BLACK-CURRANT. 243 



cacy in these diseases, and Sir George Baker * considers it an 

 invaluable remedy. A decoction of the leaves or bark has 

 been used as a gargle for the same purpose. The leaves have 

 been celebrated for their diuretic and detergent properties, 

 especially by Forestus, -j~ who directs a handful of them to be 

 boiled in a pint and a half of water, down to a pint, which is to 

 be taken in difficulty or suppression of urine. It is to be ob- 

 served, however, that he generally prescribed it in combination 

 with the seeds of wild carrot. 



The mode, of preparing the rob or jelly needs no description. 



SYRUP OF BLACK CURRANTS. 



Take of depurated juice of Black Currants, one pound ; 



White sugar two pounds. 



JMake a syrup over a gentle fire. 



This in common with the jelly may be taken to almost any 

 extent in fevers, and diluted, as a gargle in inflammatory sore- 

 throat. 



CONSERVE OF BLACK CURRANT j^. 



Take of Black Currant leaves, bruised and reduced to a fine pulp, one part; . 

 White Sugar two parts. 



Beat them together, and heat in a sand bath, iu a close vessel, until the 

 sugar is dissolved. 



The Red Currant is equally well-known with the foregoing, 

 and the fruit is considered nutritive, refrigerant and laxative. 

 The juice diluted with water and sweetened with sugar or honey 

 forms a very agreeable drink in hot weather, and very proper 

 for assuaging thirst both in health and disease. Its different 

 preparations have been used with advantage in bilious, nerv- 

 ous, and putrid fevers, likewise in small-pox, measles, chronic 

 diseases of the skin and scorbutic affections. It is prescribed 

 chiefly for persons of a bilious or sanguine temperament : in 

 constitutions of a contrary kind it is apt to occasion fla- 

 tulence and indigestion. An infusion of the young roots has 

 been used in eruptive fevers. 



* Phil. Trans, vol. xli. p. 656. 



t Opp. Lib. Oljs. 18, 19. 



\ Van Mons. Fharmacojiie usuelle, ^c, Louvain, 1821. 



