MADDER. 175 



powdered Mace may be used in doses from 5-20 

 grains. 



Distinctive character The arillus known as Mace 

 is a growth outside the shell of the nutmeg seeds. It 

 is about if inch long and 3*5-3^ inch thick, irregularly 

 branched, when dry of an orange-brown colour, has a 

 horny, translucent appearance, but is brittle, and 

 exudes oil when pressed by the nails. Taste, strongly 

 aromatic, pungent. Odour, characteristic. 



Two other varieties of Mace occasionally appear in 

 commerce, viz., Bombay Mace (Myristica Malabarica, 

 Lam.), which is nearly tasteless and of a redder colour ; 

 and Macassar Mace (Myristica argentea, Warb.), which is 

 very acrid, and unfit for medicinal use. 



MADDER. Rubin tlnctoruna, Linn. 



N.O. Rubiacea. 



Syn. Dyer's Madder, Garance (Fr.). 

 Part used Root. 



Action Although not used generally in medicine, 

 this has at various times been reputed effectual for 

 promoting menstrual and urinary discharges. Its prin- 

 cipal use is found in the technical arts as a dyestuff 

 Turkey red. Rubia sylvestris has been used as a remedy 

 in liver diseases, jaundice, gall, and spleen complaints. 

 Root, leaves, and seeds are all reputed as medicinally 

 active. 



Distinctive character The root, as met with in 

 commerce, consists of short cylindrical pieces about 

 - inch in diameter, with a thin, easily-detached, corky 

 layer, leaving a red-brown, longitudinally-furrowed inner 

 bark. The transverse section shows a pale red column, 

 marked with concentric striae. Taste, sweetish, then 

 acrid. Odour, slight. 



