juice is usefully joined to that of the echinaria and naphurium.

The mineral acids instantly coagulate blood: the vegetable dilute it, even when infipitated 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 drank, 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.

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, | Spars. |

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.

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 bones, both of the earthy and saline kind, and very liberally exhibited them on almost every occasion.

It is certain, that in children, and adults of a weak constitution, and whose food is chiefly of the vegetable acetic 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 foul 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.

If there are really no acid juices in the ventricle, these earths are apt to concrete with the mucous matter usually lodged there, into hard indissoluble masses; which have sometimes been thrown up by vomiting, 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.

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.

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 concret 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 ammonious calces or limes, and thus become medicines of a different class.

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 glutten 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.

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 Langina, and the other from Homberg. **Materia Medica**

### Table of the quantity of Acid destroyed by different Absorbents

| Some kinds of Limestones | 160 | |--------------------------|-----| | Oyster shells | 120 | | Chalk | 100 | | Shells of Garden-snails | 100 | | Calcined Cray-fish | 80 | | Pearls | 80 | | Tooth of the Sea-horse | 80 | | Volatile Salts | 80 | | Fixed Salts | 60 | | Coral, red and white | 60 | | Crabs-eyes | 50 | | Egg-shells | 50 | | Mother-of-Pearl | 50 | | Crabs-claws | 40 | | Jaw-bone of the Pike-fish| 30 |

### Table of the quantity of Absorbent Earths soluble in Acids

| 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 | | Crabs-eyes | 277 | | 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 |

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, four fermented liquors, or rather with four 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.

These kind of substances were introduced into me-

---

**Clas 2. Softer earths; the talky, gypseous, and argillaceous.**

The talcs and gypsums have rarely been used as medicines. Some of the former, from their unctuous softness and silver hue, stand recommended externally as coofinetics; and some of the latter, on little better foundation, internally as astringents. But they have long been deservedly rejected by the judicious practitioners. They seem to possess the ill qualities of the alkaline earth (concreting with the mucus of the stomach, &c.), without any of their good ones.

Several of the clays, boles, and terre figilate, were highly celebrated by the ancients as astringents 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 constancy to the fluids in the first passages, and in some measure defend the solids from their acrimony.

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 astringency: genuity; 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.

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 Animal Substances.**

**Class 1. Vegetable.**

| Pure gums: | Vegetables abounding with mucilage: | |------------|----------------------------------| | Tragacanth, Seneca, | Orchis root, | | The gums of cherry, plum, and other European trees. | Althaea root, Quince-seeds, &c. |

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.

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 2. Animal.**

Most animal substances (the fat excepted) contain a viscid matter, in many respects similar to the foregoing, and capable of being extracted by strong coction in water.

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.**

**Class 1. Insipid vegetable oils; and substances abounding with them; as almonds, and the kernels of most fruits; linseed, and the medullary part of sundry other seeds.**

**Class 2. Animal fats; as spermaceti.**

**Art. VI. Astringents.**

| Galls, Tormentil-root, Biftort-root, | Balsamites, Terra Japonica, Acacia, &c. |

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.

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.

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 hemorrhages, from a thinness of the blood, laxity or rupture of the vessels; in supernatural discharges of other kinds, after the offending matter has been duly corrected or evacuated; and in external relaxations.

In some cases, they produce the effects of aperients; the vessels, constricted and strengthened by them, being enabled to protrude the circulating juices with greater force.

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.

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.

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.

The purer sweets, as sugar, promote the union of distilled oils with watery liquors, and prevent the separation of the butyraeous 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 flagriff, 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 disagreeful to both; and thus render salutary what would otherwise be injurious to the body.

The unctuous and mucilaginous sweets, as the impure sugars, liquorice, &c. have a considerable degree of emollient and lubricating virtue.—Those accompanied with a manifest acid, as in the juices of most sweet fruits, are remarkably relaxing; and if taken immoderately, occasion diarrhoeas and dysenteries, which sometimes have proved fatal.

ART. VIII. ACIDS.

Acids are substances of a penetrating pungency. Applied to the skin, they inflame or excruciate it: chewed, they occasion a copious discharge of saliva: and snuffed up the nose, they provoke sneezing.

These substances, considered as the subjects of pharmacy, may be divided into three classes,

1. In distillation with water: as horse-radish, mustard, soury-grafs, &c. 2. By infusion only: as the greater celandine, pyrethrum, &c. 3. Neither to infusion, nor distillation: as arum and dracunculus.

The general effects of acid medicines are, to stimulate the vessels, and dissolve tenacious juices. In cold leucoplegmatic 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 aromatic, thin or acrimonious, or the viscera unsound, these and bitter-stimulating medicines prove highly prejudicial, and never fail to aggravate the disease.

Certain acid 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 Literarium of Norimberg for the years 1737 and 1739. Cartheuer 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 oedematous 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 dropy of the breast: that acid 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.

Aromatics are substances of a warm pungent taste, and a more or less fragrant smell. Some of the spices are purely aromatic, as cubebes, pepper, cloves; some substances have a sweetness mixed with the aromatic matter, as angelica-root, aniseed, fennel-seed; some an affringency, as cinnamon; some a strong mucilage, as catia lignea; some a bitterness, as orange-peel. The aromatic matter itself, contained in different subjects, differs also not a little in its pharmacetic 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 subjects, 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.

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 vis viva, 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.

Bitters for the most part yield their virtue both to watery and spirituous menstrua; some more perfectly to one, and others to the other. None of the substances of this class give over anything 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.

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 dropy 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.

Bitter substances destroy insects, and prevent putrefaction. Hence they are recommended as anthelmintic, and externally as antileptics.

**Art. XI. Emetics and Cathartics.**

Hellebore, Colocynth, Julip, Scammony, Ipecacuanha, Gamboge, &c.

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.

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, that he has sometimes observed convulsions, and paralysis of both sides, from their use.

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.

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.

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 slower, 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.

The action of these medicines is extended beyond the prime view: 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.

**Catalogue of the Simples 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.**—A particular account of the different articles of this list is given in the course of the alphabet, chiefly under the Linnaean names: And the method of making the preparations from them are shown under the article Pharmacy. The notes subjoined at the bottom of the following pages are intended to supply some particulars relating to a few of the detached articles already past.

| Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|---------------|-----------------------|---------|------------------------| | Abies ruber (Pinus abietis, Lin.) | The fir-tree. | The wood, tops, and cones. | Diuretic and diaphoretic. | A decoction. | | Abrotanum femina (Santolin chamaecypar, Lin.) | Lavender cotton. | The leaves. | Stimulant, detergent, and anthelmintic. | Decoction, and ointment for cutaneous eruptions. | | Abrotanum mas (Artemisia abrotanum, Lin.) | Southernwood. | The leaves. | Stimulant, detergent, aperient, and sudorific. | Decoction and tincture; also lotion and ointment for cutaneous eruptions. | | Absinthium maritimum (Artemisia maritima, Lin.) | Sea wormwood. | The tops. | Stomachic. | An oil, extract, conserve, and several distilled tincture-waters. They also enter the common fomentation and green oil. | | Absinthium vulgare (Artemisia absinthium, Lin.) | Common wormwood. | The leaves and flowering tops. | | |

4 N 2 Acacia | TECHNICAL NAMES | ENGLISH NAMES | PARTS USED IN MEDICINE | VIRTUES | PREPARATIONS FROM THEM | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Acacia Germanica | The sloe. | Infusillated juice. | Astringent. | | (Prunus spinosa, Lin.) | | | | | | Acacia vera | Acacia. | Infusillated juice. | Astringent. | | (Mojaniloticia, Lin.) | | | | | | Acetofa | Sorrel. | Leaves. | Astringent and antiflorbutic. | | (Rumex acetosella, Lin.) | | | | An essential salt for taking out spots in clothes. A decoction. | | Acetum | Vinegar. | The leaves. | Astringent and antiflorbutic. | | | | | Cordial, refrigerant, sudorific, and antiseptic. | | Aconitum | Wolf's-bane. | The herb and leaves. | Narcotic. | | (A. napellus, Lin.) | | | Tincture. | | Acorus | See Calamus aromatique. | | | | | Adiantum verum | Maiden-hair. | The leaves. | Attenuating and aperient. | | (Adiantum capillus, Ven., Lin.) | | | Decoction and syrup; its virtues best obtained from an infusion of the herb sweetened with sugar and liquorice, and drank as tea. | | Aer deplogisticus | Dephlogisticated air. | | Supposed to be antifebrile and corroborative. | | Aer mephiticus | Fixed air. | | Antiseptic and lithontriptic. | | Aer nitrosus | Nitrous air. | | Very antiseptic. | | Agaricus | Agaric. | | Cathartic. | | (Boletus pinicola, Lin.) | | | An aqueous extract, but now much diluted. | | Agaricus chirurgorum | Female agaric, or agaric of the oak, touchwood, or spunk. | Styptic. | | (Boletus ignarius, Lin.) | | | Pieces applied externally. | | Agnus castus | The chaste-tree. | The seeds. | Antaphrodisiac. | | (Vitex agnus castus, Lin.) | | | Attenuant and tonic. | | Agrimonia | Agrimony. | The leaves. | Digestive. | | (A. Eupatoria, Lin.) | | | Astringent. | | Albumen ovi | White of an egg. | | Aperient and diuretic. | | Alchemilla | Ladies-mantle. | The leaves. | Sudorific and deobstruent. | | (A. vulgaris, Lin.) | | | Stimulant, attenuant, disfectant, and diuretic. | | Alkekengi | Winter-cherry. | The fruit. | Astringent. | | (Phyllanthus emblica, Lin.) | | | Decoction. The leaves chopped and heated, efficacious for dispersing milk in the breasts. | | Allaria | Sauce-alone, or Jack-by-the-hedge. | The leaves. | Ingredient in several tinctures and pills. | | (Erythrina crista-galli, Lin.) | | | | | | Allium | Garlic. | The roots. | | | | (A. sativum, Lin.) | | | | | | Alnus | Alder. | Leaves and bark. | | | | (Betula alba, Lin.) | | | | | | Aloes | Aloes. | Infusillated juice. | Cathartic. | | (Aloe perfoliata, Lin.) | | | | | | Alisma | Chickweed. | The leaves. | Refrigerant. | | (Alisma plantago-aquatica, Lin.) | | | | |

*Note:* The entries are listed under their technical names followed by their English names, parts used in medicine, virtues, and preparations from them. | TECHNICAL NAMES | ENGLISH NAMES | PARTS USED IN MEDICINE | VIRTUES | PREPARATIONS FROM THEM | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Althea (A. officina) | Marshmallow | The leaf and root | Emollient | A syrup and ointment | | Alum. | 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 theriaca | | Amomum verum. | True amomum. | The seeds | Aromatic | An ingredient in the theriaca | | Amomum vulgare (Sison, Lin.) | Bastard stone-parsley. | The seeds | Carminative and diuretic | | | Ammoniacum. See Gummi. | | | | | | Amygdala (Am. con. Lin.) | Sweet and bitter almonds. | The fruit | Relaxing | Expressed oil and emulsion | | Amylum. | Starch. | | | | | Anacardium occidentale, (Lin.) | Cashew-tree. | The nuts | Astringent | Oil outside, but the kernels used as almonds; the gum instead of gum arabic | | Anagallis (Arven. Pimpernel. fts., Lin.) | | The leaves | Sudorific and nervous. | Extract, or infusorial juice | | Ananas (Bromelia ananas, Lin.) | The pine-apple. | The fruit | Refrigerant | | | Anchusa (A. tinctoria, Lin.) | Alkanet. | The root | Only used for its colour | | | Anethum (A. graveolens, Lin.) | Dill. | The seeds | Carminative | Distilled oil, water, and spirituous extract | | Angelica (A. Archangelica, and sylvestris, Lin.) | Angelica. | The roots, stalks, leaves, and seeds | Aromatic | Several compound waters | | Angustura cortex, (A.) | | | | | | Anisum (Pimpinella anisum, Lin.) | Anise. | The seed | Aromatic and tonic. | An essential oil, a spirituous compound water, &c. | | Antimonium. | Antimony. | | | A number of chemical preparations. See Chemistry-Index, Kermes Mineral, and Regulus of Antimony | | Aparine (Gallium aparine, Lin.) | Goosegrass, or clivers. | The leaves | Diaphoretic, cathartic, emetic, or caustic | | | Apium (A. graveol. Lin.) | Smallage. | The roots, leaves, and seeds | Carminative | Diet-drinks | | Aqua marina. | Sea-water. | | | | | Aquae minerales. | Mineral waters. | | | | | Aquae sulphureae. | Sulphureous waters. | | | | | Argentina (Potentilla argentin. Lin.) | Silverweed. | The leaves | Cathartic and alterative. | | | Argentum vivum. | Quicksilver. | | | | | | | | | A most powerful alterant. |

