AROMATICS. 41 



kernels of the nut, which is surrounded by a membrane, called inace. 

 Nutmegs contain a volatile oil, procured by distillation, and a fixed 

 oil, called oil of mace^ obtained by expression. Nutmegs are aro- 

 matic, and in large doses, narcotic. Used chiefly as a condiment, 

 and to flavour farinaceous drinks. Mace is employed for the same 

 purpose. 



Cloves. [Caryophyllus, U. S.) — Unexpanded flowers of the Euge- 

 nia canjopkyUata^ an evergreen, native of the Malaccas. They 

 ought to have a deep brown colour, and an oily aspect. 



Cloves are one of the most stimulant aromatics ; depend for their 

 virtue upon a volatile oil, which is rather heavier than water. Dose 

 of powder, 5 to 10 grains ; of infusion, made with 3ij to the pint, 

 f3i.j ; of the volatile oil, 2 or 3 drops. 



Black Pepper. {Piper, U. S.) — Dried berries of the Piper 

 nigrum, a vine, native of the East Indies. The fruit when first 

 ripe is red, but becomes black by drying. When deprived of its 

 outer coating it constitutes uhite pepper. It contains a peculiar 

 crystalline principle — piperin — which, however, is not the active 

 principle ; this resides in the volatile oil. Piperine has been used 

 with advantage as an anti-intermittent. 



Black pepper is chiefly employed as a condiment, it is a decided 

 stimulant in large doses. Its excessive use is injurious to the stomach. 



CuBEBS. (Cubeha, U. S.) — Dried fruit of the Pi2Jer cubeba, a vine 

 much resembling the last. The cubeb berries are distinguished by 

 being reticulated, and having a short footstalk attached to them. 

 They have an aromatic odour, and a warm camphorous taste ; de- 

 pend for their virtues on a volatile oil, procured by distillation. They 

 have a tendency to act on the kidneys, and in larger quantities to 

 afiect the head. As a medicine, its chief use is in affections of the 

 urino-genital organs, particularly gonorrhoea. Dose of powder, 3ss. 

 to 3j ; of the volatil^ oil, 10 to 20 drops. 



Allspice. (Pimenta, U. S.) — Called also Jamaica p^^PP^'^'' 

 Grows in Jamaica ; fruit of the Myrtus pimenta ; called alhp)ice 

 from its combining the flavour of several other spices. Its virtues 

 depend on a volatile oil. Used only as a condiment. 



Cinnamon {Cinnamomum, U. S.) — Bark of the Cinnamoiniim 

 zeijlanicum, (F\g, 8,) a native of Ceylon. The bark is stripped 

 from trees of six or seven years old. When dried, it curls up late- 

 rally, so as to form quills, which are inserted one within another. 

 The variety called Cassia is believed to be the product of the C. 

 aromaticiim, a native of China, and is sent from Canton. 



True cinnamon is known by its colour, the thinness of its bark, 

 the congeries of quills in which it always comes, its splintery frac- 

 ture, and its sweetish aromatic taste, more pleasant than that of 

 cassia bark, though the best specimens of the latter may be consi- 

 dered nearly as good. There is a volatile oil of cinnamon, and also 



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