104 



MATERIA MEDICA. 



Irish Moss. — (Chondrus, U. S.) 



Usually called Carrageen ; — botanically, Cho7idrus crispvs. It 

 grows on the rocks on the northern coasts of Europe, — particularly 

 Ireland ; also in this continent. Consists of a flat cartilaginous 

 frond, several inches long, curled, and of a yellowish colour ; — 

 odour, feeble; taste, slight; insoluble in cold water, but soluble- in 

 boiling water ; — contains starch, pectin and other matters. A nutri- 

 tive demulcent, used in pectoral complaints, dysentery, nephritic 

 disorders, &c. Decoction, made by boiling 3ss. in Ojss. to Oj. Made 

 also in the form of a jelly, properly flavoured, as an article of diet. 



Iceland Moss. — (Cetearia, U. S.) 



Botanically, Cetraria Islandica, [Lichen Islandiciis) ; grows in 

 the northern parts of both continents, — inland. It is from 2 to 4 inches 

 long ; dry, coriaceous, and smooth ; deeply channelled ; of a grayish 

 white and brown colour ; no odour ; of a bitter, mucilaginous taste ; 

 soluble in boiling water. It contains a bitter principle, which renders 

 it slightly tonic as well as demulcent ; — the bitterness may be re- 

 moved by weak alkaline solutions. Used in chronic pectoral affec- 

 tions, attended with debility ; also in chronic diarrhoea and dysentery. 

 Decoction made by boiling 3j in Ojss. of water down to Oj. 



liiQuoRicE Root. — (Glycyrrhiza, U. S.) 



Root of the G. glabra, growing in the south of Europe, having 

 a round, tough, and pliable root. As found in the shops, it is in 

 long pieces, varying from a few lines to an inch in thickness ; of a 

 yellowish-gray colour externally ; yellow within ; taste sweet and 

 somewhat acrid. It contains a peculiar saccharine principle called 

 ghjcyrrhizin, which differs from sugar in not undergoing the vinous 

 fermentation : it also contains some starch, and a resinous acrid 

 matter. A good demulcent, — used chiefly as an adjuvant with other 

 acrid medicines. Decoction, made with 3j to Oj water. The pow- 

 dered root used for sprinkling over pills. 



Liquorice — Extractmn glycyrrhizce, (U. S.), — made by evapo- 

 rating the decoction. The best is imported from Calabria. Comes 

 in black flattened cylinders, about an inch in diameter, shiny when 

 broken ; of a sweet taste ; — much used in cough-mixtures and 

 lozenges. 



Barley. — (Hordeum, U. S.) 



Prepared for medicinal use by cleaning the grain, and rounding 

 and polishing in a mill ; it then constitutes pearl barley. It is in 