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(a) The Angustura bark was first imported from the West Indies in 1788; but it is a native of Africa. Mr Bruce, who had been cured of a dysentery in Abyssinia by the bark of a plant called there Wooginos, brought the seeds from that country, and the plant is now cultivated in Kew garden and other places under the name of Bruea antidysenterica, or ferruginea. He supposed the bark of this was the same with that of the Angustura; but Dr Duncan, in the Medical Commentaries for 1790, says that they are totally different when compared together. For an account of the Angustura bark, see Jervis's Bark. | TECHNICAL NAMES | ENGLISH NAMES | PARTS USED IN MEDICINE | VIRTUES | PREPARATIONS FROM THEM | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|------------------------| | Arislochia | Birthwort | The roots | Attenuating, stimulant, and detergent. | | Armeniaca | Prunus Armeniaca | The plum-tree | The fruit and gum. The fruit refrigerant, and the gum demulcent. | | Arnica | German leopard's bane. | The herb, flowers, and roots. | Antispasmodic; emetic, cathartic. | | Arsenicum | Arsenic | | Corrosive. | | Artemisia | Mugwort | The leaves | Antispasmodic. Infusion. | | Arum | Wake-robin | The root | Stimulant. A compound powder and conserve (c). | | Asafoetida | See Gummi, infra. | | | | Asarum | Asarabacca | The leaves | Errhine, cathartic, A compound powder (d) and emetic. | | Asparagus | Atparagus | The roots | Supposed diuretic, but uncertain. | | Asperula | Woodruff | The flowers | Attenuant and aperient. |

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(a) This pernicious mineral has some time ago been introduced into medicine as a certain remedy for cancers; but Mr Jutamond, who published a treatise on this subject two or three years ago, informs us, that even the most guarded use of it in the external way, while it produces the happiest effects in healing cancerous ulcers, yet occasions such disagreeable symptoms of the paralytic kind, that it cannot be persisted in. The latest trials in London are likewise said to confirm this account; notwithstanding which, however, the internal use of it has since gained ground in a variety of disorders, particularly in intermittent fevers, which are said to be readily cured by it sometimes after the bark and all other remedies had failed. A solution of the mineral is given by drops, from one sixteenth to a fifth part of a grain for a dose, largely diluted in a warm aqueous liquid. Dr Aikin recommends oil and milk as a certain remedy against this destructive poison. He quotes from Hoffman an instance where several persons of distinction had tasted food mixed with arsenic instead of sugar. All of them were seized with anxiety at the breast, pain at the stomach, tremor of the lips, and reachings. Milk and oil were given in great plenty, and they continued strongly vomiting for half a day. Some vomited no less than 100 times; but all of them recovered. Some instances of a similar kind have come within the Doctor’s own knowledge. Sage in his Mineralogy relates, that the regulus is much less dangerous than the calx or glass: he says that on giving half an ounce to a cat, the animal only grew meagre for some time, but afterwards became fat again. He says that acids, particularly vinegar, are the antidotes to this poison; and that oils and emulsions do not so effectually obtund this poison as acids do. Of this he has had experience in brutes. He adds, that the regulus is not soluble in water, and that the founders are more afraid of fumes of lead than arsenic.

(c) Dr Aikin informs us, that the insupportable pungency on the tongue, which has hitherto prevented it from being used in a fresh state so as to exert its full virtues, is effectually covered by unctuous and gummy materials. The fresh root beaten into a smooth mass, with the addition of a little tallow powder which promotes the division of it, may be either mixed with about an equal quantity of powdered gum arabic, and three or four times as much conserve, so as to make them into an electuary; or rubbed with a thick mixture of mucilage of gum arabic and spermacti, gradually adding any suitable watery liquors, and a little syrup in order to form an emulsion, two parts of the root, two of gum, and one of spermacti, make an emulsion, which scarce impresses any degree of pungency upon the tongue though kept long in the mouth. In these forms our author has given the fresh root from ten grains to more than a scruple, three or four times a day: it generally occasioned a slight sensation of warmth, first about the stomach and then in the remoter parts; manifestly promoted perspiration, and frequently produced a plentiful sweat. Several obstinate rheumatic pains have been removed by the use of this preparation, which our author therefore recommends to further trial.

(n) The leaves of this plant are by some supposed to be more powerful than the roots as emetics and cathartics, but they are milder as rhines. Geoffroy relates, that a single dose of the errhine of which this root is an ingredient has occasioned a discharge for three days; and that he has known a palsy of the mouth and tongue cured by the same means. He recommends it in stubborn disorders of the head proceeding from viscid matters, in palsies, and lethargic distempers. During its operation the patient must carefully avoid cold; which is apt to produce pustules, inflammations, swellings of the face, and sometimes worse symptoms than even these. The empirical herb-smiths have the leaves of asarum for their basis, but sometimes mixed with ingredients of a more dangerous nature. ### Materia Medica

| Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | **Asphodelus** | *A. Asphodel*, or king's spear. | The roots. | Emollient and suppurative. | A spirituous tincture, decoction, or conserve, recommended by Tournefort and others. | | **Atriplex** | *Chenopodium vulvar.* | The leaves. | Antispasmodic. | Decoction. | | **Avena sativa**| *Lin.* Oats. | The grain. | Emollient. | An essential oil, a distilled water, and a conserve. | | **Aura electrica**| Electricity. | | A violent stimulant. | | | **Aurantium** | *Citrus aurant.* | The leaves, fruit, and flowers. | Cordial, stomachic, and refrigerant. | | | **Auricula judae**| Jews-ears. | The whole. | Purgative, or astringent; uncertain. | | | **Auripigmentum**| Orpiment. | | Corrosive, but less so than arsenic. | | | **Axungia porcina**| Hog's lard. | | Emollient. | | | **Axungia viperina**| Viper's fat. | | Astringent. | Ingredient in a powder. | | **Balaustia** | *Punica granat.* | The flowers. | | | | **Balsamita** | *Tamarindus balsaminum,* | The leaves. | Aromatic, antihydropic. | Distilled water and spirituous tincture. | | **Balsamum Canadense**| Balsam of Canada. | The resin. | Diuretic and tonic. | | | **Balsamum Copayvae**| Balsam of Copivi. | The resin. | Diuretic and tonic. | An empyreumatic oil, and an ingredient in some tinctures. | | **Balsamum Gileadense**| Balsam of Gilead. | The resin. | Said to be a most extraordinary vulnerary. | | | **Balsamum Peruvinum**| Balsam of Peru. | The resin. | A line warm aromatic. | An ingredient in many tinctures, and some ointments. | | **Balsamum Toluatinum**| Balsam of Tolu. | The resin. | Aromatic and corroborant. | An ingredient in several tinctures, elixirs, and a kind of pectoral pills. | | **Barbana major**| Burdock. | The roots and seeds. | Aperient, diuretic, and sudorific. | Decoction. |

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(e) Balsam of Copivi has been employed empirically in hemorrhoidal cases; and Dr Cullen informs us, that he has known it give relief in such cases, in doses from 20 to 40 drops once or twice a day, mixed with powdered sugar. Fuller recommends it in consumptions; but his practice is censured by Dr Fothergill in the 4th volume of London Medical Observations.

(f) Barytes. The solution of the aerated barytes, or terra ponderosa, in spirit of salt, has been found capable of producing powerful effects on the human system. Several trials of it were made in the year 1789 by Dr Crawford, in St Thomas's hospital; and it was found to be very efficacious in scrophulous complaints. In some cases of swelled glands, foul ulcers, enlarged joints, and general cachexy, singular relief was given by the muriated barytes, either alone or joined with mercurials, antimonials, and the bark. The medicine in a few cases appeared to augment the cuticular secretion; in most it occasioned an uncommon flow of urine, and almost universally improved the appetite and general health of the body. Few stomachs, however, could bear more than from six to ten drops of a saturated solution, nor did a continued use of the medicine reconcile the stomach to it, but rather the contrary. Sometimes it produced a vertigo, which probably arose from its nauseating quality. Dr Crawford is of opinion, that this solution, when injudiciously managed, is capable of producing deleterious effects, by disordering the nervous system, and bringing on violent vomiting and purging. From some experiments made upon dogs, it appears that a large dose would prove fatal. | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Beccabunga | Vero-Brooklime | The herb | Attenuating, and antiscorbutic. | | | *Vern. beccabunga*, Lin. | | | | | Bechen album | (Centaurea be- | The root | Stimulant. | | | chen, Lin.) | | | | | Bechen rubrum | (Stachys limon., Lin.) | The root | Stimulant. | | Belladona | (Atropa Deadly night- | The juice | Narcotic. | | | belladonna, Lin.) | | | An extract of the juice, decoction, infusion, powders. | | Bellis minor | (Bell. Common daisy, peren. Lin.) | The leaves | Attenuant. | | Benzoe | (Termana. Benzoin. la benzoin, Lin.) | The resin | Pectoral. | | Berberis | (Berber. Barberry. vulgar. Lin.) | The bark and fruit | Astringent. | | Beta | (B. vulgaris, The beet. Lin.) | The root and leaves | Cathartic and er-rhine. | | Betonica | (B. officinalis, Lin.) | The leaves and flowers | Corroboration. | | Betula | (B. alba, The birch-tree. Lin.) | The bark and sap. | Antiscorbutic and diuretic. | | 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. | | Biflora | (Polygonum biflora, Lin.) | Biflora or snakewort. | The roots. | | Boli | Boles. | | Powerfully astrin-gent. | | Bonus Henricus | English mercury, all-good, or good Henry. | The leaves. | Ingredients in several pow-ders. | | Borax | Tincal, or borax. | The whole. | Laxative. | | Branca urfina | (A. cantius mollis, Lin.) | Bear's-breech. | The root. | | Brassica | (B. oleracea, Lin.) | Cabbage. | Emollient. | | Brafsca marina | (Convolvulus foli- | Sea-coleworts, or The leaves. | Refrigerant and laxative. | | | danella, Lin.) | | A strong cathartic. Now rejected from practice. | | Brucea antidysenterica | See note (a), supra. | | | | | Bryonia | (B. alba, White briony, Lin.) | The root. | Dificuent and violently cathartic. | | Burfa pastoris | Shepherd's purse. | The leaves. | Astringent, but very doubtful. | | | (Thlaspi burfa A. Lin.) | | | | | Cacao | (Theobroma cacao, Lin.) | Chocolate tree. | Analectic. | | Cajeput | (Macleaya leucadendron, Lin.) | The fruit. | Chocolate. | | | | | Stimulant, healing, Distilled oil. | | | | | Carninative. |

