262

MYKR

in medicine. The fruit of the Myristica mosckata is about the sixeof a nectarine, and contains the nutmeg, surrounded by a shell whichconstitutes mace. The nutmegs are gently baked, the mace separated,and then they are washed in lime water. The active properties ofthe nutmeg reside in the dark brown veins which traverse the sub-stance of the nucleus. This oil is extracted by alcohol, or by decoc-tion. See Mace.

Adulterated with nutmegs from which the oil has been abstracted, by2)erforating them with small holes, boiling them, and then filling upthe perforations with powdered sassafras, &c. Sometimes, also, bitsof lead are introduced to give them the requisite weight, and concealthe fraud. To detect these spurious nutmegs, steep them in hotwater, which will disclose the perforations. They are also moreeasily broken than the genuine.Medici'nail'y nutmeg is stimulant, carminative, and sometimes narcoticwhen given in large doses, probably from collapse after the stimu-lant effect is over. The dose is gr. v to 9jss for diarrhoea, nausea,<&c. It corrects the tendency of alum to disturb the bowels, andis used in the composition of a considerable number of medica-ments as a flavouring ingredient, and often in form of oil. SeeOleum.Enters into (of the Nutmeg) Spir. Myristicae. L. E. D. Spir. Lavan-dulae Comp. L. E. D. Elect. Catechu. E. D. Confect. Aromatica.L. D. Pulv. Carbonatis Calcis Comp. D. Spir. Raphani Comp. D.Troch. Carbonat. Calcis. E. D. (Of the Oil) Emplast. PicisComp. L. Pil. Seilla\ D. Spir. Ammonia? Aromat.

Mvrobalanus Bellirica. P. Myrobalan, the dried fruit of whichis acidulous, feebly astringent, and cathartic. It is given in scor-butus, dysentery, &c.

Myrrh (Compound Tincture of), in Farriery. Take ftj of gumresin of myrrh, 3xviij of aloes, gal. j of rectified spirit, Oiv ofwater, macerate 14 days, often shaking it up, then pour it off foruse. (Pa arm. Veterinary College.)

Mykrha. L. E. D. P. Myrrh, or Gum Myrrh. A resinous substance,

imported from Turkey, and said to come from Abyssinia and Arabia

Felix; but the plant or tree whence it is derived is still unknown

to botanists.

Soluble in alkalies, and partly in distilled water, when triturated with

it; but only the resinous part in alcohol.Adulterated with various species of gums and gum resins, whose namesare scarcely known. Bdellium may be recognised by being dark,opaque, and nauseous to the taste. Some of the other gums arcpale, white, or transparent. Genuine myrrh is reddish yellow, or