CITRUS MEDICA. ORD. XXVIII. Pomacee, 529 
first cultivator of this tree in Italy,. yet it is evident it could not 
have been propagated there long before his time, as appears by 
the writings of Pliny;’ nor is its cultivation noticed by Varro, 
Cato, or Columella. ; ; 
After its introduction into Europe, we find Spain, Portugal, and 
France, became successively possessed of this valuable plant, with 
its congeners; and the Hesperian fruits are now produced in such 
abundance, that their exportation gives rise to a lucrative branch 
of commerce. 
The Lemon- rome like the orange, is common in our green- 
houses; and according to the Hortus Kewensis, was first cultivated 
in Britain in the Oxford garden, previous to the year 1648.° 
The juice of the fruit, which is more acid than that of the 
orange, possesses similar medical virtues, and therefore what we 
have already said of the latter will equally apply to the former. 
However this juice is always preferred where a strong vegetable 
acid is required. Saturated with the fixed vegetable alkali, it is 
in frequent extemporaneous use in febrile diseases; and by pro- 
moting the secretions, especially that of the. surface, proves of 
considerable service in abating the violence of pyrexia. ‘This 
‘medicine is also often employed to restrain vomiting. _ As 
‘an antiscorbutic, Lemon juice is also very. generally taken on 
-board ships, destined for long. “Voyages; but even when well 
depurated of its mucilaginous parts, it is found to spoil hy long 
keeping; to prevent which various means have been devised.‘ 
We are told that, by mixing it with a fifth or sixth part of brandy 
or rum, it underwent no change during thirty-two months;* but 
“by DEINE mixed with the spirit, it must have lost a. part, of its 
» See Hist. Naé, f..12..c. 3. © See Hort. Oxon, ed. he 
o * However, when purified as s mentioned by Dr. Cullen, (which'we have (datedof } 
the orange juice) and kept in a proper cellar, it has been ‘fou to retain its qualities 
unimpaired for four years, Vide Georgii in Vet. Acad, Handl. 1774, p. 245. sqg. 
clay ® (a ¢Foreter’s Foyages py G88. 5.0005 4nf 
No. 45.—vor. 4. oes 