N° 197. | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|--------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Calaminaris lapis | Calamine stone | Deficative, healing | An ingredient in collyria, epulotic cerate, &c. | | Calamintha (Melis) | Calamint | The leaves | Aromatic and stimulant | | | Calamus aromaticus (Acorus calamus) | Sweet-flag | The roots | Aromatic and stomachic | | | Calendula (C. officinalis) | Garden marigold | The flowers | Attenuating and sudorific, but very doubtful | A violent corrosive, and powerful alterant and absorbent | | Calx viva | Quicklime | | | A medicated water | | Camphor (Laurus camphora) | Camphire tree | The concreted essential oil | Refrigerant and diaphoretic, stimulant, antispasmodic | A solution in rectified spirit, in expressed and essential oils | | Canella alba (Lin.) | White cinnamon | The bark | Aromatic and stimulating | Ingredient in many other compositions | | Cannabis (C. sativa) | Hemp | The seeds | Aperient and refrigerant, but doubtful | An ingredient in several tinctures | | Cantharis (Meloe vesicatorius) | Spanish fly | | Violently stimulating and vesicatory | Decoctions and infusions | | Caparis (C. spinosa) | Caper-bush | The bark of the root, and flower-buds | Aperient and stomachic | Pickled | | Cardamines (C. praetensis) | Cardamine | The flowers | Antispasmodic | Powder | | Cardamomum majus (Amom. cardam. Lin.) | Greater cardamom | The seeds | Aromatic and stimulant | | | Cardamomum minus (Amom. recens, Lin.) | Lesser cardamom | The seeds | Aromatic and stimulant | | | Cardiaca (Leonurus cardiaca) | Mother-wort | The leaves | Antispasmodic | | | Carduus benedictus (Centaurea bene-dita) | Blest-thistle | The leaves and seed | Stomachic | An ingredient in a stomachic tincture | | Carica (Ficus carica) | The fig | The dried fruit | Emollient, suppurative | Ingredient in the pectoral decoction and lenitive electuary | | Carlina (C. acaulis) | Carline-thistle | The root | Diaphoretic | In substance applied warm as a cataplasm | | Carpobalsam (Amyris Gileadensis) | Carpobalsam | The fruit | Aromatic | | | Carthamus (C. tinctorius) | Bastard saffron | The seeds | Cathartic | | | Carvi (Carum carvi) | Caraway | The seeds | Aromatic | An essential oil, a spirituous water. Ingredient also in some officinal compositions | | Caryophylla rubra (Dianthus cariophyllata) | Clove july-flower | The flowers | Cardiac and alexipharmac | A syrup | | TECHNICAL NAMES | ENGLISH NAMES | PARTS USED IN MEDICINE | VIRTUES | PREPARATIONS FROM THEM | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Caryophyllata | Avens, or herb benet. | The root. | Aromatic. | An essential oil. | | (Gum urban. Lin.) | | | | | | Caryophyllum | The clove-tree. | The flower-cups. | Strongly aromatic. | An essential oil. Ingredient also in many officinal compositions. | | (C. aromaticus, Lin.) | | | | | | Cascarilla | Croton Caesarian. | The bark. | Aromatic and stimulant. | Infusions. | | (Croton eluteria, Swartz Prod.) | | | | | | Cassia fistularis | Cassia filula, Lin.) | The fruit. | Purgative. | An ingredient in two electuaries. | | Cassia lignea | Cassia rus caffia, Lin.) | The bark and flower-buds. | Aromatic. | The basis of a distilled water. | | Cassumunar | Cassumar. | The root. | Stomachic and carminative. | | | Castoreum | Caflor fiber, Lin.) | | Nervine and antispasmodic. | A simple water; a spirituous water; a tincture. Ingredient in several officinal compositions. | | Catechu | Mimoso Catechu, vulgo Japan earth. | | Astringent. | A tincture, troches, and confection, and an ingredient in several officinal compositions. | | Celery | Apium graveolens, Lin.) | The leaves. | Laxative. | | | Centaurium majus | Greater centaury. | The root. | Astringent, aperient, and vulnerary. | Tincture and infusion. | | (Centauraceae centaurium, Lin.) | | | | | | Centaurium minus | Lesser centaury. | The tops. | Stomachic. | | | (Gentiana centaur. Lin.) | | | | | | Cepa | Allium cepa, The onion. | The root. | 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 and gum. | Refrigerant; the gum partaking of the properties of gum-arabic. | | Cerefolium | Sandix Chervil. | The juice. | Aperient and diuretic. | | | (Sandifol. Lin.) | | | Diuretic (g). | | | Ceterach | Aplemen. Spleenwort. | The leaves. | | | | (Aplemen. Lin.) | | | | | | Cevadilla | Veratrum album, Lin.) | Indian caustic barberry. | The seeds. | Virulently caustic. (h) | | Chamomile | Germaner. | The leaves and tops with the seed. | Sudorific, diuretic, &c. | |

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(g) M. Morand relates, that these leaves have lately been discovered to have an admirable diuretic virtue; that they were used with great success by Count d’Autenil, a Spanish naval commander, for the gravel, with which he was violently tormented; and since that time they have come greatly into use at Paris, Verdun, and Grenoble. From observations made in those places it appears, that they carry off sand, cleanse the kidneys, and mitigate pains in the urinary passages; that the method of using them is to drink infusions of the leaves in the morning at tea, adding such other medicines as may be judged proper.

(h) These seeds appear to be the strongest of all vegetable caustics. Monardes relates, that in putrid venous... ### Materia Medica

| Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Chamomelum (Anthemis nobilis, Lin.) | Camomile | The single flowers | Stomachic, carminative, and emollient | An essential oil, a simple water, an extract, a decoction | | Chamaepithys (Teucrium chamaepitys, Lin.) | Ground-pine | The leaves | Aperient and vulnerary | | | Cheiri, seu Leucojumulicum (Cheiranthus cheiri, Lin.) | Wallflower | The flower | Aperient, cordial, and attenuant | | | Chelae crancrorum | Crab's claws | | Absorbent | Levigated | | Chelidonium majus (Lin.) | Common celandine | The leaves and roots | Stimulating, diuretic, and sudorific | Infusion. Dried root powdered | | Chelidonium minus Pilewort (Ranunculus ficaria, Lin.) | | The leaves and root | Emollient | | | China (Smilax china, Lin.) | China | The root | Diaphoretic and diuretic | | | Cicer (C. arietinum, Lin.) | Redchices, or chick peas | The seeds | Lithontriptic and diuretic, but very doubtful | | | Cichorium (C. intybus, Lin.) | Wild succory | The roots and leaves | Laxative and antiscorbutic | | | Cicuta major (Conium maculatum, Lin.) | Hemlock (1) | The leaves and seeds | Refolvent and alterant | Insipiliated juice of the leaves, and an extract from the seeds |

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Minous ulcers and gangrenes, they have the same effects as corrosive sublimate, or the actual cautery; and that the way of using them is to sprinkle a little of powdered seed upon the part; or, for the greater safety, to dilute it with watery liquors, and apply lint dipped in the mixture. In the *Amanitates Academicae* of Linnæus, they are said to be the most powerful of all medicines for destroying cutaneous insects in children.

(1) It is supposed that the juice of this plant was the poison so much used among the Athenians for putting criminals to death; but from some late experiments this seems to be doubtful; or at least that the remedy is very easy. Mr Haram, apothecary at Chartres, informs us, that a large spoonful of the juice given to a cat had no sensible effect; a second produced a visible embarras on the region of the reins: in a little time the animal flagged, but did not fall. A quarter of an hour after, she was found stretched out motionless, with her paws rigid. Half a drachm of theriaca, with two large spoonfuls of wine, were given without effect; but no sooner was a large spoonful of lemon-juice swallowed than she got up as if nothing had happened, and continued afterwards in good health. Other authors likewise inform us, that vinegar is an antidote against the poisonous effects of this plant.

With regard to its medical virtues, Dr Monro, who has seen it tried in a great number of cases, informs us, that he never saw it cure a confirmed cancer, whether ulcerated or not; that in a few cases of ulcerated cancers it mended the discharge, and changed it from a thin ichor to an appearance of laudable pus; but, notwithstanding this favourable appearance, the distemper at last terminated fatally.—In scrophulous cases, some few small tumours were thought to be discounted by it; but large hard swellings were never removed by it, tho' the remedy was continued for weeks and months. The discharge from scrophulous sores of the extremities, however, was often mended by it; and in many cases, it was found to be of more service when joined with the bark than when given alone: the action of the bark and mercury was thought to be rendered more powerful by it. In the chincough it did not produce any remarkable effects. In some few instances, he imagined that it hurt the health of the patients; and in one or two, that it hastened death. In this last case, indeed, the use of the cicuta had been laid aside for some time, and the patients sunk gradually, that our author was in doubt what might have been the cause of their death.

The roots of hemlock have been supposed to be more active than the leaves, both when taken internally and when outwardly applied. Dr Stork relates, that on being cut, it yields a bitter acrid milk, of which a drop or two applied to the tip of the tongue occasioned a rigidity, pain, and swelling of the part, so as to deprive him of the power of speech. These symptoms, however, disappeared on washing the part with citron juice. When dried, it loses its virulence; so that Dr Storck says, he has taken a grain or two of the powder without injury. Other authors give instances where 20 and 30 grains have been given with good effect in schirrofities of the liver, quartan agues, on the approach of a fit, and even in acute fevers. Dr Aikin informs us, that the fresh root seems not to be at all times of equal virulence; and that he has seen it chewed freely without | TECHNICAL NAMES | ENGLISH NAMES | PARTS USED IN MEDICINE | VIRTUES | PREPARATIONS FROM THEM | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|------------------------| | Cinara (Cynara) | Artichoke | The leaves | Diuretic (k) | An essential oil, a simple and spirituous distilled water, and an ingredient in a great number of compositions. | | Cinnamomum | The cinnamon tree | The bark | Aromatic and corroborant | | | Citrullas (Cucurbita) | Citruls. | The seeds | Refrigerant | | | Coecinella (Coccus) | Cochineal. | Sudorific, but chiefly used for colowing. | | | Cocculus Indicus | Indian berry | The fruit | Narcotic | | | Cocklearia (G. of Scurvy-grafs.) | The leaves | Stimulating and attenuant | A conserve and spirit. An ingredient in some other officinal preparations. | | Coffea (C. Arabica) | The coffee-tree | The fruit | Stomachic and corroborant | A decoction. | | Colchicum (C. autumnale) | Meadow saffron | The root | Diuretic | A syrup and oxymel. | | Colocynthis (Cucumis colocynthis) | Coloquintida, or bitter-apple | The medullary part of the dried fruit | Violently cathartic | An ingredient in some cathartic pills and extracts. | | Columbo (Ignatia amara) | Columbo, or Colomba | The root | A most excellent antiseptic and stomachic. | A vinous tincture. | | Conessi (Nerium antidysentericum) | Conessi | The bark | Antiseptic and tonic (l) | | | Confolda major (Symphytum officin. Lin.) | Comfrey | The root | Emollient | |

without any other effect than that sweetness observable in parsley roots or carrots. There are likewise instances, where the cicuta roots have been taken to the quantity of some drachms, or even ounces, without any bad consequence.

The seeds have been recommended as demulcent, paregoric, and antiphlogistic; but little more (according to Dr Aikin) is yet known about them, but that they are innocent to some birds. Mr Ray says, that he found the crop of a thrush full of them, and that at a season when the corn was in full growth.

In the first volume of the Medical Commentaries, an extract prepared from hemlock-seeds is preferred to that made from the leaves; and in the last Edinburgh Pharmacopoeia, an extract of this kind is ordered as an officinal.

(k) Dr Aikin informs us, that the expressed juice of the leaves has sometimes proved successful in dropsies, when other remedies had failed. For this purpose it is not depurated, but only freed by passing through a strainer from the grosser feculencies, and mixed with an equal quantity of white wine; three or four spoonfuls to be taken every morning and evening.—The following decoction (as we are informed by Dr Monro) was long kept a secret by a person at Andover, and is said to have carried off the water from several people labouring under a dropsy. Take of artichoke leaves and stalks three handfuls; of bruised juniper-berries one quart; of scraped horse-radish one handful; of green fir-tops two handfuls; of bruised white mustard-seed two table-spoonfuls; mix the whole, and boil them in two gallons of water to one, and strain the whole thro' a cloth. Half a pint to be taken by a grown person morning and evening, adding a little syrup or sugar to make it agreeable.

