BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA, 267 
germinate; it is thin-spread over a perforated 
floor and dried by the means ofa current of air 
passed over or through it, not exceeding a tem- 
perature of go degrees. 
Barley was an ancient article of diet and is 
mentioned in the Bible as such. Barley has 
Deen used in the form of a decoction, as a demul- 
cent and asa nutritious drink for invalids; 2 
ounces of barley to 4 pints of boiling water. 
The extract of malt is composed of the dried 
or malted barley grains. The so-called malted - 
liquors are made by fermenting the prepared 
grains with hops and other substances, many of 
which are injurious. The ferment in the barley 
is termed diastase, and converts starch into dex- 
trine and maltose. 
Hyoscyami Semen, Hyoscyamus seed, from 
the Hyosoyamus Niger.—Natural order Sola- 
nace, The plant bearing these seeds has been 
fully described under another heading and 
therefore can be dispensed with. The fruit is 
a capsule opening transversely by a convex lid, 
having two cells which contain many small 
seeds reniform and roundish in character, very 
finely pitted and of a grayish brown color, testa 
delicate, with a creamy albuminous kernel, en- 
closing a small cylindrical embryo, which is 
curved parallel with the edge of the seed. 
Taste bitter, acrid and oily. The henbane seed 
contains resin, mucilage, proteids, Hyoscyamine, 
hyoscine, hyoscypicrin and about 25 per cent. of 
fixed oil, Like the leaves they are anodyne, 
hypnotic and poisonous, and capable of dilating 
the pupil of the eye. Rarely if ever given and 
not officinal, All parts of the plant have been 
