Chap. XXX VIL Of Conserves.

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This process is introduced for preserving certain simples,undried, in an agreeable form, with as little alteration aspossible in their native virtues; and in some cases it is veryadvantageous. Vegetables, whose virtues are lost or destroj'-ed in drying, may in this form be kept uninjured for a con-siderable time ; for by carefully securing the mouth of thecontaining vessel, the alteration, as well as dissipation, oftheir active principles, is generally prevented ; and the sugarpreserves them from the corruption which juicy vegetableswould otherwise undergo.

The sugar should be pounded by itself, and passed througha sieve, before it be mixed with the vegetable mass; for with-out this it cannot be properly incorporated. R'jsc buds, andsome other vegetables, are prepared for mixing with the su-gar, by grinding them in a small wooden mill, contrived forthat purpose.

There are, however, vegetables whose virtues are impairedby this treatment. Mucilaginous substances, by lying longwith sugar, become less glutinous; and astringents sensiblybecome softer upon the palate. Many of the fragrant flowersare of so tender and delicate a texture, as almost entirely tolose their peculiar qualities on being beaten or bruised.

In general, it is obvious, that in this form, on account ofthe large proportion of sugar, only substances of considerableactivity can be taken with advantage as medicines. And, in-deed, conserves are at present considered chiefly as auxiliariesto medicines of greater efficacy, or as intermediums for join-ing them together. They are very convenient for reducing in-to bolussesor pills the more ponderous powders, assubmuriateof mercury, the oxides of iron, and other mineral prepara-tions; which, with liquid or Jess consistent matters, as syrups,will not cohere.

The shops were formerly encumbered with many conserves,altogether insignificant; the few now retained have in gene-ral either an agreeable flavour to recommend them, or are ca-pable of answering some useful purposes, as medicines. Theircommon dose is the bulk of a nutmeg, or as much as can betaken up at once or twice upon the point of a knife. Thereis, in general, no great danger of exceeding in the dose.

Electuaries are composed chiefly of powders mixed upwith syrups, &c. into such a consistence, that the mass shallneither be too stiff to swallow, nor so thin as to allow thepowders to separate, and that a dose may be easily taken upon the point of a knife.'

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