■MP

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VAM1LY HERBAL

4sa

gardens—part used, The leaves—sens. prop. Smell, fragrant; taste,warm and bitterish—med. virt. Tonic, antiseptic, aromatic, volatile.It is now rarely used, unless in the way of decoction for discutient andantiseptic fomentations, in which intention it appears to be of no in-considerable efficacy, especially when joined with camomile flowers,wormwood, &c. as in the Appendix.

Spermaceti: Is an unctuous flaky substance, of a white colour and a buty-raceous taste, without any remarkable smell; it is prepared from thefat of the brain of a species of whale—sens. prop. Bland, insipid—med. virt. Obtunding, emollient—mode of exhib. In substance; com-bined with watery liquors, by means of almonds, gum, or yolk of egg;in pectoral mixtures, or emulsions. Externally, as it readily dissolvesin oils and unctuous substances, an elegant cerate and an ointment areformed, which are often used for healing blisters, burns, excoriationsof the skin, &c.

Sponge: A substance adhering to rocks in the sea; the habitation of cer-tain marine insects—sens. prop. Soft, light, porous, elastic; affordinga marine soda-like salt, when boiled, or calcined—med. virt. Internally,stimulant and resolvent; externally, proper for dilating sinuses by itsswelling, and for stopping hemorrhages by its adhesion. Burned in aclose vessel till it becomes black and friable, this is used in powder,with some suitable syrup or conserve into an electuary; or it may beformed into troches. Burnt sponge may be given in doses of a scrupleor upwards against scrophulous indurations and cutaneous foulnesses.

Squill, or Sea-onion : A bulbous-rooted plant growing on the sandy shoresof Spain, Portugal, and Syria—part used, The root—sens. prop. Nearlyinodorous. Taste, nauseous, bitter and acrid—med. \irt. Stimulant,emetic, and diuretic—mode of exhib. The dry root powdered, or inthe form of pills, may be given as an alterative; and to promote ex-pectoration, from one, three, to six grains. From ten grains to ascruple as an emetic, in pituitous asthma. The London College ofPhysicians direct the apothecaries under their jurisdiction to keep aconserve of squills, which may be taken in doses of half a drachm toa drachm—Honey of squills : dose half a drachm to two drachms—■Squill pills ; dose ten grains to thirty.—Oxymel of squills: dose "halfa drachm to two drachms—Tincture of squills: dose fifteen, thirty, tosixty drops. In doses of one draclim and a half to three or fourdrachms, it proves emetic.—Vinegar of squills: in the dose of twelvedrops to thirty or sixty; alterative, cooling, expectorant. Sometimestwo drachms, but more frequently half an ounce to an ounce, of thatpreparation acts as an emetic.

Starch is prepared from wheat, in which it forms an important alimentarysubstance. Its demulcent property occasions it to be formed into anofficinal lozenge, which may be taken at discretion for allaying thetickling in the throat which provokes coughing; and a mucilage isprepared from starch that often produces excellent effects both takenthe mouth and injected as an enema, in diarrhoea and dysenteriesinduced by irritation of the intestines.

Staves-acre: The seed is imported from Virginia and the southern partsof Europe. Smell, foetid. Taste, acrid and nauseous. They are