LIQUORICE. 95 



both in water and spirit. The aqueous infusion is inodorous, of 

 a yellowish colour, and very sweet taste ; it is rendered turbid by 

 sulphate of iron. By much decoction it becomes somewhat acrid 

 and nauseous. Alcohol extracts only the saccharine matter. The 

 extract, according to Robiquet, contains an amlayceous fcecula, 

 saccharine matter, Glycion or Glycyrrhizin, Jsparagin, a resin- 

 ous oil, phosphates and malate of lime and magnesia. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — The root of this plant is 

 somewhat nutritive, and endowed with demulcent, incrassating, and 

 temperating properties, all which it has enjoyed from the infancy of 

 the science of medicine. Doubtless, to the latter virtue may be 

 attributed its special reputation with the ancients of quenching 

 thirst. Theophrastus, Dioscorides, and Pliny, employed it in 

 dropsy, in which affection thirst is often a distressing symptom, 

 but its efficacy in that malady is extremely doubtful. In the present 

 day, and particularly on the Continent, it is extensively used in 

 acute and chronic diseases as a necessary component of ptisans. 

 In decoction, it is well adapted for nephritis, stranguary, and other 

 diseases of the urinary organs; for apthae, angina, diarrhoea ; but 

 more particularly in combination with various remedies for coughs, 

 hoarseness, phthisis, and other pulmonary ailments. It is also 

 administered in some cases of dyspepsia, where there is a deficiency 

 of the natural mucus of the stomach. Finely powdered, it was 

 once sprinkled over erysipelatous parts to absorb the serous dis- 

 charge, and has frequently been employed to prevent friction, and 

 the consequent inflammatory state of the skin to which infants are 

 subject ; but for these purposes it has given way to other means. 

 The best form of employing Liquorice, is that of the purified extract ; 

 or, if an opiate be necessary to join with it, the following troches : — 



LIQUORICE TROCHES WITH OPIUM. 



Take of Opium two drachms ; 



Tincture of Tolu .... half an ounce ; 



Simple syrup eight ounces ; 



Extract of Liquorice . . five ounces ; 

 Gum Arabic, powdered, five ounces. 

 First triturate the opium with the tincture, then gradually add the ex- 

 tract, softened with hot water, the syrup, and the gum : finally, inspissate 

 the mass, and form it into troches of ten grains each. — Dose, from six to 

 ten during the twenty-four hours. 



