White Ginger and Its Extracts

obtained by distillation with water from 7680 parts of white ginger, about 60 of a volatile oil, having the smell and distinguishing flavour of the ginger, but none of its pun. gency. The watery extract was considerably pungent, and amounted to 2720, after which alcohol extracted 192 of a very pungent resin. Alcohol applied first extracted 660 of pungent resin, and water afterwards 2160 of a mucilaginous extract, with little taste, and difficultly exsiccated. ‘he black ginger contained Jess soluble matter than the white, =~ WARROW-LEAVED GINGER. 3 . MEDICAL USES. “ .Grxazr is a very useful spice in cold flatulent colics, and in laxity and debility of the intestines ; it does not heat so much as the peppers, but its effects are more durable. It may also be applied externally as a rubefacient. oh a ‘The employment of ginger in beer is well known, where the latter would produce much flatulency. Dyspeptic patients from hard drinking, and those subject’ to flatulency and gout, have been known to receive considerable benefit by the use of ginger tea; taking two or three cupfuls for breakfast, suiting it to their palate. Many gouty patients have far years been in the habit of tak= ing a tea-spoonful of ginger powder, mixed in any liquid, an hour before dinner, and, they declare, with very considerable ad. vantage. ‘When employed with food it is called a condiment, and by stimulating the stomach and bowels it may be considered as one of the most useful. It is often employed as a corrective with rhubarb, and other drastic purges, to prevent gripings of the bowels, and it stimu. lates them so as to require a less dose to act upon them. As ginger promotes the circulation through the extreme ves. sels, it is to be advised in torpid and phlegmatic habits, where the stomach is subject to be loaded with slime, and the bowels dis- tended with flatulency. Hence it enters into the compound tincture of cinnamon and the aromatic powder. PREPARATIONS. Syavur or Gincer. (Syrupus Zingiberis.) Take of ginger, bruised, four ounces ; boiling distilled water, three pints. Macerate for four hours, (twenty-four, Dub.) and strain the liquor; then add double-refined sugar, and make into a syrup, according to the mode prescribed. (Vide article Saccharum, Sugar.) Tincture or Gincer. (Tiuctura Zingiberis.) Take of ginger, in coarse powder, two ounces; proof spirit, two pints. Digest in a gentle heat for seven days, and strain. This tincture is cordial and stimulant, and is only employed as a corrective to purgative draughts. B@ 4 MARROW-LEAVED GINGER. ‘Paxservep Givana. The root for this purpose is dug up when the shoots do not Axceed five or six inches in height. Being picked and washed, sthese are scalded till they are rendered tender, then put into cold water, and afterwards scraped and peeled. During this process dhe water is often changed. The roots are then put into jars, and covered with a thin syrup, which, after two or three days, ds removed, and a richer syrup substituted in its place. This is sometimes removed, and a fourth put on; but they seldom em. ploy more than three syrups. This is what is imported into England, and is used much as a dainty, but not for any medi- cinal purpose. . 3 Guvosr Wine. Take twenty quarts of water, five pounds of sugar, three ounces of white ginger, and an ounce of stick liquorice, and ‘oil them well together; when it is cold put a little new yeast upon jit, but not too much; then put it into the barrel for ten days, and after that bottle it: put a lump of powdered white ugar into every bottle. This is an excellent wine for gouty habits, and I have been much in éhe habit of recommending it in such cases in lieu of any other wine. CARDAMOM. AMOMUM CARDAMOMUM. Class 1. Monandria. Order I, Monogynia. Beaver. Girt. Cuan. Calyx trifid, nnequal, cylindtic: Corotla three-parted unequal, spreading: Nectary two-lipped, altabst erect. Srec. Caan. Scape very simple and short: Bractes alternate, loose. a DESCRIPTION. Fins plant produces'a root like the yellow flag, or iris, whfth in the spring sends forth many seed-like’stalks, which decay the following autumn, ‘Fhese bear large lanceolate leaves, acutely pointed, ribbed, alternate, sheathing the stalks. The flowers consist of a single petal, or leaf, funnel-shaped, the border of which is three-parted. ‘The nectary is composed of one leaf, Spear--haped. ‘Fhe stamén consists of an anther without a filament. The stigma of the pistillum is turbinate; the capsule fleshy, ovate, three-cornered aud three-valved. 