(l) This bark is reckoned a specific in diarrhoeas; the fine powder being made use of in an electuary formed with syrup of oranges, and given to the quantity of half a drachm or more four times a day, after a vomit has been given. The first day it is taken, the number of stools is generally increased, without any increase of the griping; the second, the colour of the stools is meliorated; and, on the third or fourth, the confidence approaches to the natural, when it makes a cure. It seldom fails in curing a recent diarrhoea, proceeding from irregularities in diet without fever; and it is frequently of service in habitual diarrhoeas. | TECHNICAL NAMES | ENGLISH NAMES | PARTS USED IN MEDICINE | VIRTUES | PREPARATIONS FROM THEM | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Contrayerva (Dor.) | Contrayerva, Fenia contrayerva, Lin. | The root. | Aromatic and diaphoretic. | Spirituous tincture, extract, powder. | | Convallaria (C. Po.) | Solomon's seal, Polygonatum, Lin. | The root. | Suppurative. | Poultice, decoction in milk recommended in some cases of hemorrhage. | | Corallina (Sertularia, Lin.) | Coralline. | Absorbent. | Formerly an ingredient in some officinal compositions. | | Coriandrum (C. sativum, Lin.) | Coriander. | The seeds. | Carminative and stomachic. Emollient and nutritious. | Shavings, a jelly, a volatile alkaline salt and spirit, and an empyreumatic oil. | | Cornu cervi (Ceratophyllum, Lin.) | Hartshorn. | Attenuant and diuretic. | | | Cottus (C. Arab., Lin.) | Cottus. | The root. | Emollient and astringent. | | | Grassula (Sedum telephium, Lin.) | Lesser orpine. | The leaves. | Absorbent. | | | Creta alba. | White chalk. | Aperient, stomachic, and diuretic. | | | Grithmum (G. maritimum, Lin.) | Samphire. | The leaves. | Aromatic and cordial. | A spirituous tincture; a syrup; and an ingredient in several officinal compositions. | | Crocus (C. sativus, offic. Lin.) | Saffron. | The chives, or fleshy capillaments growing at the end of the flower. | | | Croton. See Cassia, supra. | | | | | | Cubebae (Piper cubeba, Lin.) | Cubebes. | The fruit. | Aromatic and stimulant. | An ingredient in several officinal compositions. | | Cucumis hortensis (C. sativus, Lin.) | The garden cucumber. | The seeds. | Refrigerant. | | | Cucumis agrestis (Momordica charantia, Lin.) | Wild cucumber. | The fruit. | Violently cathartic. | The juice inspissated. | | Cucurbita (C. pepo, Lin.) | The gourd and pompion. | The seeds. | Refrigerating. | An expressed oil. | | Cumminum (C. cuminum, Lin.) | Cummin. | The seed. | Aromatic, stimulant. | An essential oil by distillation; and giving name to a plaster and cataplasm. | | 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, Index. | | Curcuma (C. longa, Turmeric, Lin.) | The root. | Aromatic, aperient, and emmenagogue. | | | Curcula (Gentiana purpurea, Lin.) | The root. | Stomachic. | | | Cydonium (Pirus cyclonia, Lin.) | The quince. | The fruit and seeds. | Stomachic and corroborative. | A syrup and jelly of the fruit, and mucilage of the seeds. | | Cynoglossus (C. officinalis, Lin.) | Hound's tongue. | The root. | Narcotic, but doubtful. | | | Cynosbatus (Rosa canina, Lin.) | The wild briar, dog-rose, or hip-tree. | The fruit and flowers. | Refrigerant and antiscorbutic. | A distilled water and conserve. |

*Cyperus.* | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Cyperus (C. longus, Lin.) | Long cyperus | The root | Aromatic and carminative | Ingredient in mithridate and theriaca | | Daucus Creticus (Albamanta Cretenis, Lin.) | Candy carrot | The seeds | Aromatic | | | Daucus sativus (D. carota, Lin.) | The garden carrot | The roots | Powerfully antiseptic | A poultice from them for cancers, and a marmalade | | Daucus silvestris (D. carota, Lin.) | Wild carrot | The seeds | Aromatic | | | Dens leonis (Leonotodon tarax, Lin.) | Dandelion | The root and herb | Attenuant, but doubtful | An essential oil; and ingredient in several officinal powders | | Dictamnus Creticus (Origanum dictamnus, Lin.) | Dittany of Crete | The leaves | Aromatic | | | Dictamnus albus (Lin.) | Bafford dittany | The root | Alexipharmac, tonic, and anthelmintic | | | Digitalis (D. purpurea, Lin.) | Fox-glove | The leaves | Emetic, cathartic, and diuretic | The leaves in powder or infusion, used in dropsies | | Dolichos (D. pruriens, Lin.) | Couhage, or cowitch | The hairy matter of the pods | Anthelmintic | | | Doronicum. See Arnica. | | | | | | Dulcamara (Solanum dulcamara, Lin.) | Bitter-sweet, or woody nightshade | The herb and root | Diaphoretic, attenuant, and cathartic | Watery infusions | | Ebulus (Sambucus ebulus, Lin.) | Dwarf-elder, or Danewort | The root, bark, leaves, and fruit | Strongly cathartic | A rob from the berries | | Elaterium. See Cucumis. | | | | | | Elatine (Veronica officinalis, Lin.) | Fluellin, or female speedwell | The leaves | Diuretic and attenuant | Gives name to one of the officinal honeys | | Elcarnpane. See Enula. | | | | | | Elemi (Amyris elemifera, Lin.) | Gum elemi | | Aromatic | Gives name to an ointment | | Eleutheria. See Cascarilla. | | | | | | Endivia (Cichoreum endivia, Lin.) | Endive | The leaves and roots | Aperient and refrigerant | | | Enula (Inula helenium, Lin.) | Elecampane | The root | Expectorant, stomachic, attenuating, and tonic | Spirituous and watery extracts. A confection | | Eruca (Sisymbrium amphibium, Lin.) | Rocket | The seeds | Stimulant | | | Eryngium (E. maritimum, Lin.) | Eryngo, or sea-holly | The root | Aperient and diuretic | | | Erysimum (E. officinale, Lin.) | Hedge-mustard | The recent plant | Attenuant and diuretic | | | Eupatorium canadenum, (Lin.) | Hemp-agrimony, water-agrimony, or water-hemp | The leaves | Attenuant, corrosorant, and antiscorbutic | Powder | | Euphorbium (Euphorbia officinalis, Lin.) | Euphorbium | | Sternutatory | | | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|--------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Faba Indica, seu Sancti Ignatii, (Ignatia amara, Lin.) | St Ignatius's bean | The seeds; (the root, the columbo.) | Antispasmodic. | | | Faba vicia (Vicia faba, Lin.) | The garden-bean. | The seeds and flowers. | Nutritive and cosmetic. Refrigerant. | A distilled water from the flowers. | | Fagopyrum (Polygonum fagopyrum, Lin.) | Snakeweed. | The seeds. | | | | Farina tritici vel avenae. | Bran. | | Discutient. | | | Ferrum. | Iron. | | Corroborative and alterant. | Infusions in wine; the metal reduced to a calx by rust, or by fire, and some salts produced from it by combinations with different acids. See Chemistry Index. | | Ficus. See Carica. | | | | | | Filipendula (Spirea filipendula, Lin.) | Common dropwort. | The root. | Astringent and corroborant. | Powder. | | Filix (Polypodium filix mas, Lin.) | The male fern. | The leaves and root. | Anthelmintic and deobstruent. | | | Flammula Jovis (Clematis flammula, Lin.) | Upright virgin's bower. | The leaves and flowers. | Very acrid. | Powder for sprinkling on cancerous and venereal ulcers; infusion and extract for internal use, in washings, &c. from lues venerea. | | Foeniculum dulce et vulgare (Anethum fanic, Lin.) | Sweet and common fennel. | The seeds, roots, and leaves. | Aromatic, stimulant, and carminative. | A simple water; and an ingredient in one or two compositions. | | Foeniculum aquaticum (Phellandrium aquatile, Lin.) | Waterwort. | The leaves and seeds. | Corroborant. | | | Fennum Graecum (Trigonella fenugrecum, Lin.) | Fenugreek. | The seeds. | Emollient. | Chiefly used in cataplasms, fomentations, emollient glysters, &c. | | Formica (F. rufa, The ant, Lin.) | The ant, Lin. | The whole insect. | Stimulant. | An oil and acid spirit. | | Fragaria (F. vesca, The strawberry bush, Lin.) | The strawberry bush. | The leaves and fruit. | Astringent, corroborant, and refrigerant. | | | Frangula (Alnus nigra, Lin.) | Black alder. | The bark. | Violently cathartic. | | | Fraxinella (Dianthus albus, Lin.) | White or bastard dittany. | The root. | Diaphoretic. | | | Fraxinus (F. excelsior, Lin.) | The ash-tree. | The bark and seeds. | Astringent and stimulant. | | | Fuligo ligni splendens | Shining woodfoot. | | Antispasmodic. | A spirituous tincture. | | Fumaria (F. officinalis, Lin.) | Fumitory. | The leaves. | Stimulating, attenuant, and antiscorbutic. | Decoction and tincture. | | Fungus melitensis (Cynomorium coccinum, Lin.) | | The stems and tops. | Tonic and astringent. | | | Galanga minor (Kempferia Galanga gal, Lin.) | Galangal. | The root. | Stomachic. | | | Galbanum (Bubon Galbanum, galbanum, Lin.) | | The gum. | Antihysteric. | An ingredient in several officinal compositions. Galega. | | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Galega (G. officinalis, Lin.) | Goat's rue | The herb | Diaphoretic, but very doubtful | Astringent (m). | | Galae (ex Querc. cerr. Lin.) | Galls | | | | | Gallium luteum (G. Yellow ladies bed-verum, Lin.) | The tops straw, or cheese-renet | | Astringent. | | Gambogia. See Gummi gambogia, infra | | | | | | Genista (Spartium Brocm. secyarium, Lin.) | The leaves, flowers and seeds | Diuretic and cathartic | | | | Gentiana (G. lutea, Common gentian, Lin.) | The root | Stomachic and stimulant | | | | Geoffrea (G. inermis, Lin.) | Cabbage-bark, or worm-bark tree | The bark | Anthelmintic and purgative | Powder, decoction, syrup, extract. | | Geranium Robertianum (Lin.) | Herb Robert | The leaves | Astringent, but very doubtful | | | Ginseng (Panax quinguefol. Lin.) | Ginseng | The root | Stimulant and corroborant | | | Gladiolum luteum (Iris pseudacorus, Lin.) | Yellow water-flag, bastard acorus, or water flower-de-luce | The roots | Strongly cathartic | | | Glycyrrhiza (G. glabra, Lin.) | Liquorice | The root | Emollient and pectoral | An extract and powder. An ingredient in many officinal compositions. | | Gramen caninum (Triticum repens, Lin.) | Quick-grass | The roots | Aperient | | | Grana paradisi (Ammomum gr. par. Lin.) | Grains of paradise | The seeds | Aromatic and stimulant | | | Granatum (Punica granatum, Lin.) | The pomegranate | The fruit and flowers | Refrigerant and astringent | | | Gratiola (G. officinalis, Lin.) | Hedge-hyssop | The herb | Emetic and cathartic | | | Guajacum (G. officinale, Lin.) | Lignum-vitae, or guajacum | The wood and bark | Aperient, stimulant, and corroborative | An extract, two tinctures, and a gummy resin. An ingredient in many officinal preparations. | | Gummi arabicum (Mimoso nilotica, Lin.) | Gum-arabic | | Astringent and mucilaginous | An ingredient in a great number of officinal compositions. | | Gum ammoniacum (Ferula meoides, Lin.? | Gum-ammoniac. | | | | | Gum. asafœtida (Ferula ajaf. Lin.) | Asafœtida. | The concrete juice | Aperient, antispasmodic, and emollient. | A solution. An ingredient in several pectoral compositions. | | Gum. bdellium. | Bdellium. | | Antihysteric and anthelmintic. | Tinctures. | | Gum. benzoin (Terminalia benzoin, Lin. Styrax benzoe, Lond. Ph. Trans.) | Benzoin. | | Sudorific, diuretic, and emollient. | Cosmetic. An ingredient in several anodyne compositions. |

