76

ELEMENTS OP MATERIA MEDICA.

digestible, uninjurlous arlicle of food in diarrhcea and dysenlery; and in consequence it is,with the public, a reputcd drying and astringent agent. Various ill effects, such as disorderedvision, &c. have been ascribed lo the use of rice; 1 but without any just grounds. Neither doesthere appear to be any real foundation for the assertions of Dr. Ty tler (Lancet, 1833-4, vol. i.),that malignant cholera (which he calls morbus oryzeus .') is induced by it.

2. Common Millet (Panicum müiaceum, fig. 130,) and Italian Millet (Setaria Italica),are cultivated in Italy as arlicles of food.

3. Maize or Indian Corn (Zea Mays, fig. 131) is nutritive; but being defioißnt in gluten,is notadapted for manufacturc into broad. It is apt to occasion diarrhcea in those unaecus-tomed to it. (Dunglison, Elem. of Hygiene, p. 289.) In America, Asia, and some parts ofEurope, it is used largely for human sustenance. 3

Order VIII.— ACORACEyE, Lindl—THE SWEET FLAG TRIBE.

Acoroideje, rfgardh, Schott.

EssENTrAL Ciiaracter. — Floioers hermaphrodite, surrounded with scales. Spathe leafless, notrolled up. Stamens complete, opposite the scales, with two-celled anthers turned inwards.Ovaries distinet. Fruit baccate, finally juiceless. Seeds albuminous, with the embryo inthe axis.— Rhizome jointed. Leaves ensiform, embracing eacb other in the bud (Schott).

Properties. —Acorus Calamus is the only plant of the family wbose praperties are known.

ACORUS CALAMUS, Linn. L. E. (U. &)—COMMON SWEET FLAG.

Sex.. Syst Hexandria, Monogynia.(Rliizoma, L.— Rhizome, E.)

History. —This is probably the axofov of Dioscorides. (Lib. i. cap. 2.) Dr.Royle says that in Persian works akoron is given as its Greek appellation. Itmust not be confounded with the xa.XaiJ.os <xgu(/.anxoj of Dioscorides, which,aecording to Dr. Royle, (Essay on the Antig» ofHindern Med. p. 33,) is Andro-pogon Calamtes aromaticiis. Royle (vide p. 52).

Botany. —Gen. ciiar.— Flowers arranged upon a spadix. Spatha none. Pe-rianth of six pieces or scales, inferior. Stigma sessile. Capsule indehiscent.(Hooker.)

s P . char.—Anticipate [two-edged] scape rising much above the spadix.(Hooker.)

Rhizome thick, rather spongy, with many long roots, aromatic, like everypart of the herbage, but much more powerfully so. Leaves erect, tvvo or threefeet hi«h, bright green, near an inch broad. Stalle like the leaves, except beingtbicker below the spadix, and not quite so tall. Spadix about a foot above theroot, a little spreading, tvvo or three inches long, tapering, covered with a massof very numerous, thick-set, pale-green flowers, which have no scent, exceptwhen bruised. A very narrow wavy membrane may be observed at the baseof the spadix, which, perhaps, ought to be taken into the generic character as aspathe (Smith). —Perennial: flowers in June.

Hab.—It is a native of this country, growing in watery places about the banksof rivers, and is very plentiful in the rivers of Norfolk, whence the Londonmarket is supplied. It grows also in other countries of Europe, in Asia, and inthe United States.

Descriftion. —The dried Underground stem (rhizoma, L.; radix acori veriseu radix calaini aromatici, Offic.) oecurs in the shops in flattened pieces fouror five inches long, and about as broad as the thumb ; jointed, somewhat curved,of a spongy or corky texture internally; of a yellowish brown or favvn colourexternally, and bufl'y, with a slight roseate hue, internally. Their fracture isshort: their upper surface is marked transversely with the vestiges of the leaves

i r.ontius, AccountoflheDiseases. JVa!. IRst. ä\e oftheEast. Ind. translated into English, n. 126, 1769; andBricheteau, in Tortuelle's Etem.d'Bygicne. 4ine ed.

a For furtber infurmation respecling Maize, consult Cobbett's Treat. on Cobbett's Com- Quart. Joum.Marie, i.; and Mim. de l'.tcad. Roy, de Med. t. ii. p. 206. Paris, J833,