See Allium, fp. 5.—Onions, leeks, and garlic are all of the same genus; and in their recent state are acid, but harmless to the human body. When, by age or climate, this acrimony is too great, we do not use them as food. In Spain, the garlic being equally mild with the onion is used as common food. By the ordinary culinary preparation their acrimony is dissipated, and a remarkably mild substance remains, promising much nutriment, which those who can digest them raw will certainly obtain. Though sometimes shunned as food, yet they are on that account used in medicine, uniting the two qualities of pectorals, viz. on the account of their acrimony, being in their recent state expectorant; in their boiled state, on account of their mucilage, demulcent, provided the quantity taken be sufficient. Some of late, in this country, have found in leeks a somniferous quality; but this is not yet confirmed by a sufficient number of experiments.—Besides the three above-mentioned, there are several others belonging to the same tribe, which we use as condiment; but only the leek and onion as diet. In its recent state, the onion is the most acid; in its boiled state, the leek retains its acrimony most tenaciously. On account of this, and some difference of texture, the onion is more easily digested and more universally used than the leek; being more easily broken down, and more generally agreeable.