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*Dr. Cullen informs us, that an ointment composed of one part of powdered galls and eight of hog-jard is a common remedy for the hemorrhoids, and has been found efficacious.* | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Gum. elemi | Elemi | Aromatic | An essential oil, and gives name to ointment. | | Gum. galbanum | Galbanum | Antispasmodic | An ingredient in many anti-hysteric medicines. | | Gum. gambogia | Gamboge | Emetic and cathartic | Gives name to a certain kind of pills. | | Gum kino | Kino | Astringent | A tincture. | | Gum labdanum | Labdanum | Stomachic | An ingredient in the stomachic pills and plasters. | | Gum lacca | Gum lac. | Astringent | A tincture. | | Gum mastic | Mastic | Corroborant | | | Gum myrrha | Myrrh | Antispasmodic and corroborant. | A tincture, and an ingredient in many officinal compositions. | | Gummi olibanum | Olibanum | Astringent, but uncertain. | An ingredient in some powders, and other officinal compositions. | | Gummi opoponax | Opoponax | Attenuant and stimulant. | An ingredient in some officinal compositions. | | Gum sanguis | Sanguis | Astringent and mucilaginous. | | | Gum Senegal | Senegal | Astringent and corroborant. | | | Gum flymax | Flymax | Astringent and corroborative. | | | Gum tragacanth | Tragacanth | Astringent and corroborant. | | | Haematites | Blood-flone | Astringent and corroborative. | | | Hedera arborea | Ivy | The leaves, berries, and resin. | Diaphoretic. | | Hedera terrestris | Ground-ivy | The leaves. | Aperient and corroborant. | | Helenium | See E. nula, supra. | | | | Helleboraster | Bear's foot | The leaves. | Emetic, purgative, Syrup, and anthelmintic. | | Helleborus albus | White hellebore | The root. | Most violently emetic and errhine. | | Helleborus niger | Black hellebore, or Melampodium. | The root. | A powerful alterative and emmenagogue. | | | | | A tincture and extract. | | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Hepatica nobilis | Noble liverwort (Anemone hepatic, Lin.) | The leaves | Cooling and corroborant | | | Hermodactylus | Hermodactyl (Iris tuberosa, Lin.) | The root | Purgative, but doubtful | | | Hernaria (H. glabra, Lin.) | Rupture-wort | The leaves | Astringent | | | Hippocastanum | Horse-chesnut (Aescul. hippocast. Lin.) | The bark and fruit | Corroborant and erthine | | | Hordeum (H. distichon, Lin.) | Barley | | Refrigerant | A decoction | | Horminum (Salvia horminum, Lin.) | Garden-clary | The leaves and seeds | Corroborative | | | Hydrargyrum | See Argentum vivum, supra. | | | | | Hydrolapathum | Great water-dock (Rumex aquaticus, Lin.) | The leaves and roots | Alterant and laxative | | | Hyofciamus (H. niger, Lin.) | The common wild or black hen-bane. | The leaves and seeds | Narcotic | Cataplasm, plaster, powder, ointment. | | Hypericum (H. perforatum, Lin.) | St John’s wort. | The leaves, flowers, and seeds. | Diuretic, sudorific, and alterant. | Gives name to a coloured oil. | | Hypociftis (Cyrtis hypocift. Lin.) | Hypociftis. | The juice. | Astringent. | Juice inspissated. | | Hyssopus (H. officinalis, Lin.) | Hyssop. | The leaves. | Aromatic and pectoral. | A distilled water. | | Jalappa (Convolvulus jalappa, Lin.) | Jalap. | The root. | Cathartic. | An extract, a simple tincture, a compound tincture, a resin, and powder. | | Japonica terra. | See Catechu, supra. | | | | | Imperatoria (I. of Master-wort, truthium, Lin.) | The root. | | Aromatic. | | | Indian root. | See Radix Indica, infra. | | | | | Ipecacuanha (P. chatria emetica, Lin.) | Ipecacuanha. | The root (N.) | Emetic and cathartic. | A vinous tincture, and a powder. |

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(n) A root has been sometimes imported, under the name of white ipecacuanha (viola ipecacuanha, Lin.), which has little or nothing of the virtues of the true kind. More dangerous abuses, however, have been practised by the substitution or mixture of the roots of a kind of apocynum, which have been found to operate with great violence both upwards and downwards, so as to prove fatal in some cases. They may, however, easily be distinguished by their colour, which is a deep reddish yellow, while the true ipecacuanha is pale coloured or greyish; the poisonous roots are likewise larger, the fissures more distant, and the intermediate spaces smoother, than in the true ipecacuanha. This root is found to increase the purgative virtue of jalap remarkably. Dr Aikin informs us, that 15 grains of jalap, with two or three of ipecacuanha, purge more than twice the quantity of jalap by itself.

"Of late (says Dr Monro), a notion has prevailed, that the keeping up a nausea by means of small doses of ipecacuanha, or of watery solution of emetic tartar, was of great service in promoting the cure of fevers, as well as of fluxes, from a belief that they affected the nervous system, and were capable of exciting the action of the extreme vessels, and of increasing the secretions by the skin, and of the internal organs. Hitherto I have not found this method to answer my expectations; and I have always observed, that such a dose of an emetic as emptied the stomach freely, and gave a shake to the whole frame, had a much better effect than..." | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Iris Florentina | Florentine oris | The root | Aromatic and stimulant | An ingredient in several pecoral medicines | | Iris palustris | See Gladiolus, supra | | | | | Juglans regia | The walnut-tree | The fruit | The kernel emollient, the shell astringent | Emollient and balsamic | | Jujuba | Rhamnus Jujubes | The fruits | | | | Juncus odoratus | See Calamus, supra | | | | | Juniperus com. | Juniper | The berries, wood, Carminative and stomachic | An essential oil, and spirituous water. Ingredient in several officinal compositions | | | Kermes | Coccus Kermes querc. ilic. | | Astringent and corroborant | A confection | | Kino | See Gum Kino, supra | | | | | Lac | Milk | | Analgetic and corroborant | A saccharine salt | | Laccus | See Gum Laccus, supra | | | | | Lactuca sativa | Garden lettuce | The leaves and seeds | Supposed narcotic | | | Lactuca virosa | Wild lettuce | Juice | Laxative, diuretic, and diaphoretic | An extract | | Ladanum creticum | Ladanum | The gum-resin | | | | Lamium album | White archangel, or dead-nettle | The leaves and flowers | Supposed corroborant | | | Lavandula spica | Greater, or broad-leaved lavender | The flowers | An excellent cordial and aromatic | An ingredient in some officinal preparations | | Laurus nobilis | The bay-tree | The leaves and berries | Carminative and antispasmodic | An expressed oil. An ingredient in different compositions | | Lentiscus lentiscus | The lentisc or mastic tree | The wood | Astringent, tonic, and diuretic | | | Lepidium latifolium | Common broad dittander, pepperwort, or poor man's pepper | The leaves | Antiscorbutic and diuretic | | | Levisticum levisticum | Lovage | The root and seed | Aromatic | Ingredients in some compound waters | | Lichen cinereus terrestris | Ash-coloured ground liverwort | The whole | Recommended by Dr Mead as a specific against the bite of a mad dog, but without foundation. | Principal ingredient in the pulvis antillyphis | | Lichen islandicus | Edible liverwort | The herb | Nourishing, antifebrific, and laxative. | |

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those frequently repeated small doses, which kept the patient in a disagreeable uneasy situation for hours together; and I am persuaded, that no practitioner of experience, who has attended large hospitals, where he has had an opportunity of trying and seeing the effects of different medicines, will ever recommend this nauseating method for general practice in fevers, though it may be of use in some particular cases." | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|--------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Lignum campechense (Haematoclyium campech. Lin.) | Logwood | The wood | Astringent | An extract | | Lignum rhodium, Rose-wood (Genista canariensis, Lin.) | Rose-wood | The wood | Cordial | An essential oil | | Ligusticum | See Levisticum, supra | | | | | Lilium convallium, Lilly of the valley (Convall. mai. Lin.) | Lily of the valley | The root and flowers | Cephalic and nervine | Poultice | | Lilium album, (L. candidum, Lin.) | White lily | The root | Emollient | | | Limon, (Citrus medica, Lin.) | Lemon-tree | The fruit | Aromatic, antiscorbutic, and cordial | An essential oil; an ingredient in several compositions | | Linaria (Antirrhinum linaria, Lin.) | Toad-flax | The leaves | Diuretic and cathartic, but doubtful | | | Lingua cervina, Hart's tongue (Asplenium scolopend. Lin.) | Hart's tongue | The leaves | Aperient | | | Linum catharticum Purging flax (Euphorbia lathyris, Lin.) | Flax | The leaves | Cathartic | Infusion in whey; Dried powder | | Linum Sativum Flax (L. usitatissimum, Lin.) | Flax | The seed | Emollient | An expressed oil; Cataplasm | | Liquida ambra (a-cernegundo, Lin.) | Sweet gum, or storax tree | The resinous juice | Aromatic and cordial | | | Lithospermum (L. officinale, Lin.) | Gromwell | The seeds | Refolvent; lithontriptic | | | Lobelia (L. siphilitica, Lin.) | Blue cardinal flower | The root (o) | Alterant, and detergent | Decoction | | Lulula, or wood-sorrel. See Acorus calamus, supra | | | | | | Lumbrici et limaces Earth worms and terrestres | Earthworms and snails | | | | | Lupinus (L. albus, Lin.) | White lupines | The seeds | Anthelmintic | | | Lupulus (Humulus lup. Lin.) | Hops | The loofe leafy heads which grow upon the tops of the stalks | Diuretic and stomachic | |

(o) This root was long a famous secret among the North American Indians for curing the venereal disease. The secret was purchased by Sir William Johnson, and has been published in the writings of Bartram, Kalm, &c. The following method of using it is, by Dr Aikin, recommended as the best: "A decoction is made of an handful of the roots in three measures of water. Of this half a measure is taken in the morning fasting, and repeated in the evening; and the dose is gradually increased till its purgative effect becomes too violent, when the medicine is for a time to be intermitted, and then renewed till a perfect cure is effected. One dose daily is sufficient during the latter part of the treatment; and the regimen, during the whole process, is to be equally strict with that observed in a course of mercurial salivation. From the third day, the ulcers are to be well washed twice daily with the decoction; and it is said, that when they are very deep and foul, the Indians sprinkle them with powder of the internal bark of the spruce tree. By this method we are assured that inveterate venereal complaints are cured without the aid of mercury." | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|--------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Lycoperdon | Puff ball, or dusty mushroom. | The whole. | Styptic. | An essential oil. | | Macis | See Nux Moschata, infra. | | | | | Majorana | Sweet marjoram. | The leaves and flowers. | Aromatic and er-rhine. | An ingredient in mithridate and theriaca. | | Malabathrum | Indian leaf. | | | | | Malva | The mallow. | The leaves and flowers. | Emollient. | Ingredient in the decoction for glysters, used also in cataplasm and fomentations; formerly there was a conserve of the flowers. | | Malus | The apple-tree. | The fruit. | Refrigerant and laxative. | | | Mandragora | The mandrake. | The leaves. | Narcotic. | | | Manna | The manna ash. | The concreted juice. | Laxative. | Gives name to an officinal loco-hoch, and enters several other compositions. | | Marrubium | White horehound. | The leaves. | Stomachic and aperient. | An ingredient in theriaca (p). | | Marum Syriacum | Syrian herb marsh. | The leaves. | Aromatic and er-rhine. | An ingredient in some cephalic liniments. | | Matricaria | Feverfew. | The leaves and flowers. | Aperient and antispasmodic. | | | Mechoacanna | White jalap, or Mexican choacan. | The root. | Cathartic. | | | Mel. | Honey. | | Aperient and detergent. | | | Melampodium | See Helleborus niger, supra. | | | | | Melilotus | Melilot. | The leaves and flowers. | Emollient and carminative. | Gives name to a plaster. | | Melissa | Balm. | The leaves. | Aromatic. | An essential oil, and an infusion. | | Melo | The melon. | The seeds. | Refrigerant and emollient. | | | Mentha crispa | Danish or German curled mint. | The herb. | Aromatic and cordial. | A distilled water, essential oil, and essence. An ingredient in several officinal preparations. | | Mentha vulgaris | Spearmint. | The herb. | Aromatic and cordial. | A distilled water, an essential oil, a spirit, and essence. An ingredient in several officinal preparations. |

