106 PYRUS CYDONIA 



mucilaginous taste when unbroken, but when bruised and rubbed 

 up with water the kernels have the odour and taste of bitter 

 almonds, from the formation of hydrocyanic acid. 



The seed- coats contain so large a quantity of mucilage that it 

 is said that the seed readily coagulates forty times its weight of 

 water. Pereira considers this mucilage as peculiar, and calls it 

 cydonin. Hanbury and Fliickiger regard it as a soluble modifica- 

 tion of cellulose. 



Medical Properties and Uses. Quince seeds are only employed 

 in medicine on account of their mucilage, which possesses emollient 

 and demulcent properties. In this country they are only used 

 externally in the form of a decoction, which is commonly known 

 as mucilage of quince seeds, as a demulcent in skin diseases, 

 affections of the eye, erysipelas, and other cases where mucilaginous 

 applications are useful. In the United States infusion of sassafras 

 pith is preferred to quince mucilage in such cases. Quince seeds 

 are highly valued by the Mahomedans in India and all over the 

 East, as a demulcent tonic and restorative. Europeans have 

 also employed them with success in dysentery. The mucilage of 

 quince seeds is one of the substances used by hair-dressers 

 under the name of bandoline, for dressing the hair, &c. 



Quince fruit must be carefully distinguished from Indian Bael 

 fruit, which is known in India as the Bengal quince. Quince fruit 

 is not eatable in its raw state on account of its strong odour and 

 astringent taste, but when stewed in pies and tarts with apples it 

 is much esteemed. An excellent marmalade is also prepared from 

 the pulp (miva cydoniarum) ; indeed, it is said that the name of 

 marmalade was originally derived from marmelo, the Portuguese 



name of the quince. 



Pharmacographia, p. 240 ; Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii, part 2, p. 304 ; 

 Per., by B. & R., p. 826; U. S. Disp., by W. & B., p. 358; 

 Pharm. of India, p. 86. 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE. 



Drawn from a plant in the Royal Gardens, Kew. 1. Branch with foliage 

 and young flowers. 2. Vertical section of flower, petals omitted. 3. Trans- 

 verse section of ovary. 4. Ripe fruit. 5. Section of same. 6, 7. Seed. 8. 

 Vertical section of same. (2, 3, 7, 8 enlarged.) 



