24 CULTIVATED VEGETABLES. 



asthmas, and catarrhous disorders of the 

 breast ; and in other disorders proceeding 

 from a laxity of the solids, and cold slug- 

 gish indispositions of the fluids. It is also 

 frequently of service in the dropsy, in the 

 beginning of which it is particularly recom- 

 mended by Sydenham, as a warm strength- 

 ening medicine: we have even many exam- 

 ples of its acting so powerfully as a diuretic, 

 as to carry off all the water of dropsies. A 

 dram or two may be taken for a dose. There 

 is a syrup and oxymel made with garlic, 

 which may be given for the same purposes ; 

 but they are mostly used in pulmonic dis- 

 orders. Externally applied, it inflames and 

 ulcerates the skin, and is sometimes employed 

 for this use as a sinapism. It has also been 

 recommended by Sydenham as a most power- 

 ful resolvent ; for which purpose he was led 

 to make vise of it in the confluent small-pox. 

 His method was, to cut the root in pieces, and 

 apply it tied in a linen cloth to the soles of 

 the feet, about the eighth day of the disease, 

 after the face began to swell, renewing it once 

 a-day till the danger was over. 



When made into an unguent with oils, and 

 applied externally, garlic is said to resolve 

 and discuss cold tumours ; and has been by 



