THE PEACH AND APRICOT 67 



given to even typhoid patients with success when fruits 

 as a rvde are forbidden. Also, peaches have been found 

 beneficial in serious cases of intestinal disorders among 

 children and adults alike. The pieculiar acids of this fruit 

 are apparently fatal to germs of the dysentery type and 

 Holbrook quotes a physician who wrote him that in the 

 treatment of dysentery he much preferred "ripe, sound 

 fruit, peaches especially, to any medicine that can be sug- 

 gested." Fresh or stewed the fruit is laxative and re- 

 frigerant. 



The seeds and flowers of peaches are used in the manu- 

 facture of a liqueur called Persico and the bruised pits give 

 to almost any alcoholic liquor the flavour of Noyeau. The 

 flowers were formerly steeped to be used as a tea for 

 their laxative quality and it is also thought they exert 

 "to a moderate extent, a sedative influence over the 

 nervous system" (U. S. Dispensatory). Sometimes, 

 according to the same authority, they have been given 

 in infusion for "irritability of the bladder, sick stomach, 

 and whooping-cough." As for the blossoms, it should be 

 remembered that they have been known to cause fatal 

 cases of poisoning among children although in the hands 

 of physicians they are safely used (as a vermifuge) , and ' ' a 

 syrup prepared from them is considerably used in infantile 

 cases, on the continent of Europe." The leaves, when 

 rubbed or steeped in hot water, give out a strong almond 

 flavour greatly esteemed in many countries. From both 

 the leaves and kernels, when distilled, is extracted oil-, that 

 from the kernels being frequently used as an adulterant 

 of almond oil. 



The apricot is supposed to have originated in Armenia. 



The nectarine, once puzzling to botanists, is but a 

 variation of the peach. (All recipes for peaches may be 

 applied to nectarines and apricots.) 