6 CARDAMOM. HISTORY. . The Canpamoms are brought from Malabar, and other places of the East Indies, in their pods or pericarps; and when choosing these, we should observe that they be of a pale colour on the outside, well-closed, and full of sound, reddish brown, odorous and aromatic seeds. ‘These must be kept in their pods, for when taken out they soon lose a great part of their aromatic flavour. MEDICAL VIRTUES. These seeds are an elegant and useful aromatic, of a gratcful smell and flavour, very warm, yet not fiery like pepper, or ca pable of producing a disagreeable heat or inflammation. The natives of the country where this plant is produced use them as a condiment, mixing the seeds with betel, and find that they promote digestion. . Their great maxim of health and longevity is to keep the fect and stomach warm, and the head cool; and using a quantity of vegetable foods, warm spices become the proper -corrective, without inflaming the blood. By us it is employed chiefly as an adjuvant, and to cover the taste of other medicines, especially mineral waters and saline medicines; and the London College have ordered apothecaries to keep in their shops the following preparations : PREPARATIONS. Tincrore or Carpamoms. (Tinctura Cardamomi.) Take of the seeds of the lesser Cardamom freed from their husks and bruised, three ounces, —— proof spirit, two pints. Digest for eight days, and strain the tincture. Comrounn Tincrure or Carpamoms, formerly called Sto. macure Tincture. (Tinctura Cardamomi composita.) Take of the seeds of the lesser Cardamoms husked and powdered, — caraway seeds, powdered, ——— cochineal, powdered,—two drachms of cach: cinnamon, bruised, half an ounce ; ned, four ounces ; it, two pints. Digest for fourteen days, and strain the tincture. Qf the cardamoms it is probable there is but one kind, al- CARDAMOM. 1 though two are mentioned ; and it is evident that the compound tincture has less power than the simple, and the admixture of raisins, which must blunt the powers of the other ingredients, is rather extraordinary. The dose of the Tincrure or Canvamoms (Tinctara Carn damomi) is from two to three drachms, and of the Comrounn Tiscrure (Tinctura Cardamomi composita) from three drachms to half an ounce. These are seldoin ordered alone, but joined with more powerful ingredients. In dyspeptic habits I have seen much good arise from half a glass taken before dinner to rouse the nerves of the stomach and aid digestion, acting in such cases much after the manner of a condiment. Both water and rectified spirit extract the virtues of the car- damoms by infusion, and elevate them in distillation; with this difference, that the tincture and distilled spirit are considerably more grateful than the infusion and distilled water: the watery infusion appears turbid and mucilaginous; the tincture made in spirit, limpid and transparent. Cardamoms enter very properly into several compositions; as when the Royal College orders the Cardamom seeds in what they have thought fit to call Ruvsans Wins (Vinum Rhabarbari, P. L.), also the Compounn Tincture or Cinxamon (Tinctura Cinnamomi composita, P. L.), the Comrounn Tincrune oF Gentian (Tinctura Gentianz composita, P. L..), and the Trnce ure or Ruveaae (Tinctura Rhabarbari, P. L.), Tincture oF Senxa (Tinctura Sennz, P. L.), and the Aromatic Poworr (Pulvis Aromaticus, P. L.), and, lastly, the Agomatic Cone rection (Confectio Aromatica, P. L.). ROUND KEMPFERIA. ZEDOARY, P.L. KMPFERIA ROTUNDA, P. L. a Cims ¥. Monandria. Order I. Monogynit. Ewer. Gex. Cran. Corollasix-parted, three of the parts larger, spreads Ing, one two-parted: Stigma two-plated. Srxc. Caan, Leaves lanceolate, petioled : Segments of the Corolla linear, —— DESCRIPTION. Tus plant rises to five or six feet. The stalks are chiefly formed of convoluted leaves wrapped round one another at their bases. The leaves are six or eight feet long, and three broad, pointed, standing upon broad foot-stalks. The flower-stalks rise but little above the ground, and on these are placed the’ flowers in spikes. No calyx. The corolla is composed of six petals; the three lower decline downwards, are long and narrow ; ‘the two upper are divided so deeply as to appear like a flower with four petals, and the side petal is bifid, or deeply cleft. ROUND tamprentas 8 HISTORY. This plant has a most fragrant odour, ard flowers in July and August, but never proiluces sceds in our stoves. It was culti- vated by Miller in 1768. It is a native of the Fast Indivs. On the authority of the Royal London College we have referred the officinal Zedoary to this plant: bt Bergius says that it is a spe. cies of Amomum; and this opinion receives additional weight by the description of the true Zeduary as given us by Camettus. The root of this plant is brought over to ws in' oblong pieces two or three inches in length, bert, rough and angular, firm and ponderous, about the thickness of one’s finger; or im roundish ones about ar inch im diameter, both of them of an’ ash cotour on the outside, and white within, and indiscriminately used. ‘They possess a fragrant agrecable smell, much resembling cam phor; and by distilling the fresh root we find a small portion of a true camphor swimming at the top of the distifled water, if the form of very smaiYand thin laminz. I¢ possesses also a stight bitterness, and considerable warmth and pungency. MEDICAL VIRTUES. Dr. Donalé Monro extols this