358 AMPELIDEZ. 
strain ; then add, treacle 50 lbs., cinnamon, cardamoms, folia 
malabathri, flowers of Mesua ferrea, fruit of Aglaia Roxbur- 
ghiana, black pepper, long pepper and seeds of Embelia 
Ribes, all in fine powder, of each 23 ozs., and set aside for 
fermentation. Grapes are described by Dioscorides under the 
nameof cragvA7 ; he also notices raisins (erapis) and their medicinal 
properties.* Pliny speaks of Uve, grapes, and Acini passt, 
raisins. The tpvdé éwov of the Greeks, Few vini in Latin, is our 
Argol; the Mith-el-tartir of the Arabs. Mahometan writers 
consider grapes and raisins to be attenuant, suppurative and 
pectoral; the most digestible of fruit, purifying the blood and 
increasing its quantity and quality ; they say that they are more 
wholesome if kept a few days after being gathered, and that the 
_ Skinand stones should not be eaten. The ashes of the wood 
are recommended as a preventive of stone in the bladder, 
cold swellings of the testes, and piles ; in the two last named 
diseases they are to be applied externally as well.as given 
internally. The juice of unripe grapes, Husrum (Arab.), 
Ghireh (Pers.), is used as an astringent; it is the éu¢deuov of 
Dioscorides, our Verjuice,and the Agresto of the modern Italians, | 
who still use it in affections of the throat. The cut branches of 
the vine yield in spring an abundant sap, which was formerly 
used as a remedy for skin diseases, and is still a popular remedy 
in Europe for ophthalmia. 
Eetractum pampinorum vitis, which is used in some European 
countries as an astringent, diuretic, nervine and antispasmodic, 
and also to remove freckles, is made by evaporating the 
expressed juice of the young buds of the vine, exhausting 
the extract with alcohol, and again evaporating. 
Grape mares calcined in a closed vessel yield a fine black 
charcoal known as Noir de Franefort. 
Different kinds of wine are used in medicine and pharmacy. 
The physiological action of wine upon the system is in some 
respects similar to that of alcohol, small doses being stimulant 
and large doses narcotic. Wine has also secondary medicinal 
: 2" Bios. V:, 3. eee 
+ Plin. 14, 1, et seq. 
