PRODUCTS OF THE CITRUS. 241 



by aid of an implement known as the ecuelle a piques, a saucer- 

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

 one side. The 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 bj^ the ecuelle. 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 super- 

 natant liquid run off, and the precipitate well washed. The 

 precipitate 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 dis- 

 solved and recrystallized." 



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 perspiration, and a positive relief from a cold. 



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

 will kill any microbes and greatly help digestion. 



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

 pores of the skin, hence revive their action. 

 16c 



