GARLIC. 329 
with the passion of the poorly fed Hindu for tamarinds, and 
lime-juice. 
For chronic bronchitis garlic is of particular virtue ; therefore 
such garlic is largely used by country people throughout Ireland, 
enjoying among them a reputation for curing coughs when it is 
made into a tea, or mixed with whisky. It is also pounded 
and employed as a poultice for scrofulous sores; and further, 
it is said to prevent anthrax, or “ blackleg” in cattle, being 
used largely for such a purpose. The old-fashioned syrup of 
garlic is made by first pouring a quart of boiling water upon a _ 
pound of the fresh bulbs cut in slices, putting the same in a close 
earthen vessel to stand for twelve hours, then the syrup is made 
of this infusion slowly cooked with the proper quantity of sugar. 
But indeed garlic ought never to be actually boiled, because 
by this treatment the essential oil on which the whole virtue 
of the garlic depends becomes exhaled, and dissipated. To 
be taken as a medicine garlic is stimulating, and agrees capitally 
with persons of a cold, passive temperament, but it offends 
and upsets others who are of a hot feverish disposition, and 
apt to become dyspeptic. 
Dr. Minchin, medical officer at Kells, published (1902) articles 
on the successful treatment of tubercular consumption, and 
of lupus (an erosive skin disease) by garlic. He finds that the 
allium sativum exercises a specifically destructive action on 
the bacillus of tubercle, at all events in the human subject. 
Cases of very encouraging cure in confirmed consumption are 
given by him in detail. The freshly expressed juice from the 
garlic, without removing the chlorophyl, is used by him, being 
most reliably prepared at home. When diluted with an equal 
quantity of water (or dilute spirit of wine), this is inhaled anti- 
septically on a small extemporised inhaler made of pliable 
perforated zinc plate, (as introduced by Dr. Yeo); some of the 
liquid being put afresh on the sponge of this inhaler three times 
during the day, and the inhaler being worn constantly (except 
at mealtimes) over the mouth and nose. Respecting this mode 
of treatment, Dr. Berdoe writes, “the only objection thereto 
is the offensive smell of the remedy as due to the sulphides, 
and oxides of allyl. No doubt this has militated against the 
employment of the onion tribe in regular medicine, since its 
virtues in bronchial troubles, and as affording topical remedies 
for abscesses, sores, etc. have always been recognized by country 
