NAT. ORDER. SCABRID.^. 171 



excitability, or, more directly, of a deranged state of the stomach 

 and bowels, are certainly much relieved by this medicine. It fre- 

 quently induces sleep, and quiets nervous irritation, without causing 

 costiveness, or imparing, hke opium, the tone of the stomach, and 

 merely increasing primary disease. The preparation most common- 

 ly used in this city, is the tincture prepared from the lupulin. In- 

 quietude and watchfulness, connected with excessive irritability in 

 all its gradations, from the restlessness consequent upon exhaustion 

 and fatigue, to the most uncontrollable paroxysm of delirium tre- 

 mens, are more frequently allayed by this remedy than any other in 

 ordinary use. Another eligible mode of exhibiting the lupulin, is in 

 pills. From two to four pills, each containing three grains of the 

 powder, may be given at a dose. Dr. Desroches, who published a 

 dissertation on the hop in 1803, supposed that its narcotic principle 

 resided in the essential oil ; but is it not more than probable that 

 this was a conjecture, arising from the imaginary soporific virtues 

 of the hop-pillow? It requires much experience, and accurate ob- 

 servation to speak confidently upon this subject ; but, from havinof 

 frequently used the lupulin collected from old hops, in which little 

 aroma seemed to remain, and also the extracts prepared by decoc- 

 tions, by which process the essential oil is chiefly dissipated. I am 

 still of opinion, that its narcotic properties reside in the resinous ex- 

 tract : externally, an ointment compounded with the powder of the 

 hop, and lard is recommended by Mr. Freake as an anodyne 

 application to cancerous sores, and a decoction, used as a fo- 

 mentation, affords much relief in painful tumefactions. A cata- 

 plasm, made of an infusion of the strobiles, has been applied with 

 decided benefit to the bowels, for inflammation, ague in the face, 

 swellings of all kinds, bilious colic, and ill-conditioned ulcers. 



Mode of Employing Lupulin. Lupulin may be administered in 

 form of extract, tincture, pills, powder, or sirup. The extract may 

 be prepared either with the aqueous infusion, or with the de- 

 coction; when prepared with the latter, it is equally bitter, but less 

 aromatic. Dose, from five to ten grams. 



