130 NUTRITIVE PLANTS. 



if they were not watered, or rather pickled, with lime-water marie 

 from calcined shell-fish, which they dilute with salt water till it 

 attains the consistence of fluid pap. Into this mixture they plunge 

 the nutmegs, contained in small baskets, two or three times, till 

 they are completely covered over with the liquor. They are after- 

 wards laid in a heap, where they heat, and lose their superfluous 

 moisture by evaporation. When they have sweated sufficiently, 

 they are then properly prepared, and fit for a sea-voyage, r 



The medicinal qualities of nutmeg are supposed to be aromatic, 

 anodyne, stomachic, and astringent ; and with a view to the last 

 mentioned effects, it has been much used in diarrhoeas and dysen- 

 teries. To many people the aromatic flavour of nutmeg is very 

 agreeable ; they however should be cautious not to use it in large 

 quantities, as it is apt to affect the head, and even to manifest au 

 hypnotic power in such a degree as to prove extremely dangerous* 

 Bontius speaks of this as a frequent occurrence in India; and Dr. 

 Cuilen relates a remarkable instance of this soporific effect of the 

 nutmeg, which fell under his own observation, and hence concludes, 

 that in apoplectic and paralytic cases this spice may be very impro- 

 per. He observes that a person by mistake took two drams or a 

 lit tie more of powdered nutmeg; he felt it warm in his stomach, 

 without any uneasiness; but in about an hour after he had takeu 

 it, he was seized with a drowsiness, which gradually increased to a 

 complete stupor and insensibility; and not long after he was found 

 fallen from his chair, lying on the floor of his chamber in the state 

 mentioned. Being laid abed he fell asleep; hut waking a little from 

 time to time, he was quite delirious ; and he thus continued alter-, 

 nately sleeping arid delirious for several hours. By degrees, how- 

 ever, both these symptoms diminished ; so that in about six hours 

 from the time of taking the nutmeg, he was pretty well recovered 

 from both. Although he still complained of head-ache, and some 

 drowsiness, he slept naturally and quietly the following night, and 

 next day was quite in his ordinary health. 



The officinal preparations of nutmeg are, a spirit and essential 

 oil ; and the nutmeg in substance roasted, to render it more astrin- 

 gent. Both the spice itself and its essential oil enter several com. 

 positions, as the confectio aromatica, spiritus ammoniae, com., &c. 

 Mace possesses qualities similar to those of the nutmeg, but is less 

 astringent, and its oil is supposed to be more volatile and acrid. 

 [Linn. PercivaL Cuilen, Woodville, 



