succory. 335 



ties, and Juvenal * and Virgil f were evidently well acquainted with it ; the 

 latter in his 1st Georgicsays u amaris intubajibris." The root of Succory has 

 been highly recommended as a substitute for coffee, and is employed to a con- 

 siderable extent for the adulteration of that article. It is largly cultivated 

 in France for this purpose, being dug up towards the end of autumn, well 

 washed, cut into slices, then dried in an oven, roasted and pulverised. It 

 forms a suitable and economical adjunct to coffee, but it possesses the bitter- 

 ness % without the aroma of that substance. It has been asserted that 

 powdered root of roasted Succory is liable to spontaneous combustion when 

 heaped together in large quantities, and Murray § quotes an instance of its 

 taking fire in a shop at Magdeburg, by which the whole of the merchan- 

 dize, together with five contiguous houses, were destroyed. Lastly, the 

 powder of the dried roots may be converted into bread. 



Qualities. — The fresh root is inodorous and very bitter ; 

 the latter quality depending on a milky saponaceous juice which 

 flows from the cortical part, and which is more abundant and 

 more powerful in the wild plant ; this should consequently be 

 selected for medical use. " The aqueous infusion of the dried 

 root is limpid, lemon-coloured, inodorous at first, sweetish 

 to the taste, subsequently bitter, and is not affected in colour by 

 sulphate of iron." || The properties of the root are but slightly 

 impaired by keeping, and the inspissated juice, and the decoc- 

 tions, whether aqueous or spirituous, evaporated to the con- 

 sistence of an extract, are very little inferior to the recent pre- 

 parations. 



Medicinal Properties and Uses. — The root of Succory, 

 by virtue of its bitter principle, strengthens the relaxed fibres 

 of the stomach, promotes appetite, assists digestion, and often 

 facilitates cutaneous transpiration and pulmonary expectoration. 

 The roots and leaves are very useful aperients, acting mildly 

 and without irritation, tending rather to abate than to increase 

 heat : taken freely, they keep the bowels open, or procure a 

 gentle diarrhoea; and when thus continued for some time, 

 often prove useful in diseases resulting from visceral or or- 



* " Cichorea, et teneris frondens lactucula fibris !" 



f " Quoque modo potis gauderent intyba rivis." Georg. iv. v. 120. 



% It has been asserted, however, that one part of Succory powder to six 

 parts of coffee, improves the flavour of that beverage and renders it more 

 salubrious. 



§ App. Med. torn. i. p. 157- 



|| Bergius Mat. Med. torn. ii. p. 650. 



