459 
. 
at which it has long been propagated for fale, are PontefracT: in York- 
shire, Workfop in Nottinghamfhire, and Godalming in Surry ; but 
it is now planted by many gardeners in the vicinity of London, by 
whom the metropolis is fupplied with the roots, which, after three 
years growth, are dug up for ufe, and are found to be in no refpects 
inferior for medical purpofes to thofe produced in their native climate. 
Liquorice root, lightly boiled in a little water, gives out nearly all 
fweetnefs : the decoction, prefled through a firamer, and infpiflated 
fingers, affords a 
with a gentle heat till it will no longer flick to the 
better extracT: than that brought from abroad, and its quantity amounts 
to near half the weight of the root. b Reclined fpirit takes up the 
fweet matter of the Liquorice equally with water ; and as it diflblves 
much lefs of the infipid mucilaginous fubftance of the root, the fpiritu- 
c 
3* 
ous tinclures and extracts are proportionably fweeter than the watery 
This root contains a great quantity of faccharine matter,* joined 
with fome proportion of mucilage ; and hence has a vifcid fweet tail e. 
From the time of Theoph 
been a received opin 
very powerfully extinguiihes third : this, if true, is the more re- 
markable, as fweet fubrtances in general have a contrary effect. 6 It 
is in common ufe as a peel oral or emollient in catarrhal defluelion 
on the breaft, coughs, hoarfeneffes, &c. " Infufions or extracls 
made from it afford likewife very commodious vehic 
y 
d 
for the exhibition of other medicines : the Liquorice tafte concealing 
that of unpalatable drugs more effecluaily than fyrups or any of th 
■*^. 
fweets of the faccharine kind." 
b If the Liquorice be long boiled, its fweetnefs is greatly impaired, and the prepara- 
tion contracts an ungrateful bitternefs and black colour.. 
c Lewis) M. M. 
* This matter, according to Lewis, differs from that of other vegetables, u in b:\ng 
far lefs difpofed to run into fermentation. " L. c. 
d Hence it was named m&$4(<n 3 and the root dire&ed to be chewed in dropfies and other 
diforders where great thirft prevailed. Vide Theoph. L. 9. cap. 13. Alio noticed by 
Pliny, Lib. 22. c. 9. 
c Dr. Cullen fays, cc to explain this, I obferve that in the fweet of Liquorice, feparated 
from the root, I do not find that it quenches thirft more than other, fweets ; and I take 
the miftaken notion to have arifen from this, that if a piece of the root is chewed till 
the whole of the fweetnefs is extracted, that further chewing brings out the acrid and 
Oitternn matter, which ftimulates the mouth and fauces, fo as to produce an excretion or 
fluid, and thereby takes off the thifft which the fweetnefs had produced." M. A'Lvol. 
iu p. 407 
f Leivis* /.. c. 
ALLIUM 
