MYRISTICA MoscHATA. ORD. XL. Oleracea’. 701 
very little of it in distillation: hence the spirituous extract 
possesses the flavour of the spice in an eminent degree. - 
Nutmegs, when heated, yield to the press a considerable quastitg 
of limpid yellow oil, which on cooling concretes into a sebacious 
consistence. In the shops we meet with three sorts of unctious 
substances, called Oil of Mace, though really expressed from the 
Nutmeg. The best is brought from the East Indies in stone jars; 
this is of a thick consistence, of the colour of mace, and has an 
agreeable fragrant smell: the second sort, which is paler coloured, 
and much inferior in quality, comes from Holland in solid masses, 
generally flat, and of a square figure: the third, which is the worst 
of all, and usually called Common Oil of Mace, is an artificial 
composition of sevum, palm oil, and the itke; Hevoured with a: 
little genuine oil of Nutmeg* _ ‘ewig 
The medicinal qualities of Nutmeg are sagpined to be aromatic, 
anodyne, stomachic, and restringent," and with a view to the last 
mentioned effects, it has been much used in diarrhoeas, and dysen- 
teries. To many people the aromatic flavour of Nutmeg is very 
_ agreeable; they, however, should be cautioned not to use it in 
large quantities, as it is apt to affect the head, and even to manifest 
an hypnotic power in such a degree as to prove extremely dan- 
gerous. Bontius speaks of this as a frequent occurrence in India;' 
and Dr. Cullen relates a remarkable instance of this soporific effect 
of the Nutmeg, which fell under his own observation,“ and hence 
: f a6. 
¢ Ed. New Dispens. by Dr. Duncan. p. 238. 
» Bergius, M. M. p. 884. 
‘ De Medicina Indorum, p.20. See also Miscell. Nat. Cur. dec. I11. an. I. obs. 129. 
* * A person by mistake took two drams or a little more of powdered Nutmeg: 
he felt it warm in his stomach, without any uneasiness; but in about an hour after 
he had taken it he was seized with a drowsiness, which gradually increased to a 
complete stupor and insensibility; and not long after he was found fallen from his 
chair, lying on the floor of his chamber in the state mentioned. Being laid a- 
No. 51.—vot. 4. 8p 
