SO*

Materia Medica.' — Ficus Carica.

part n.

pochondriasis, dyspepsia, flatulent colic, tympanitis, and innervous diseases: its expectorant powers have been founduseful in asthma, and hooping-cough,- and it ranks high as aremedy in chlorotic affections. We are informed that in In-dia it is a successful native specific against the Guinea ' worm.Its use is contra-indicated when the inflammatory diathesis ispresent; and owing to its stimulant quality, it is often com-bined with antimonials and nitre. It is used locally, in theform of enema in worm cases, flatulent colic, and in the con-vulsions attending dentition: and, sometimes, it is applied as aplaster for discussing tumours.

The dose is from grs. v. to 3j, formed into pills, or diffusedin water. Six drachms of assafcetida beaten with 3ss. ofcamphor forms a proper mass for a plaster.

Officinal preparations. Mistura Assajcetidce, L. D. Tinct. Assa-jcetidce, L. E. D. Spirit us AmmoniaJcetidus, L. D. Tinct. CastereiComp. E. Pihdce Assajcetidce composites, E. Pilulce Aloes et Assa-fcetida;, E. Pil. Galbani comp. L. EnemaJ'cetida, D.

FICUS. Spec. Plant. Willd. iv. 1131.CI. 93. Ord. 2. Polygamia Dicecia. Nat. Ord. Scabridae, Linn. Ur-

ticae, Jicss.

1931. Common receptacle turbinate, fleshy, converging, conceal-ing the florets, either in the same or a distant individual.Male. Calyx three-parted. Corolla 0. Stamens three.Female. Calyx five-parted. Corolla 0. Pistil one. Seeds co-vered by a permanent, closed, somewhat fleshy calyx.* Leaves lobed.

Species \. F. Carica.- The "Fig-tree. Med. Bot.Id. edit. 714. t. 244.Officinal. CARlCiE fructus, Land. Hub. Flci CaricvE Fructus,

Edin. The preserved fruit of the Fig.

Syn. Figues(jP.), Feigen (G.), Fico (I.), Higo (S.), El Kermos (J.).

The fig-tree is a native of Asia, but it was introduced intoEurope in the early ages. It flourishes in France, Spain,and Italy, and even sometimes ripens its fruit in 3 England.It flowers in June and July. It seldom rises above twelvefeet in height, but sends off many spreading branches; andthe trunk, which exudes a milky odorous fluid when wounded,is covered with an ash-coloured bark, and seldom exceedsseven inches in diameter. The leaves, which are annual inEurope, but perennial between the tropics, are large, nearly aspan in length, scabrous, and irregularly divided into three orfive lobes; of a deep green colour on the upper surface, witha pale green longitudinal vein to each lobe; but on the undersurface the whole is pale green, with the veins raised, reticu-lated, and downy: they are supported on round petioles. The

1 Edin. Med. Journ. ii. 304. - Svicri Gra-corum.

> The first fig-trees introduced into England are still in the Archbishop's

garden at Lambeth. They are supposed ty have been planted by Cardinal Pole,and now bear excellent fruit.

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