an article lately introduced into the materia medica, the natural history of which is not yet well known. According to Dr Percival's account, it grew originally on the continent of America, from whence it was transplanted to Columbo, a town in Ceylon, which gives name to, and supplies all India with it. The inhabitants of these countries have for a long time used it in disorders of the stomach and bowels. They carry it about with them, and take it sliced or scraped in Madeira wine. This root comes to us in circular pieces, which are from half an inch or an inch to three inches in diameter; and divided into frusta, which measure from two inches to one quarter of an inch. The sides are covered with a thick corrugated bark, of a dark brown hue on its external surface, but internally of a light yellow colour. The surfaces of the transverse sections appear very unequal, highest at the edges, and forming a concavity towards the centre. On separating this surface, the root is observed to consist of three laminae, viz. the cortical, which in the larger roots, is a quarter of an inch thick; the ligneous, about half an inch; and the medullary, which forms the centre, and is near an inch in diameter. This last is much softer than the other parts, and, when chewed, seems mucilaginous; a number of small fibres run longitudinally through it, and appear on the surface. The cortical and ligneous parts are divided by a black circular line. All the thicker root pieces have small holes drilled through them, for the convenience of drying. Columbo-root has an aromatic smell, but is disagreeably bitter, and slightly pungent to the taste, somewhat resembling mustard seed, when it has lost, by long keeping, part of its essential oil. Yet, though ungrateful to the taste, when received into the stomach, it appears to be corroborant, antiseptic, sedative, and powerfully antiemetic. In the cholera morbus it alleviates the violent torments, checks the purging and vomiting, corrects the putrid tendency of the bile, quiets the inordinate motions of the bowels, and speedily recruits the exhausted strength of the patient. It was administered to a great number of patients, sometimes upwards of 20 in a day, afflicted with the cholera morbus, by Mr Johnson of Chester, in 1756. He generally found that it soon stopped the vomiting, which was the most fatal symptom, and that the purging and remaining complaints quickly yielded to the same remedy. The dose he gave was from half a drachm to two drachms of the powder, every three or four hours, more or less according to the urgency of the symptoms. Though this medicine possesses little or no astringency, it has been observed to be of great service in diarrhoeas, and even in the dysentery. In the first stage of these disorders, where astringents would be hurtful, Columbo-root may be prescribed with safety; as, by its antispasmodic powers, the irregular actions of the prime vice are corrected. But as a cordial, tonic, and antiseptic remedy, it answers better when given towards their decline. Its efficacy has also been observed in the vomitings which attend the bilious cholick; and in such cases, where an emetic is thought necessary, after administering a small dose of ipecacuan, the stomach may be washed with an infusion of Columbo-root. This will tend to prevent those violent and convulsive retchings which in irritable habits abounding with bile are sometimes excited by the mildest emetic. In bilious fevers, 15 or 20 grains of this root, with an equal or double quantity of vitriolated tartar, given every four, five, or six hours, produce very beneficial effects. From its efficacy in these bilious diseases of this country, it is probable that it may be useful in the yellow fever of the West Indies, which is always attended with great sickness, violent retchings, and a copious discharge of bile. The vomiting recurs at short intervals, often becomes almost incessant, and an incredible quantity of bile is sometimes evacuated in a few hours. Children during dentition are often subject to severe vomitings and diarrhoeas. In these cases the Columbo-root is an useful remedy, and hath often procured almost instant relief, when other remedies often efficacious have been tried in vain. This root is also extremely beneficial in a languid state of the stomach, attended with want of appetite, indigestion, nausea, and flatulence. It may be given either in substance, with some grateful aromatic, or infused in Madeira wine. Habitual vomiting, when it proceeds from a weakness or irritability of the stomach, from an irregular gout, acidities, acrimonious bile, or an increased and depraved secretion of the pancreatic juice, is greatly relieved by the use of Columbo-root, in conjunction with aromatics, chalybeates, or the teftaceous powders. In the nausea and vomiting vomiting occasioned by pregnancy, an infusion of Columbo-root succeeds better than any other medicine that hath been tried.

From Dr Percival's experiments on this root, it appears, that rectified spirit of wine extracts its virtues in the greatest perfection. The watery infusion is more perishable than that of other bitters. In 24 hours a copious precipitation takes place; and in two days it becomes ropy, and even muzzy. The addition of orange peel renders the infusion of Columbo-root less ungrateful to the palate. An ounce of the powdered root, half an ounce of orange peel, two ounces of French brandy, and 14 ounces of water, macerated 12 hours without heat, and then filtrated through paper, afford a sufficiently strong and tolerably pleasant infusion. The extract made first by spirit and then with water, and reduced by evaporation to a pillular consistence, is found to be equal, if not superior, in efficacy to the powder. As an antiseptic, Columbo-root is inferior to the bark; but, as a corrector of putrid gall, it is much superior; whence also it is probable that it would be of service in the West India yellow fever. It also restrains alimentary fermentation, without impairing digestion, in which property it resembles mustard. Hence its great service in preventing acidities. It hath also a remarkable power of neutralizing acids already formed. It doth not appear to have the least heating quality; and therefore may be used with propriety and advantage in the phthisis pulmonalis and in hepatic cases, to correct acrimony and strengthen digestion. It occasions no disturbance, and agrees very well with a milk diet, as it abates flatulence, and is indisposed to acidity.