PRODUCTS OF THE CITRUS. 245 



>}' aid ot an implement known as the ecuetle apiques, a saucer- 

 shaped vessel of pewter about eight inches wide, with a lip on 

 c e siae. ihe bottom is armed with numerous brass pins 

 about half an inch high, which stand upward. The center has 

 a tube five or six inches long, and half an inch in diameter, 

 closed at the farthest end. The whole resembles a shallow 

 funnel. The peel is rubbed against the pins by hand,, and 

 when the tube is full of oil it is emptied into another vessel. 



" The Peel of the Bitter Orange is used in medicine as an 

 aromatic tonic, but more frequently for counteracting the 

 nauseous taste of other medicines. The most common forms 

 are syrup of orange, tincture of orange, and confection of orange. 



" Oil of Lemon. — It is extracted from green fruit by pressing 

 the rind against a sponge, or by the ecitelle. An inferior oil is 

 produced by rasping the peel of the fruit and distilling with 

 water. One hundred fruit should yield from two and one half 

 to three and one half ounces of oil. The lemons are sometimes 

 scarified and thrown into hot water, and the oil skimmed off. 



"Citric Acid. — Is obtained from lemon juice by saturating 

 it with chalk or whiting until effervescence ceases, by which 

 citrate of lime is formed. This is precipitated, the supernatant 

 liquid run oif, and the precipitate well washed. The precipi- 

 tate is then treated with dilute sulphuric acid; sulphate of lime 

 and citric acid are the results. The former sinks, and the clear 

 solution is evaporated in leaden boilers and then crystallized — 

 the crystals being purified by being again dissolved and re- 

 crystallized." 



Uses to Which Lemons May Be Put— A firm of lemon- 

 packers in Italy gives the following as among the uses to which 

 lemons may be put: 



"During the last influenza epidemic in London, the Board of 

 Health of said city advised the public to make free use of lemons 

 to combat said epidemic. 



"A warm lemonade, taken in bed, will immediately produce 

 an abundant jjerspiration, and a positive relief from a cold. 



"A few drops of fresh lemon jaice added to drinking water 

 will kill any microbes and greatly help digestion. 



"Lemons used in a bath will act as a disinfectant, clean the 

 jjores of the skin, hence revive their action. 



