EUGENIA PIMENTA. 
green, and nitrate of silver of a deep reddish-brown color. It 
is also precipitated by infusion of yellow cinchona bark. 
The sulphuric and muriatic acids redden it, and throw down 
pale rose-colored precipitates. The nitric acid forms no pre- 
cipitate, but gives theinfusion a yellow hue. The alcoholic 
tincture is rendered milky and slowly precipitated by wa- 
ter; the ethereal, when evaporated in water, deposits drops 
of a greenish-yellow volatile oil, a pellicle of a pungent, nau- 
seous-tasted resin, and some extractive. Hence Jamaica pep- 
per or allspice appears to contain a volatile oil, resin, extrac- 
tive, tannin, and gallic acid. It is devoid of the fiery taste 
and acridity which distinguish pepper and ginger, but in other 
respects its eflects agree with those of other spices. The 
volatile oil is by far the most important of its. ictive prin- 
ciples, yet the resin, extractive, and tannin must contribute 
very considerably to its operation. 
Allspice is an energetic stimulant and tonic, which is gen- 
erally used as a condiment, partly on account of its flavor, 
and partly to promote the digestion of some kinds of food, 
which experience has shown are not by themselves easily or 
readily digested. It is frequently employed with success, and 
has proved useful, united with bitter substances, in dyspepsia 
attended with much flatulence, and in arthritic and hysterical 
_ or old rheumatic affections. 'The watery infusion, sweet- 
ened with sugar and the addition of a little milk, is very 
_teadily taken by children, and is an excellent cordial in malig- 
nant measles, scarlatina, confluent small-pox, and the other 
_ exanthemata when the fever assumes the typhoid type. It is 
_ also exhibited advantageously when the eruption is slow to 
_ appear, and when it is necessary to restore the strength of 
the patient. Its principal use in medicine is, however, to 
cover the disagreeable taste of other remedies, or to give them 
warmth. For this purpose it may be substituted for any aro- 
matic substance. bce eee 
_ The dose of the berries is from five grains to forty ; that 
of the powder, ten to thirty grains; of the tincture, one to 
_ two drachms ; of the oil, two to five drops, 
Ai oe, The following are the principal preparations of this medi- 
eine, the uses of which are very limited : — 
Aqua Prmentsx. Allspice-water. Take of the berries, 
__ bruised, half a pound, water a pint. Macerate the berries in 
_ the water for twenty-four hours, and with a sufficient quan- 
tity of water to prevent empyreuma. _Distil a gallon. | 
_ Spmrvs Prrenrx. Spirit of Alispice. Take of the ber- 
_ Ties, bruised, two ounces, proof-spirit a gallon, water sufficient 
to prevent empyreuma. Macerate for twenty-four hours, 
then distil a gal. in. by. gewde heaton 6. Gigd ete. 
