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524 » ORD. XXVII- Pomacee. CITRUS AURANTIUM, 
This tree, according to Mr. Aiton,* is a native of India; but it 
has been long cultivated in the warmer parts of Europe, and the 
fruit brought to us is chiefly the produce of Spain and Portugal. 
Since the time of Parkinson,” Orange-trees have been propagated 
here as ornamental green-house aheabey but in + this country the 
fruit rarely arrives at the perfection of that which is imported 
from Spain. — 
‘The China Orange, and Seville Orange, are both varieties of the 
“same species; but it is only the latter which. has a place in the. 
Materia Medica of our Pharmacopeeias, in which not only the 
juice and exterior yellow rind of this fruit are directed for medi- 
cinal use, but also the leaves and flowers. 
The juice is a grateful acid liquor, which, by ailaying heat, 
quenching thirst, promoting various excretions, and diminishing 
the action of the sanguiferous system, proves of considerable use 
in all febrile and inflammatory disorders. It is also a powerful 
antiseptic, and of great efficacy in preventing and curing the 
-~ scurvy.* Though what is here observed relates to the juice of 
* Hort. Kew. vol. tit. p. 101. 
* 1629, See Park. Parad. p. 584. © See Lind on Scurvy, p. 163. 
The practice of evaporating this juice, or making it into what has been called a 
rob, in order to preserve it a length of time on ship board, has been recommended ; 
but Dr. Cullen says, “ in many trials which I have made, I could not exhale it to 
_ Such a consistence as would preserve it without addition, without my finding the 
acid a good deal changed. It acquires an acerbity and stipticity that does not 
allow it to be readily diffused in water; and I suspect it is not so readily miscible 
with the animal fluids as in its entire state. From Forster’s observations in the 
voyage round the world, it was not found useful either in preventing or curing 
the scurvy; which perhaps may be accounted for, partly by the concentration 
bringing it nearer to the state of the fossile acids, or possibly by the dissipation of 
some volatile parts, perhaps a portion of aériel acid; both of which circumstances 
may render it less fit for the cure of scurvy. I have therefore a bad opinion 
of the acid exhaled to a thick consistence; and judge the best way of preserving 
its virtues to be by a diligent separation of it from its mucilaginous part, and 
putting it up in close vessels, without putting any oil on its surface, which is 
ready to be acted upon by the acid, and gives a disagreeable taint to it.’ Mat. 
Med. vol. i. p. 252. 