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(v) The juices of horehound and plantain mixed are remedies of great repute in America against the bite of the rattlesnake. They are given by spoonfuls at short intervals; while at the same time the wounded part is covered with a cataplasm of the same herbs bruised. The good effects are said to be speedy, and the recovery of the patient complete and certain. | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Mentha piperitis | Pepper-mint (M. piperita, Lin.) | The herb. | Aromatic and cordial. | A distilled water, essential oil, and essence. An ingredient in several officinal preparations. | | Mercurialis (M. annua, Lin.) | French mercury. | The leaves. | Emollient and laxative. | A syrup. | | Meum (Athusa meum, Lin.) | Spignel. | The root. | Aromatic and carminative. | | | Mezereon (Daphne mezereum, Lin.) | Mezereon, or spurge olive. | The bark of the root. | Violently cathartic. Decoction and powder. | | | Millefolium ((Achillea millefol. Lin.) | Millefoil, or yarrow. | The leaves and flowers. | Mildly astringent and aromatic. | An essential oil. | | Millepede (Oniscus Wood-lice, hog-llice, or flattru. | | | Diuretic. | The insects dried and powdered; an infusion in wine; also an ingredient in some other officinal preparations. | | Minium. See Plumbum, infra. | | | | | | Morbus diaboli (Scabiosa succisa, Lin.) | Devil's bit. | The leaves and roots. | Diaphoretic. | | | Morus nigra (Lin.) | The mulberry-tree. | The fruit and bark of the roots. | Refrigerant, astringent, and anthelmintic. | A syrup from the juice of the fruit. | | Moschus (M. moschiferus, Lin.) | Musk. | | Diaphoretic and antispasmodic. | A julep. | | Myrrhica (Sifton Canadensis, Liu.) | Sweet cicely. | The leaves and seeds. | Diuretic. | | | Myrtillus (Vaccinium myrtill. Lin.) | Whortle-berry. | The leaves and berries. | Astringent. | | | Myrtus (M. communis, Lin.) | The myrtle. | The berries. | Astringent. | | | Napus (Brassica napus, Lin.) | Sweet navew, or navew gentle. | The seeds. | Aromatic. | An ingredient in the theriac. | | Nardus Indica, (Andropogon nardus, Lin.) | Indian nard. | The roots. | Stomachic and carminative. | Ingredient in the mithridate and theriac. | | Nasturtium aquaticum (Sisymbrium nasturtium, Lln.) | Water cresses. | The leaves and juice. | Aperient and anti-scorbutic. | An ingredient in the succi scorbutici. | | Nasturtium hortense (Lepidium sativum, Lin.) | Garden cresses. | The leaves and seeds. | Aperient and anti-scorbutic, but much weaker than the former. | | | Nepeta (N. cataria, Nep, or catmint. Liu.) | The leaves. | | Aromatic and cordial. | | | Nephriticum lignum (Guilandina moringa, Lin.) | Nephritic wood. | The wood in substance. | Diuretic, but uncertain. | | | Nicotiana (Nicotiana tabacum, Lin.) | Tobacco. | The leaves. | Violently emetic, cathartic, and narcotic. | An extract recommended by Stahl and other German physicians. |

*Nigella* | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|--------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Nigella (Nigella sativa, Lin.) | Fennel-flower | The seeds | Aperient and diuretic, but uncertain | An acid spirit and fixed alkaline salt, an aqueous decoction or solution, troches. An ingredient in many other officinal preparations. | | Nitrum | Nitre or saltpetre | | Diaphoretic, diuretic, and refrigerant | | | Nummularia (Lysimachia nummularia, Lin.) | Moneywort, or herb twopence | The leaves | Antiscorbutic | | | Nux moschata (Myristica aromatica, Lin. Myristica moschata, A.C. Holm.) | 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 (Pistacia vera, Lin.) | The pistachia-tree | The fruit | Emollient and analeptic | | | Nux vomica (Strychnos nux vom. Lin.) | Nux vomica | The fruit | Narcotic | | | Nymphæa alba (Lin.) | White water-lily | The roots and flowers | Astringent and corroborative | | | Ochra | Yellow ochre | | Astringent, but very weak | | | Oenanthe (O. crocata, Lin.) | Hemlock dropwort | Leaves and root | A virulent poison: But the juice of the root, or the infusion of the leaf, has been recommended in chronic eruptions. The latter has been also found useful as an emmenagogue. | | | Olibanum. See Gum olibanum, supra. | | | | An expressed oil used in almost all ointments, plasters, &c. | | Oliva (Olea Europæa, Lin.) | The olive-tree | The fruit | Emollient | | | Ononis (O. spinosa, Lin.) | Rest-harrow, camomock, or pettywhin | 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 viscous and spirituous tincture, called liquid laudanum. Also a capital ingredient in many officinal preparations. | | | Opopanax. See Gum opopanax, supra. | | | | An essential oil. | | Origanum (O. vulg. Lin.) | Wild marjoram | The leaves | Aromatic | | | Oryza (O. sativa, Lin.) | Rice | The grain | Emollient and refrigerant | | | Oxylapathum (Rumex acutus, Lin.) | Sharp-pointed dock | The roots and leaves | Alterant and laxative | | | Paeonia (P. officinalis, Lin.) | Male and female peony | The roots, flowers, and seeds | Emollient and antipathmodic | Ingredients in some anti-epileptic powders. | | Palma (Cocos butyracea, Lin.) | The palm-tree | The kernels of the fruit | Emollient and anodyne | An expressed oil used in stomachic plasters. | | Palma Christi. See Ricinus, infra. | | | | |

Papaver | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|--------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Papaver album | The white poppy | The heads. | Anodyne. | A syrup. | | (P. somniferum, Lin.) | | | | Valued chiefly for the colour they communicate. | | Papaver erraticum | Red poppy, or corn-rose. | The flowers. | Corroborant and antispasmodic. | A syrup. | | (P. rhoeas, Lin.) | | | | Attenuant, diuretic, and lithontriptic. | | Primula veris officinalis | Cowslip. | The flowers. | Emollient and diuretic. | Ingredient in a nephritic decoction. | | Pareira brava | (Cif. Pareira brava. jambelos pareira, Lin.) | The root. | Emollient and aromatic. | Aromatic. | | Parietaria ficinalis | Pellitory of the wall. | The leaves. | Astringent. | | | Patisinaca | (P. sativa) Garden parsnip. | The roots and seeds. | Diuretic and detergent when externally applied. | Antiseptic and astringent. | | Patisinaca silvestris | Wild parsnip. | The seeds. | Laxative, anthelmintic, and refrigerant. | A most excellent corroborative. | | Potentilla reptans | Cinquefoil. | The root. | Aromatic, aperient, and deobstruent. | Anextract, a resin, a spirituous tincture, a compound tincture, a tincture in volatile spirit; also an ingredient in the stomachic tincture. | | Polygonum hydropiper | Bitter arnica, lake-weed, or water-pepper. | The leaves. | Anodyne and corroborative when applied externally. | Discutient, sudorific, and corroborative. | | Polygonum perfoliatum | Spotted arnica. | The leaves. | Aperient and somewhat aromatic. | The seeds an ingredient in an electuary. | | Amygdalus persica | The peach-tree. | The leaves, flowers, and fruit. | Aperient, stimulant, and erthrine. | The basis of a distilled water, a spirit, and an essential oil. | | Cinchona officinalis | The quinquina, or Jesuit's-bark-tree. | The bark. | Astringent. | | | Typhlugo petasites | Butterbur. | The root. | Aromatic, aperient, and deobstruent. | | | Bitumen petroleum | Rock oil. | | Anodyne and corroborative when applied externally. | | | Bitumen Barbadense | Barbadoes tar. | | Discutient, sudorific, and corroborative. | | | Apium petroselinum | Common parsley. | The roots, leaves, and seeds. | Aperient and somewhat aromatic. | | | Pimpinella pimena | Hog's-fennel, or sulphur-wort. | The root. | Aperient, stimulant, and erthrine. | | | Myrtus pimenta | Pimento, Jamaica pepper, or allspice. | The berry. | Aromatic and stimulant. | | | Sanguisorba officinalis | The greater wild burner. | The leaves. | Astringent. | | | Saxifraga | Burnet saxifrage. | 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 Terebinthinae, infra. | | | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Piper longum (Lin.) | Long pepper. | Highly aromatic and stimulant. | A powder called Cayenne pepper. | | Piper nigrum (Lin.) | Black pepper. | Attenuant and stimulating. | An infusion in water, and an ingredient in a kind of pectoral pills. | | Piper Jamaicensis | See Pimenta, supra. | | Ingredient in several plasters, ointments, and cerates. | | Piper Indicum (Cassia anomum, Lin.) | Guinea pepper. | | | | Pix liquida (Pinus sylvestris, Lin.) | Tar. | | | | Pix Burgundica (Pinus abies, Lin.) | Burgundy pitch. | | | | Plantago latifolia, P. major, Lin.) | Common broad-leaved plantain. | The leaves. | Astringent. | Several chemical preparations. | | Plumbum. | Lead. | | | See Chemistry-Index. A tincture and extract, or solution in vegetable acids; also an ingredient in several ointments, &c. | | Polium montanum (Teucrium polium, Lin.) | Poleyn-mountain. | The tops. | Aromatic. | Ingredient in the Mithridate and theriaca. | | Polygala amara (Lin.) | Milkwort. | The root. | Purgative. | | | Polygala senega (Lin.) | Rattlesnake root. | The roots. | Stimulating, attenuant, and diuretic. | | | Polypodium (P. vulgare, Lin.) | Polypody. | The root. | Laxative. | | | Populus nigra, (Lin.) | Black poplar. | The buds. | Aromatic. | Used only in an ointment, but capable of being applied to better purposes. | | Porrum (Allium porrum, Lin.) | The leek. | The root. | A stimulating diuretic. | | | Portulaca (P. oleracea, Lin.) | Purslane. | The seeds. | Refrigerant. | | | Primula veris (Lin.) | Primrose. | The herb and root. | Aromatic and stomachic. | An infusion and distilled spirit. | | Prunella (P. vulgaris, Lin.) | Self-heal. | The leaves. | Attenuant and detergent. | | | Pruna Gallica (Prunus domestica, Lin.) | French or common prunes. | The fruit. | Cooling and aperient. | | | Prunus Sylvestris. | See Acacia Germanica, supra. | | | | | Pfyllium (Plantago pflyll, Lin.) | Fleawort. | The seeds. | Emollient and laxative. | | | Ptarmica (Achillea ptarmica, Lin.) | Sneezewort, or bastard pellitory. | The root. | Errhine and stimulating. | | | Pulegium (Mentha puleg. Lin.) | Pennyroyal. | The flower. | A warm aromatic. | A simple water, a spirituous water, an essential oil; and an ingredient in some other officinal compositions. | | Pulmonaria maculata (P. officinalis, Lin.) | Spotted lung-wort, or sage of Jerusalem. | The leaves. | Said to be aperient and analeptic. | | | Pullatilla nigricans (Anemone pratensis, Lin.) | Meadow anemone. | The herb and flower. | Emetic, diuretic, and cathartic. | An extract and distilled water, used in venereal complaints, and certain disorders of the eye. |

