194 Dr. Ives on the Chemical Proper ties and Economical [March, 



• is free from blemish, though I am convmced that the College 

 took great pains to render it so. To them it must be satisfac- 

 ti tory and gratifying that after so long and deliberate a considera- 

 yition of its merits, you have not discovered in the department' 

 which has excited your attention any real imperfection. I 

 earnestly beg that you v^^ill take the trouble of repeating those 

 processes, of which you have expressed your disapprobation, 

 and faithfully observe the directions of our Pharmacopoeia, when 

 I am fully persuaded you will be convinced that your strictures 

 have been misapplied. 



Though in repelling your attack, I have been under the neces- 



^sity of pointing out numerous mistakes into which you have 



-;:fallen, yet I entertain that opinion of your candour and justice, 



^ias to leave me no doubt of your giving a place to this letter in 



•*the next number of the Annals of Philosophy . An opportunity 



will thus be afforded to those who have read your analysis of 



seeing also the reply to it. 1 have the honour to be, Sir, 



Your very obedient servant, 



Thomas Charles Hope. 



Article IV* 



An Experimental Inquiry in the Chemical Properties and Econo- 

 mical and Medicinal Virtues of the Humulus Lupulus, or 

 Common Hop.^ By Ansel W. Ives, MD. of New York. 



The hop is a liardy perennial plant, which grows spontane- 

 ously in the northern parts of Europe and America.f It belongs 

 to the class Dioecia, and order Pentandria, of Linnasus. The 

 plant which bears the male flowers is not cultivated, and is cal- 

 led the wild hop,% The common domestic hop, which is the 

 female plant, is now to be the subject of investigation. Its 

 general character is too well and too universally known to need 

 description. The hop § has been regarded from time immemo- 

 rial as an indispensable ingredient hi malt liquors. It was intro- 

 duced and cultivated for that purpose in England about the year 

 1549, and has since been used so extensively in that country 

 and in many others, as to have become an important article of 

 commerce. It has long been known also to possess some virtue 



* From an American Scientific Journal. 



+ That the Ilumulus is a native of America has been confirmed by the observation 

 of Micheaux, Nuttall, Eaton, Tonrey, and others. 



X A very accurate drawing and minute dissection of the male and female hop-plant 

 may be found in " Lamarch's Encyclopedia," part 22, plate 8 1 5. 



§ Writers have generally used the term hop-plant to distinguish the whole vegetable, 

 and the hop to designate that part of it used in brewing. 