root as a warm cordial stow machic, and an expeller of wind, excellent in phlegmatic habits, and the pituitous asthma. He says, that it is not much used in the present practice of physic: but that it is certainly a good medicine, and may be prescribed, with advantage, where a warm cordial bitter is indicated. Cullen says, it does not merit a place in the Materia Medica, and Woodville reports it should be wholly discarded: but our present knowledge is too limited to expunge any one article from the few that have been selected out of thirty thousand plants. When ordered, it should be directed from fifteen grains to a drachm. An useful tincture might be made of it, as I have found, and in this way it has proved an excellent remedy in Pyrosis, flow of water from the mouth; and heart-burn, Car- PREPARATIONS, The Royal London College have only received it in their aro matic confection, formerly called Conpiat Convection (Con- fectlo Aromatica, olim Confectio Cardiaca, P. E.), of which it makes the principal ingredient, which is thus ordered : 4 ° ROUND K2MPFERIA. Corprat Conrection. (Confectio Cardiaca.) Take of zedoary, grossly powdered, . saffron, half a pound of each : ‘ . distilled water, three pints. Macerate for twenty-four hours, then press and straiu. Eva- porate the strained liquor to a pound and a half; and then add the following ingredients reduced to a fine powder : compound powder of crabs claws, sixteen ounces ; cinnamon ; q nutmeg, two ounces of each; cloves, an ounce; lesser cardamom seeds, husked, half an ounce ; double refined sugar, two pounds ; Make a confection. The dose of this confection is from one scruple to one drachm, in any convenient vehicle, to raise and recruit the spirits; and as an adjuvant it is more employed than any other ingredient in the whole Materia Medica, combined with more active ingredients. It enables persons to retain medicines, which otherwise would nauseate the stomach, gives a colour to colourless ingredients, and produces a physicky taste, so necessary when exhibiting cer- ain remedies, as camphorated mixture, &c. HT LONG-ROOTED TURMERIC. TURMERIC, L. P. CURCUMA LONGA, L. P. Class 1. Monandria. Order 1. Monogynia, Essenr. Gen. Caan. Stamina five; four barren, one fertile: Corolla four= parted: Nectary three-lobed: Filament flat. Srzc. Cuan, Leaves lanceolate; lateral Nerves very numerous, —- DESCRIPTION, Tose leaves are about a span long, and three or four inches broad, of a fine green colour, and pointed at the end. The: flowers grow on stalks of eight, ten, or more inches-high, and. of the thickness of one’s little finger ; they are collected in a kind of scaly cone, of an oblong figure, of a pale reddish colour. HISTORY. Turmeric is a perennial plant, a native of the East Indies. The roots are tuberous, knotty, and long, wrinkled, externally of a pale yellow colour, and internally of a shining saffron Drown. They have a weak aromatic smell, and a slightly bitter aromatic taste. They contain a ‘very little essential oil; and - 12 LONG-ROOTED TURMERIC. ~ Neumann got from 960 parts, 320 watery and afterwards 50 alcoholic extract, and inversely 160 alcoholic and 210 watery. MEDICAL USES, Turmeric, when taken internally, tinges the urine of a deep yellow colour, and acts as a gentle stimulant. It has been ce- lebrated in diseases of the liver, jaundice, cachexy, dropsy, in termittent fevers, &c, But its internal use im this country is al- most confined to its being a principal ingredient in the compo- sition of curry-powder, in which form it is used in immense quan- tities in the East Indies. It is also a most valuable dye, and an excellent chemical test of the presence of uncombined alkalies 5 for the yellow colour of ¢armeric is changed by them to a reddish brown, : It possesses rather a fragrant odour, is slightly bitterish, and excites a moderate degree of warmth in the mouth, imparting to the saliva a yellow tinge. It is used in the Fast as a condiment to food, and employed by us chiefly in cookery for colouring of puddings. It is em- ployed also in dyeing a fine yellow. The dose of this root is from a scruple to a drachm in substance. From an ignorant suspicion that the jaundice was to be cured by whatever produced a yellow colour, that is, I suspect, seeing the bile diffused into the habit, from obstruction of the passage of the gall-duct, these yeMow remedies wero used to suppty its place, just as the yolke of cggs are used in the same complaint ; nor when bracers or stimulants can we object to these popular remedies. ‘Asa cordial, aromatic, mild bitfer, the Turmeric has often roused the torpid actions of the prime via, and removed the obstruction when arising from spasm; and as rhubarb was at the wame time commomly used, this carrivd off the slinte, another common cause of obstruction, and also of spasm; aad where! the eggs were caten raw as a nutritious strengthener, these, to.’ gether often with the sattron in tea, cured slight cases of jaum dice, especially in