Vol. X. Part II. | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|--------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Pyrethrum (Antennaria pyrethrum) | Pellitory of Spain | The root | Promotes the salivary flux | See Ed. Phil. Trans. vol. ii. in dysentery. | | Quassia (Quassia amara) | Simarouba | The bark | Antiseptic; useful in dysentery. | An extract. | | Quercus robur | Oak-tree | The bark | Stomachic and tonic. | Strongly astringent. | | Quercus marina (Fucus vesiculosus) | Sea-wrack or Sea-oak | The herb | Astringent and detergent. | A powder of the burnt herbs. | | Radix Indica Lopeziana (Gaub.) | Indian or Lopez root | | Astringent. | | | Raphanus rusticus (Cochlearia armoracea) | Horse-radish | The root | Stimulating and astringent. | A compound water. | | Rhabarbarum (Rheum palmatum) | Rhubarb | The root | Cathartic and stomachic. | Toasted; a watery infusion; vinous and spirituous tinctures; and an ingredient in several officinal compositions. | | Rhamnus catharticus | See Spina cervina, infra. | | | | | Rhaponticum (Rheum rhapon) | Rhapontic | The roots | Laxative. | | | Rhododendron chrysanthemum (Lin.) | Rhododendron | The herb | Powerfully sedative. | Decoction and powder; lately found serviceable in the gout and rheumatism. | | Ribes nigrum (Lin.) | The black-currant bush | The fruit | Refrigerant and detergent. | A gelly. | | Ribes rubrum (Lin.) | The red-currant bush | The fruit | Ditto. | | | Ricinus (R. communis, Lin.) | Palma Christi | The seed | Laxative, anthelmintic. | Expresed oil. | | Rosa damascena (R. centafolia, Lin.) | Damask rose | The flower | Aromatic and gently laxative. | A distilled water and syrup. | | Rosa rubra (R. Gallica, Lin.) | The red rose | The flower | Astringent and corroborative. | A conserve, honey, tincture, troches, vinegar, and syrup. | | Rosmarinus shortensis (R. officinalis, Lin.) | Rosemary | The tops and flowers | A fine aromatic and cordial. | An ingredient in several officinal compositions. | | Rubia tinctorum, Madder (Lin.) | Madder | The root | Aperient and detergent. | An essential oil; a distilled spirit called Hungary water. | | Rubus idaeus (Lin.) | The raspberry bush | The fruit | Refrigerant. | An ingredient in many cordial and antipaludic medicines. | | Rubus niger (R. fruticosus, Lin.) | The bramble | The leaves | Astringent. | A syrup. | | Ruscus (R. aculeatus, Lin.) | Butcher's-broom or knee-holly | The root | Aperient. | Ingredient in diet-drinks. | | Ruta (R. graveolens, Lin.) | Broad-leaved rue | The leaves and seeds | Powerfully stimulating, attenuating, and detergent. | An extract; and an ingredient in several compositions. |

Sabadilla. | TECHNICAL NAMES | ENGLISH NAMES | PARTS USED IN MEDICINE | VIRTUES | PREPARATIONS FROM THEM | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|------------------------| | Sabadilla | See Cedrilla, supra. | The leaves or tops. | A stimulating aperient. | An essential oil; a watery extract; and an ingredient in several officinal compositions. | | Sabina (Juniperus sabina, Lin.) | Savin. | | | | | Saccharum (Arundo saccharifera, Lin.) purificatum & non purificatum. | Sugar, refined and brown. | | Emollient and laxative. | | | Saccharum cantum, album & rubrum. | Sugar-candy, white and brown. | | | | | Sagapenum (Ferula gum sagapenum. orientalis, Lin.) | | | Aperient and deobstruent. | An ingredient in several antipathodic medicines. | | Sal alkali vegetable. | Vegetable alkaline salt, or pearls. | | Aperient, diuretic, and caustic. | The basis of a great number of neutral salts. | | Sal alkali minerales. | Mineral alkali, salt of Soda, or bals of sea-salt. | | Ditto. | Ditto. | | Sal ammoniac. See Ammoniac. | | | Cathartic. | Magnesia. | | Sal catharticus amarus. | Epson salt. | | In small doses stimulant, in large ones cathartic. | | | Sal commune. | Common salt. | | | | | Salicaria (Lytthrum salicar, Lin.) | Purple loose-strife. The herb. | The leaves. | Moderately stimulating and astringent. | Infusions. | | Salix (S. fragilis, Lin.) | The crack-willow. The bark. | | Corroborant. | | | Salvia (S. officinalis, Lin.) | Common sage. | | 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. | | Sambucus (S. nigra, Lin.) | Common black-berried alder. | The leaves, bark, flowers and berries. | Astringent. | An ingredient in some officinal compositions. | | Sanguis draconis, Dragon’s-blood. (Calamus rotang, Dracaena draco, Pterocarpus, draeo, &c., Lin.) | | | Supposed to be corroborant. | Essential oil; extract. | | Sanicula (S. Europaea, Lin.) | Sanicle. | The leaves. | Greatly recommended by Hoffman as a restorative. | | | Santalum citrinum, Yellow sanders. (S. album, Lin.) | | The wood. | Used only for its colour. | Anthelmintic. | | Santalum rubrum (Pterocarpus santolinus, Lin.) | Red sanders. | The wood. | | | | Santonicum (Artemisia santonica, Lin.) | Worm-seed. | | | | | TECHNICAL NAMES | ENGLISH NAMES | PARTS USED IN MEDICINE | VIRTUES | PREPARATIONS FROM THEM | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Sapo durus | Hard Spanish soap | The herb and root. | Refolvent and stimulating. | The first gives name to a plaster, liniment, balsam, and pills; the second is an ingredient in the milder cautifacient; and the third in an anodyne plaster. Tincture; extract. | | Sapo mollis | Common soft soap | The root. | Aperient, corrosive, and sudorific. | Ingredient in the pulvis-ee cerussa. Infusions and extract. | | Sapo niger | Black soap | The root. | Supposed a vulnerary. Alterant, and diaphoretic. | An essential oil; an ingredient in some officinal preparations. | | Saponaria (S. officinalis, Lin.) | Soapwort or bruise-wort. | The leaves. | Alterant, aperient, and corrosive. | Salep supposed to be a preparation from a root of this kind. | | Sarcocolla (Penae farcic, Lin.) | Gum sarcocel. | The leaves. | A very pungent warm aromatic. Coagulant and corroborative. | | | Sarsaparilla (Smilax sarsaparilla, Lin.) | Sarsaparilla. | The roots. | Supposed to be aperient, diuretic, and lithontriptic, but without just foundation. | | | Saffrafras (Laurus sassafras, Lin.) | Sassafras. | The roots and leaves. | Aperient, sudorific, and expectorant. | Strongly cathartic. Gives name to a powder, and is an ingredient in some officinal preparations. | | Satureia (S. hortensis, Lin.) | Summer savory. | The leaves. | Powerfully diuretic, stimulant, and expectorant. | A syrup, vinegar, oxymel, pills; the root dried, baked, and made into troches. | | Satyrion nas (Orchis maculata, Lin.) | Orchis. | The root. | Deobstruent, diuretic, and sudorific, but doubtful. Cordial and stimulant, but doubtful. Supposed corrosive, but doubtful. Emollient. | An ingredient in mithridate, theriaca, and several other preparations. | | Saxifraga alba (S. granulata, Lin.) | White-flowered saxifrage. | The roots and seeds. | Strongly purgative, emetic, and diuretic. Refrigerant. | | | Saxifraga vulgaris (Pseudanum flava, Lin.) | Meadow saxifrage. | The leaves and seeds. | Cathartic. Infusion, spirituous tinctures, compound powders, and an electuary. Serpentaria | | | Scabiosa (S. arvensis, Lin.) | Scabious. | The leaves. | | | | Scammonium (Convolvulus scammonia, Lin.) | Scammony. | Roots. | | | | Scilla (S. maritima, Lin.) | The squill, or sea onion. | The root. | | | | Selopendrium. See Lingua cervina, supra. | | | | | | Scordium (Teucrium scordium, Lin.) | Water germander. | The leaves. | | | | Scorzonera (S. biflora, Lin.) | Viper's grass. | The root. | | | | Scrophularia (S. nodosa, Lin.) | Figwort. | The leaves and root. | | | | Sebsten (Cordia myxa, Lin.) | Sebsten plum. | | | | | Sedum acre (Lin.) | Wall stone crop, or wall pepper. | | | | | Sedum majus (S. album, Lin.) | Greater houseleek. | The leaves. | | | | Seneka. See Polygala seneka, supra. | | | | | | Senna (Cassia senna, Senna, Lin.) | | The leaves. | | | | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Serpentaria Virginia (Aristolochia serpentaria, Lin.) | Virginian snake-weed | The root | A warm diaphoretic and diuretic | A spirituous tincture; and an ingredient in a number of tinctures | | Serpyllum (Thymus serpyllum, Lin.) | Mother of thyme | The herb | Aromatic | | | Sefelis vulgaris, (Tordylium officinum, Lin.) | Common hartwort | The seeds | Agreeable aromatics, but neglected. Lewis. | | | Sefelis massiliensis (Sefeli elatum, Lin.) | Hartwort of Marseille | The seeds | Probably emollient. | | | Sigillum Salomonis (Convallaria polygonum, Lin.) | Solomon's seal | The root | | | | Sinapis (Sinapis alba & nigra, Lin.) | Mustard | The seeds, black and white | Strongly pungent and stimulant. | An expressed oil. | | Sium (S. nodiflorum, Lin.) | Creeping skerrit, or water parsnip | The herb | The juice serviceable in some cutaneous disorders. | | | Solanum (S. nigrum, Lin.) | Nightshade | The leaves | Powerfully evacuant. | Gives name to a lochoch. | | Spermaceti (Plymister macrocephalus, Lin.) | Spermaceti | | A mild emollient. | | | Spigelia (S. Marilandica, Lin.) | Indian pink | The root | Anthelmintic. | | | Spina cervina, (Rhamnus calbaricus, Lin.) | Buckthorn | The berries | Strongly cathartic. | A syrup. | | Spiritus vinosi. | Vinous spirits. | | Cordial and stimulant. | Used as menstruums for tinctures, &c. in almost every preparation of that kind. | | Spongia (S. officinalis, Lin.) | Sponge | | Used as a tent for dilating ulcers, &c. | Burnt, recommended in scrophulous affections. | | Stannum. | Tin. | The seeds | Anthelmintic. Powdered. | | | Staphisagria (Delphinium staphisagria, Lin.) | Stavesacre. | | A violent cathartic taken internally. Its external application destroys lice and other insects. | | | Stoechas (Lavandula stoechas, Lin.) | Arabian stoechas, or French lavender. | The flowers. | Aromatic. | An ingredient in mithridate and theriaca. | | Stramonium (Datura stramonium, Lin.) | Thorn-apple. | The herb. | Narcotic. | An extract. | | Styrax calamita (S. Storax officinalis, Lin.) | Liquid storax. | | Aromatic, stimulant, and nervine. | Ingredient in some tinctures and pills. | | Styrax liquida (Liquidamber styraciflua, Lin.) | The cork-tree. | The bark. | Astringent. | Ingredient in a mercurial plaster. |

