The Citron. 167 



lemon-juice and lime-juice, both heavily charged with it, 

 are the most trustworthy prophylactics yet discovered 

 in regard to scurvy ; and as such, lime-juice is now con- 

 stantly carried in stock by the ships both of the Royal 

 Navy and of the merchant service. A very curious 

 fact, not yet explained, is that the acid, which is easily 

 separated from the juice by chemical process, is not 

 nearly so efficacious as the juice itself. Ye that are wise, 

 eat oranges, drink lemonade. 



THE CITRON (Citrus Medica). 



THE first of the fruits produced by a Citrus to become 

 known in Europe was the citron. When first brought 

 westwards from India is indeterminable, but the period 

 was early, since it is spoken of by Theophrastus, three 

 centuries B.C., under the name of the Median melon. 

 The birthplace was then thought to be Media, the ancient 

 kingdom of Cyrus the Great, and which commemorates, 

 in its name, the sevenfold famous sorceress : 



"In such a night, 



Medea gathered the enchanted herbs 

 Which did renew old JEson." 



Some think that the citron had reached Babylon before 

 the return of the Jews from the great captivity, B.C. 536, 

 and that it is intended by the Hebrew tappuach, in the 

 A.V. translated '"apple." The Jews themselves believe 