children ; and therefore I cannot consent, with Dr. Callen and Dr. Woodville, to the discarding thiy mild sto- machic altogether from amongst the class of remedies, althong it possess only slonder virtue. EUROPEAN OLIVE. OLEA EUROPEA. Class 11. Diandria, Order 1. Monogynia. Besser. Gen. Cuan. Corolla four-cleft, segments subovate: Drape oue- seeded. Srec. Cuan. Leaves lanceolate, very entire: Racemes axillary, con- tracted. = —__ DESCRIPTION. Tus is gn evergreen, with oblong, narrow, willow-like leaves, and monopetalous whitish flowers, cut into four sections, or segments, followed by a cluster of oval black fruit, containing rader a ficshy pulp a hard rough stone. It bears the ordinary winters of our climate. HISTORY. The olive tree is a native of the south of Europe and north of Africa. It is cultivated in France, Spain, and Italy, for the pake of its fruit, and the oil expressed from it. Olives, when fresh, have an acrid, bitter, aud extremely disagreeable taste; “4 EUROPEAN OLIVE. but they are only eaten when pickled. They are first steeped. for several days in a ley of wood-ashes, and then Pickled ina strong solution of muriate of soda. ‘They are principally valued for the oil they afford by exprese sion. For this purpose they are gathered when fully ripe, and im- mediately bruised and subjected to the press. The finest oil flows first, and a very bad oil is obtained by boiling the magma, which remains after expression, in water, According to Baumé, they are gathered when sufficiently ripe: they are then dried, to deprive the mucilage, of which they contain a large quantity, of its water, and are expressed after being bruised, and moist~ ened with a little water, to render the oil more fluid. By rest, the mucilage and water which may have passed with it separate. Olive oil is sometimes mixed with oil of poppy seeds; but, by exposing the mixture to the freezing temperature, the olive oil freezes, while that of the poppies remains fluid; and as oils which freeze with most difficulty are most apt to become rancid, olive oil is deteriorated by the admixture of poppy oil. Good olive oil should have a pale yellow colour, somewhat inclining to grecn, a bland taste, without smell, and should congeal at 36°Fahrenheit, In this country it is frequently rancid and sometimes adulterated. . MEDICINAL USE. Taken internally, it operates as a gentle laxative, and is given in cases of worms, It is also given in large quantities to miti- gate the action of acrid substances taken into the stomach. It is used externally in frictions, in gargles, and in clysters; but its principal employment is for the composition of ointments and plasters. By woeful mistake I once took the whole contents of a two- ounce phial of Eau de Luce: but by presence of mind, or ine stinct, I immediately flew to the aid of butter; and this, every one knows, melting in the heat of the stomach acts as oil. I men- tion this, as upon such occasions time is pressing, and danger urgent, and often there may be found immediately this one and not the other kinds of emetics. Taken largely it will act as a vomit, from its sticking to the fauces, and, irritating them, producing sympathetic actions of the stomach and intercostal muscles. EUROPEAN OLIVE. 15 * Oil is supposed destructive to worms, from the fact, that if @ wasp be touched with an oiled feather it will instantly die, through the effect of oil in stopping the spiracule of insects. But from experiments it is found, that, though oil be poured upon them, worms will continue seemingly uninjured. The above supposition, therefore, seems to be unfounded, and to arise from a mistaken analogy. But the most remarkable property attributed to oil, is the cure it is thought to perform on persons bit by a viper, it being esteemed the sovereign antidote. In the Philosophical Transacs tions, vol. xxxiv. p. 310, are related the experiments made by one William Oliver, who suffered his arm to be bit by a vi- per and waited till the most violent symptoms ensued, when these were soon removed by the applying warm oil of olivesto the affected part*. Mead, in his Treatise on Poisons, speaks of a remedy which was reckoned in his time a real specific against the bite of the viper +. He says that the viper-catchers in England used it with so much confidence, that they were no more afraid of the bite of a viper than a common prick of a pin. Mead purchased this secret, and found it to be nothing more than the fat of the viper itself, which they rubbed on the bitten part. ‘The Academy of Sciences in Paris, struck with the importance of this seeming discovery, deputed two of their members, Messrs. Geoffroiand Hanauld, to inquire into the subject; and they de- termined that oil is no specific against the bite of the viper t. Vide Mem. de I’Academ. 1737. Linnzus (Ameen. Acad. vol. vi. p. 213) mentions that he was disappointed in the use of oil, aud says that the woman bitten by * The fact is not to be disputed, but it arose from the poiso