Succinum | Technical Names, English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-------------------------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Succinum | Amber | Astringent and corroborant. | A tincture, balsam, essential oil, and an ingredient in several officinal preparations. Solutions in different kinds of oils called balsams, and an ingredient in some ointments. | | Sulphur | Sulphur, and flowers of sulphur. | Laxative, diaphoretic, and alterant. | An ingredient in several plasters. | | Sumach (Rhus coriaria, Lin.) | Common sumach. The leaves and seeds. | Astringent. | Ingredients in some laxative electuaries. | | Tacamahac (Populus balsamifera, Lin.) | Tacamahac-tree. The resin. | Discutient, emollient, and suppurative. | | | Tamarindus (T. indica, Lin.) | Tamarinds. The fruit. | Refrigerant and laxative. | | | Tamariscus (Tamarix Gallica, Lin.). | The tamarisk-tree. The leaves and bark. | Astringent. | | | Tanacetum (T. vulgare, Lin.) | Tanfy. The leaves, flowers, and seeds. | Stimulating, antispasmodic, and anthelmintic. | | | Taraxacum (Taraxacum taraxacum, Lin.) | Dandelion. The leaves and root. | Attenuating and resolvent. | | | 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 Veneta (Pinus larix, Lin.) | Venice turpentine. | Warm stimulating diuretics and aperients. | Used chiefly in external applications. | | Terebinthina Argentoratensis. | Strasbourg turpentine. | | | | Terebinthina Chia. | Chian, or Cyprus turpentine. | | | | Terebinthina communis. | Common turpentine. | | | | Terra Japonica. | See Catechu, supra. | | | | Thapsus barbatus (Verpaecum thapsius, Lin.) | Great white mullein. The leaves and flowers. | Analgetic. | A spirituous extract from the flowers. | | Thea bohea et viridis (Lin.) | Bohea and green tea. The leaves. | Cordial, diuretic, and diaphoretic. | An infusion. | | Thlaspi (T. arvense, Lin.) | Treacle, or mithridate mustard. The seeds. | Aromatic and stimulant. | Ingredient in theriaca. | | Thus vulgare. | Common frankincense. Lemon thyme. The leaves. | Supposed corroborative. | Ingredient in some warm plasters. | | Thymus citratus. | | 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 (T. Europea, Lin.) | The lime or linden tree. The flowers. | Antispasmodic. | Infusion. | | Tithymalus (Europaea lathyris, Lin.) | The spurge. The juice of the root. | Violently cathartic. | Tormentilla | | Technical Names | English Names | Parts Used in Medicine | Virtues | Preparations from Them | |-----------------|---------------|------------------------|---------|-----------------------| | Tormentilla (T. erecta, Lin.) | Tormentil, or septfoil. | The root. | Astringent. | An ingredient in several officinal compositions. | | Trichomanes (A. pinnatum trich. Lin.) | Maidenhair. | The herb. | Pectoral. | Decoction and syrup. | | Trifolium paludum (Menyanthes trifoliata, Lin.) | Marsh trefoil, or buck bean. | The leaves. | Laxative and alterant. | | | Triticum (T. hybr. num, Lin.) | Wheat. | The grain and flour. | Nutritive and glutinous. | Starch. | | Turpethum (Convolvulus turpethum, Lin.) | Turbith. | The root. | Violently cathartic. | An extract. | | Tussilago (T. farfara, Lin.) | Coltsfoot. | The leaves and flowers. | Emollient and mucilaginous. | An ingredient in pectoral decoctions. | | Tutia. | Tutty. | | Ophthalmic. | Ingredient in several ointments, and collyria. | | Valeriana sylvestris (Val. officinalis, Lin.) | Wild valerian. | The root. | Antispasmodic. | A tincture in proof spirit; also an ingredient in several cephalic and anti-epileptic medicines. | | Veratrum. | See Helleborus allus, supra. | | | | | Verbascum. | See Thapsus, supra. | | | | | Veronica mas (V. officinalis, Lin.) | Male speedwell. | The leaves. | Aperient and pectoral. | Infusions. | | Vinum. | Wine. | | Cordial and corroborant. | A menstruum for a great number of medicinal substances. | | Viola (V. odorat. Lin.) | The single March violet. | The flowers. | Laxative. | A syrup. | | Vipera (Goluber berus, Lin.) | The viper. | The flesh and fat. | Restorative and emollient. | A vinous tincture; an ingredient in theriaca. | | Vitis vinifera, (Lin.) | 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. | | Ulmus (U. campestris, Lin.) | The elm-tree. | The inner bark. | Astringent. | A decoction recommended by Dr Letton in obstinate cutaneous eruptions. | | Winteranus cortex (Wintera aromatica, Lin.) | Winter's bark. | | Aromatic. | | | Urtica (U. dioica, Lin.) | The nettle. | The herb. | Rubefacient. | | | Uva ursi (Arbutus uva ursi, Lin.) | Whortle-berry. | The leaves. | Astringent and lithontriptic. | | | Zedoaria (Kempferia zedoary, Lin.) | Zedoary. | The root. | Stomachic and corroborant. | An extract with proof-spirit. | | 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 Index. | | Zinziber (Amomum Ginger, zinzib. Lin.) | Ginger. | The root. | Aromatic. | A syrup. Also an ingredient in several officinal compositions. | General Titles including several Simples.

The five opening roots: - Smallage, - Asparagus, - Fennel, - Parsley, - Butchers broom.

The five emollient herbs: - Marshmallows, - Mallows, - Mercury, - Pellitory of the wall, - Violets.

The four cordial flowers: - Borage, - Bugloss, - Roses, - Violets.

The four greater hot seeds: - Anise, - Caraway, - Cumin, - Fennel.

The four lesser hot seeds: - Bishopseed, - Stone parsley, - Smallage, - Wild carrot.

The four greater cold seeds: - Water melons, - Cucumbers, - Gourds, - Melons.

The four lesser cold seeds: - Succory, - Endive, - Lettuce, - Purslane.

The four capillary herbs: - Maidenhair, - English maidenhair, - Wall rue, - Ceterach.

The four carminative flowers: - Camomile, - Feverfew, - Dill, - Melilot.

The simples of each of the above classes have been often employed together under the respective general appellations. This practice has entirely ceased amongst us; and accordingly these denominations are now expunged both from the London and Edinburgh pharmacopoeias, and they are now retained in very few of the foreign ones. But as these articles are frequently mentioned under their general titles by writers of eminence, it was imagined that the above enumeration of them might be of some use.

General Rules for the Collection and Preservation of Simples.

Roots.

Annual roots are to be taken up before they shoot out stalks or flowers: Biennial ones, chiefly in the autumn of the same year in which the seeds were sown: The perennial, when the leaves fall off, and therefore generally in the autumn. Being washed clean from dirt, and freed from the rotten and decayed fibres, they are to be hung up in a warm, shady, airy place, till sufficiently dried. The thicker roots require to be slit longitudinally, or cut transversely into thin slices. Such roots as lose their virtues by exsiccation, or are desired to be preserved in a fresh state, for the greater convenience of their use in certain forms, are to be kept buried in dry sand.

There are two seasons in which the biennial and perennial roots are reckoned the most vigorous, the autumn and spring; or rather the time when the stalks or leaves have fallen off, and that in which the vegetation is just to begin again, or soon after it has begun; which times are found to differ considerably in different plants.

The college of Edinburgh, in the two first editions of their pharmacopoeia, directed them to be dug in the spring, after the leaves were formed; in the third edition the autumn was preferred. The generality of roots appear, indeed, to be most efficacious in the spring; but as at this time they are also the most juicy, and consequently shrivel much in drying, and are rather more difficultly preserved, it is commonly thought most advisable to take them up in autumn. No rule, however, can be given, that shall obtain universally; arum root is taken even in the middle of summer, without suspicion of its being less active than at other seasons; while angelica root is inert during the summer, in comparison of what it was in the autumn, spring, or winter.

Herbs and Leaves.

Herbs are to be gathered when the leaves have come to their full growth, before the flowers unfold; but of some plants the flowery tops are preferred. They are to be dried in the same manner as roots.

For the gathering of leaves, there cannot perhaps be any universal rule any more than for roots; for though most herbs appear to be in their greatest vigour about the time of their flowering, or a little before, there are some in which the medicinal parts are more abundant at an earlier period.

Thus mallow and marshmallow leaves are most mucilaginous when young, and by the time of flowering approach more to a woody nature. A difference of the same kind is more remarkable in the leaves of certain trees and shrubs; the young buds, or rudiments of the leaves, of the black poplar tree, have a strong fragrant smell, approaching to that of storax; but by the time that the leaves have come to their full growth, their fragrance is exhausted.

Herbs are directed by most of the pharmaceutic writers to be dried in the shade; a rule which appears to be very just, though it has sometimes been misunderstood. They are not to be excluded from the sun's heat, but from the strong action of the solar light; by which last their colours are more liable to be altered or destroyed than those of roots. Slow drying of them in a cool place is far from being of any advantage; both their colours and virtues are preserved in greatest perfection. perfection when they are dried hastily by the heat of common fire as great as that which the sun can impart: the juicy ones, in particular, require to be dried by heat, being otherwise subject to turn black. Odoriferous herbs, dried by fire till they become friable, discover indeed, in this arid state, very little smell; not that the odorous matter is dissipated, but on account of its not being communicated from the perfectly dry subject to dry air; for as soon as a watery vehicle is supplied, whether by infusing the plant in water, or by exposing it for a little time to a moist air, the odorous parts begin to be extracted by virtue of the aqueous moisture, and discover themselves in their full force.

Of the use of heat in the drying of plants, we have an instance in the treatment of tea among the Chinese. According to the accounts of travellers, the leaves, as soon as gathered, are brought into an apartment furnished with a number of little furnaces or stoves, each of which is covered with a clean smooth iron plate; the leaves are spread on the plates, and kept rolling with the hands till they begin to curl up about the edges; they are then immediately swept off on tables, on which one person continues to roll them, while another fans them that they may cool hastily: this process is repeated two or three times, or oftener, according as the leaves are disposed to unbend on standing.

Exsiccation of Herbs and Flowers.

Herbs and flowers are to be dried by the gentle heat of a stove or common fire, and only in that quantity at a time by which the exsiccation may be very soon finished. By this means their strength is best preserved; and this is indicated in proportion as they retain their native colour.

But the leaves of hemlock, and some other herbs replete with a subtle volatile matter, are to be powdered immediately after the exsiccation, and preserved in glass vessels, well shut.

Flowers.

Flowers are to be gathered when moderately expanded, on a clear dry day, before noon. Red roses are taken before they open, and the white heels clipped off and thrown away.

The quick drying, above recommended for the leaves of plants, is more particularly proper for flowers; in most of which both the colour and smell are more perishable than in leaves, and more subject to be impaired by slow exsiccation. Of the flowers which come fresh into the apothecaries' hands, the only ones employed dry in the London pharmacopoeia are red roses; and these, in all the compositions in which they are used in a dry state, are expressly ordered to be dried hastily. One of the most valuable aromatics of European growth, saffron, is part of a flower, dried on paper on a kind of kiln, with a heat sufficient to make it sweat, taking care only not to endanger the scorching of it.

It may here be observed, that the virtues of flowers are confined to different parts of the flower in different plants. Saffron is a singular production growing at the end of the style or pistil. The active part of camomile flowers is the yellow disk, or button in the middle; that of lilies, roses, clove-july-flowers, violets, and many others, the petala or flower-leaves; while rosemary has little virtue in any of these parts, the fragrance admired in the flowers of this plant residing chiefly in the cups.

Seeds and Fruits.

Seeds should be collected when ripe, and beginning to grow dry, before they fall off spontaneously. Fruits are also to be gathered when ripe, unless otherwise ordered.

Of the fruits whose collection comes under the notice of the apothecary, there are few which are used in an unripe state; the principal is the floe, whose virtue as a mild astringent is much diminished by maturation. The fruit of the orange tree, raised in our gardens or greenhouses, is sometimes gathered in a state of much greater immaturity, soon after it is formed on the tree, before it has acquired its acid juice; at this time it proves an elegant aromatic bitter, nearly resembling what are called Curaffao oranges, which appear to be no other than the same fruit gathered at the same period in a warmer climate.

The rule for collecting seeds is more general than any of the others, all the officinal seeds being in their greatest perfection at the time of their maturity. As seeds contain little watery moisture, they require no other warmth for drying them than that of the temperate air in autumn; such as abound with a gross expellible oil, as those commonly called the cold seeds, should never be exposed to any considerable heat; for this would hasten the rancidity, which, however carefully kept, they are very liable to contract. Seeds are best preserved in their natural hulls or coverings, which should be separated only at the time of using; the hull, or cortical part, serving to defend the seed from being injured by the air.

Woods and Barks.

The most proper season for the felling of woods, or shaving off their barks, is generally the winter.

No woods of our own growth are now retained by the London or Edinburgh colleges. The only two which had formerly a place in the catalogues of simples were the juniper and the box; the first of which is never kept in the shops, or employed in practice; the other may be procured from the turner; and it is indifferent at what season it has been cut down, being at all times sufficiently fit for the only use to which it was applied, the yielding an empyreumatic oil by distillation in a strong fire.

It may be doubted, whether barks are not generally more replete with medicinal matter in summer and spring than in winter. The barks of many trees are in summer so much loaded with resin and gum as to burst spontaneously, and discharge the redundant quantity. It is said that the bark of the oak answers best for the tanners at the time of the rising of the sap in spring; and as its use in tanning depends on the same astringent quality for which it is used in medicine, it should seem to be also fittest for medicinal purposes in the spring. It may be observed likewise, that it is in