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larger quantities of these medicines than the stock and poultry mix- 

 tures. The medicinal substances are described as follows : 



Fenugreek and fennel are the ground seeds of plants grown in 

 Southern Europe, known botanically as Trigonella Foenum Graecum 

 and Foeniculum vulgare. They are aromatic substances, used to 

 excite the action of the stomach, thereby relieving indigestion and 

 gas, and also to impart an agreeable Havor. It was formerly 

 believed that fenugreek increased the quantity and improved the 

 quality of milk, but such ideas are now largely exploded. The 

 quantity used is comparatively small. 



Anise or Aniseed, (Pimpenella Anisum), is the seed of a plant cul- 

 tivated in Spain and Malta. It has a pleasant warm taste and an 

 agreeable odor and is used for much the same purpose as fenugreek. 



Gentian, occasionally recognized, is the dried root of the plant 

 known as Gentiana lutia and is grown in Central and Southern 

 Europe. It is very bitter and is used a.s a stomach tonic, promoting 

 an increased secretion of the gastric juice. 



Ginger is the powdered underground stem of Zingiber officinale, 

 grown principally in India and the West Indies. It stimulates the 

 various membranes with which it comes in contact, and is used as 

 an apetizer and to reduce the griping effects of purgatives. 



Pepper, the common black form, is obtained from the brown ber- 

 ries of an East India climbing plant, Piper nigrum. Cayenne pepper 

 consists of the dried ripe fruit of Capsicum fastigiatuni and annum. 

 Both kinds are used as a stomachic and to increase the activity of 

 the reproductive organs. 



Salt, of v.hich many of the mixtures contained from 2 to 20 per 

 cent, was used as an appetizer. 



Sulfates of magnesia and soda, in the form of Epsom and Glaubers 

 salts, are purgatives and are frequently spoken of as '• salts." 



Saltpeter, nitrate of potash or nitre, is used in medicine to excite 

 the action of the kidneys and to reduce fever. 



Sodium bi-carbonate is employed to neutralize an undue acidity of 

 the stomach. 



Sulphur is used as a laxative, alterative, and as a stimulant of 

 mucus surfaces. 



Iron, found as the oxide — Venetian red or Princess metallic* — is 

 not used medicinally, but is employed to color or disguise the real 



'Dry paints. 



