528 MEALS MEDICINAL. 
their abundant cellulose, which gives intestinal momentum. 
Many persons are led to think that these, in common with the 
leek, and garlic, are of service against fatigue from such prolonged 
exercise as is entailed by hunting, shooting, etc., and subsequent 
feasting. For bronchitis it has proved of use to apply repeatedly 
over the chest a good-sized Onion, beaten into pulp, within a 
flannel bag, each application being for four hours. A syrup 
made from the fresh juice of raw Onions, with honey, is an 
excellent medicine for old persons troubled with phlegm in cold 
weather, when the air passages are stuffed, and free breathing 
is hindered. Raw Onions increase the flow of urine, and promote 
free perspiration, insomuch that a diet of them with bread has 
many a time dispersed dropsical effusions caused by a chill, 
with arrested circulation in the kidneys, and skin surface. The 
volatile principle which benefits in this stimulating manner 1s 
sulphide of allyl, an acrid salt. The chief internal effects of 
these, and their kindred bulbs, are increase of warmth, and of 
circulatory vigour ; so that they are better adapted for patients 
of a cold temperament, and sluggish energies, than when the 
system is feverish, and the constitution ardently excitable. 
“ Vous tous qui etes gros, et gras, et lymphatiques, avec l’estomac 
paresseux, mangez l’oignon cru; cest pour vous que le bon Dieu 
la fait.” 
A jorum (or earthen bowl) of hot Onion broth taken at 
bedtime will serve admirably to mollify the air passages, and 
to open the skin-pores, after the first feverish stage of catarrh, 
' or influenza, has passed by. To make this, peel a large Spanish 
Onion, and divide it into four parts; put them into a saucepan 
with half a saltspoonful of salt, and two ounces of butter, alse 
a pint of cold water; let them simmer gently until quite tender ; 
next pour all into a bowl which has been made hot, dredging 
a little pepper over; and let the broth be taken as hot as it 
can be borne. The allyl, and sulphur in the bulbs, together 
with their mucilage, relieve the sore, raw mucous membranes, 
and exercise a specific medicinal virtue which they possess for 
cure, as has been conclusively shown by experimental provings- 
Onion gruel is similarly an excellent, and delicious posset for & 
catarrhal patient, this being made of either water, or milk, and 
proving smooth enough for any palate if patent groats are used. 
The Onion should be three-parts cooked in the water, and 
finished in the gruel. For a full-flavoured gruel English Onions 
