something that relates to the kidneys. See Kidney.

Nephritic Wood, (lignum nephriticum), a wood of a very dense and compact texture, and of a fine grain, brought to us from New Spain in small blocks, in its natural state, and covered with its bark. It is to be chosen of a pale colour, sound and firm, and such as has not lost its acid taste: for the surest test of it is the infusing it in water; for a piece of it infused only half an hour in cold water, gives it a changeable colour, which is blue or yellow as variously held to the light. If the vial it is in be held between the eye and the light, the tincture appears yellow; but if the eye be placed between the light and the vial, it appears blue. We often meet with this wood adulterated with others of the same pale colour; but the darkish black hue of the bark is a striking character of this.

The tree is the coati of Hernandez. It grows to the height of our pear-tree, and its wood while fresh is much of the same texture and colour; the leaves are small and oblong, not exceeding half an inch in Nephritic length, or a third of an inch in breadth; the flowers are small, of a pale-yellow colour, and oblong shape, standing in spikes: the cups they stand in are divided into five segments at the edge, and are covered with a reddish down. This is the best description of the tree that can be collected from what has been hitherto written of it; nobody having yet had an opportunity of taking its true characters.

This wood is said to be a very good diuretic, and we are told it is used among the Indians in all diseases of the kidneys and bladder, and in suppression of urine, from whatever cause. It is also recommended in fevers, and in obstructions of the viscera. The way of taking it among the Indians is only an infusion in cold water. These uses are not however properly ascertained. See Guilandina.

**NEPHRITIC Stone.** See Jade-Stone.

**NEPHRITICS,** in pharmacy, medicines proper for diseases of the kidneys, especially the stone.—Such particularly are the roots of althea, dog's grass, asparagus, fago, pellitory of the wall, mallows, pimpinella, red chick-pea, peach-kernels, turpentine, &c.

**NEPHRITIS,** or inflammation of the kidneys. See Medicine, p. 200.