44 BARBERRY. 



that the /Ecidium Berberidis, an insect which generally infests the shrub 

 generates the dust, which, carried away by winds, and lighting on wheat 

 and other growing corn, gives rise to the Puccinia, a minute fungus, which 

 closes up the pores of the leaves and appears like rust or mildew. 



Medical Properties and Uses. — The bark and fruit of this 

 plant are used in medicine ; the former is extolled in diarrhoeas 

 and dysenteries ; the latter, on account of their grateful acid 

 juice, furnish a very pleasant and serviceable beverage in fevers, 

 bihous disorders, and scurvy. The fruit is variously prepared ; 

 it may be made into comfits, syrup, jelly, or jam. These differ- 

 ent preparations may be empteyed in forming drinks, which in 

 all kinds of inflammatory diseases, scalding of urine, and espe- 

 cially typhus fevers, are taken with the greatest advantage. 

 Prosper Alpinus attributes his recovery from the plague to fol- 

 lowing the advice of the Egyptian physicians, who gave him no 

 other medicine than the syrup of Barberries with the addition of 

 a small quantity of fennel seed. Simon Pauli followed with 

 success the same advice in a malignant fever and diarrhoea, with 

 which he was attacked in Paris, which induced him to recom- 

 mend very strongly in his works the different preparations of 

 this plant. 



The juice may be thus prepared : — 



Take of ripe Barberries, any quantity ; 

 Bruise them in a mortar, and set the mass aside for several days in a cool 

 place ; then express the juice and leave it as before : strain it, pour it into 

 long necked bottles, cover it with a stratum of oil and keep it in a cellar. 



SYRUP OF BARBERRIES. 

 Take of expressed and filtered juice of 



Barberries one pint. 



White Sugar one pound and a half. 



Boil them together and strain. 



An excellent gargle for sore throats may be made with this 

 syrup. 



The inner bark infused in white wine is said to be purgative, 

 and Ray experienced its good effects in jaundice. 



