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The berries of the Alkekengi, commonly called Winter Cherries, 
were well known to the ancients, and are chara¢teriftically defcribed 
by Diofcorides.* : 
‘They have an acidulous and not unpleafant tafte, followed by a 
flight bitternefs, which ‘they are faid to derive in a confiderable de- 
gree from the invefting calyx, if not gathered with great care.* 
Winter Cherries, though efteemed to be detergent and aperient, 
have been chiefly recommended in the charaéter of a diuretic in 
fuppreflions of urine, and for removing obftructions occafioned by 
gravel or mucous. ‘With this intention, from fix to twelve cherries, 
or an ounce of their expreffed juice, have been the dofe ufually 
employed: there feems, however, to be no danger from a much 
larger quantity; for in fome parts of Germany we are told that the 
_ country people eat them by handfuls with much benefit :” and in 
Spain and Switzerland‘ they frequently fupply the place of other 
eatable fruits. Ray informs us, that a gouty perfon prevented the 
returns of the diforder by taking eight of thefe cherries at each change 
of the moon ;* we find alfo inftances related of their good effects in 
dropfical and calculous complaints,* but at prefent they are wholly 
difregarded. : 
* See Lrevxyvoy arimanaBore. 
* 
* Lewis. lc. * C. Hoffinan. De Medicam. off. L.2. 0.217. — 
© Quer. Flor. Efpann. Tom. ii. p, 224. ‘Hall. 1. ¢. | 
q Pe c. ee 
® See Lifeke, Arnold. de Villa Nova, & Lifer, as cited by Murr. 1. c. 
ATROPA 
