RIBES RUBRUM. ORD. XXVIII. Pomaceer. 7 535 
segments, which are of a yellowish green colour: the.corolla is 
composed of five small obtuse upright petals, of a yellowish 
colour, and inserted in the calyx: the filaments are five, taper- 
ing, erect, and inserted in the calyx: the antherz are compressed, 
gaping at the edges, and attached at their sides to the filaments: 
the germen is roundish, placed below the corolla, and supports a 
cloven style, with obtuse stigmata: the fruit is a round shining red 
berry, of one cell, separated into two receptacles, and containing 
many roundish seeds, It is a native of Britain, and usually grows 
in dry woodiands. 
As the white Currant-tree is merely a variety of the red, the 
fruit of both, whether considered in a botanical or medical sense, 
is perfectly ‘analogous; therefore what is observed here of the 
latter will apply equally to the former. 
It is well known that the red Currant is abundantly cultivated 
in our garders, whence we are plentifully supplied with the fruit, 
which, from its grateful acidity, becomes universally acceptable, 
either as nature presents it, or variously prepared by art* with 
the addition of sugar. By Dr. Cullen, this fruit is classed with the 
alimentary plants, and from being generally and exclusively con~ 
sidered as such, it was not received in the British catalogues of the 
Materia Medica till that published i in the last edition of the London 
Pharmacopceia. 
The medicinal qualities of red Currants appear to be similar to 
those of the other subacrid fruits, which are esteemed to be mode- 
rately refrigerant, antiseptic, attenuant,* and aperient. They may 
be used with considerable advantage to allay thirst in most febrile 
a “ The juice is a most agreeable acid ia punch, If equal weights ef picked 
currants and pure sugar are put over the fire, the liquor that separates spon- 
‘taneously is a most agreeable jelly.” Withering. l. c. The juice of red curranis, 
with sugar, is a common beverage at mia where it is generally preferred to 
orgeat, or lemonade. 
* Hoffman and Boerhaave had great confidence i in the cae of these fruits in 
obstinate visceral obstrusetions. 
