mingle the branches of the one sort with those of the other, so as to make a display of both double flowers 
and fruit, apparently on the same tree. 
Medical Properties and Uses. — The pulp of the fruit may be eaten by patients who are suffering 
from the thirst of ardent fever ; and combined with sugar, or honey, is very refreshing. By some it is said 
to be diuretic. The Hindoo doctors prescribe it, combined with saffron, when the habit is preternaturally 
heated. The bark of the fruit is a powerful astringent, and as it readily gives out its properties to water, it 
has been strongly recommended by Dr. Cullen as a medicine of which we may frequently make use for re- 
laxation of the gums and throat. 
The pulp which encloses the seeds is sometimes acid, sometimes sweet ; and in other cases vinous, 
astringent, and refreshing. A syrup is made from this pulp by foreign druggists, which is employed as an 
astringent and detergent ; the dried flowers are likewise kept in shops, for making infusions for the same 
purpose. Lord Bacon recommends the juice of pomegranate as good for liver complaints, and Woodville 
says, that it is preferable to that of oranges, in cases of fever. 
The Mahometan physicians consider the bark of the root to be a specific in cases of tape-worm;* and 
it is probable that they borrowed their knowledge from Avicenna, who is said to be their favourite author. 
They boil two ounces of the fresh bark, in a pint and a half of water, till half only of that quantity remains; 
of this, when cold, a wine-glassful is prescribed every half-hour, till the whole be taken. It occasionally 
produces a little nausea, says Dr. Ainslie, but seldom fails to destroy the worm, which is soon passed. 
The bark of the pomegranate is very astringent, and its decoction may be used as a gargle in relaxed 
sore-throat; but its principal use is as a remedy against tape-worm. Celsus says, that the patient is to eat 
a good deal of garlic, and then take an emetic ; and the next day he is to drink a decoction of the small 
roots of the pomegranate tree, with a little nitrum, i. e., carbonate of soda.t According to some writers, it 
is absolutely necessary to employ the bark of the root, while in the London Pharmacopoeia, that of the 
fruit is ordered. The London formula directs two ounces of pomegranate rind, and a pint and a half of 
distilled water to be boiled down to a pint, and strained. The dose of this may be two table spoonfuls 
three or four times a day. Although used by the natives of Hindostan, and even by the negroes of St. 
Domingo, the use of pomegranate bark seems to have been forgotten in Europe until its merits were 
again brought into notice by Dr. Gomez of Lisbon, and Mr. Breton’s paper in the Medico-Chirurgical 
transactions. 
Magendie gives the following account of the method of administering this medicine. The day 
before the decoction of pomegranate root is taken, the patient generally takes an ounce and a half, or two 
ounces of castor oil, with an equal quantity of syrup of lemons. The patient is then confined to herb 
broth and the lowest diet, until the following decoction has been administered : 
Take of the bruised bark of the pomegranate root, either fresh or dry, two ounces. 
Common water, two pounds. 
Mix them together and let them soak, without heat, for twenty-four hours ; then boil them over a 
moderate fire down to a pint, and strain. This decoction is to be taken in three glassfuls at intervals of 
half an hour or three quarters of an hour. 
Generally in one hour, and seldom so long as two hours after the third dose, the tape-worm is voided 
whole and at once, rolled up, and strongly knotted in several places. 
Sometimes the first and second glassfuls are thrown up again ; but the third glass must be taken, just 
the same. It has been asserted that the pomegranate bark, given in the dose we recommend, may cause 
serious symptoms ; but M. Bourgeoise, who always administers it in this dose, has not met with anything 
that would incline him to diminish the quantity ; indeed, he has given more. If the whole of the worm is not 
voided, it will be necessary to continue the vermifuge decoction the next day, and even the following ones. J 
* Vide Ainslie’s Materia Indica, vol. i. p. 323. 
t De Medicina Lib. iv. Cap. 17. 
% Formulaire pour la preparation et 1’emploi de plusieurs nouveaux medicaments. 8* edit. 
