Operations must be annually performed, so as to keep the ground and plants in perfect order. In three 
years after planting, the roots of the liquorice will be fit to take up. The proper season for this is from 
November till February ; for they should neither be taken up before the stalks are fully decayed, nor deferred 
till late in the spring, otherwise the roots will be apt to shrivel and diminish in weight. In taking them up, 
the small side roots are trimmed off, the best divided into lengths for fresh sets, and the main roots tied in 
bundles for sale. They are sold to the brewers and druggists ; the price of the best roots varying from 40s. 
to 31. per cwt. The Glycyrrhiza echinata, or prickly-podded liquorice, is sometimes cultivated, but its roots 
are less sweet and succulent than the officinal species. 
Qualities. — Liquorice root is inodorous ; it has a sweet mucilaginous taste, and is almost the only 
saccharine substance that does not produce thirst. It yields all its virtues to water, by coction ; but alcohol 
extracts only the sweetness, with a small portion of mucilage. The medical properties of the root are 
supposed to depend on a distinct principle, to which has been appropriated the name glycyrrhizine. Pro- 
fessor Dobreiner prepares it by precipitating the infusion of liquorice by the proto-muriate of copper, washing : 
the precipitate with water, and then boiling it in alcohol, which dissolves the glycyrrhizine, and affords it 
again on evaporation. It is soluble in water, and precipitated from its solution by the acids. Its taste is 
sweet ; it is brittle, semi-transparent, and has a resinous appearance. 
The extract is directed to be prepared by macerating for twenty-four hours, one pound of liquorice-root 
sliced, in a gallon of boiling water ; then boiling down to four pints, straining the hot liquor, and evapora- j 
ting it to a proper consistence. A purer extract may be made by a repetition of the process of solution and 
evaporation ; and is kept in the shops under the name of “ refined liquorice.” The extract is, however, 
usually prepared on a large scale abroad, and is imported into this country, in an impure state, particularly 
from Spain. The powder of liquorice usually sold, is often mixed with flour, and probably too often with 
substances not quite so wholesome; the best sort is of a brownish yellow colour, (the fine pale yellow 
being generally sophisticated,) and of a very rich sweet taste, much more agreeable than that of the fresh 
root. 
Medical Properties and Uses. — Unlike other sweets, liquorice has had the reputation from time 
immemorial of allaying thirst, which property is attributed, by Cullen, to an acrid and bitter matter, which 
follows the extraction of the sweetness by chewing. In consequence of this virtue, it was designated by 
the name ’dhxj/ov, and according to Galen, it alleviates the desire for drink in dropsical cases. With us it 
is principally used as a pleasant demulcent, and in the form of a decoction; or, combined with other 
mucilaginous substances, is frequently prescribed for severe colds, and for those other affections of the air 
passages requiring lubrication. It is also useful to obtund the acrimony of vitiated secretions in the 
stomach and bowels; or, as a substitute for the natural mucus of the stomach, when deficient in quantity. 
From its bulk it is seldom given in substance, but a tea-cupfuJ of a decoction of the root may be frequently 
drank. Under the form of extract it is in common use as a demulcent, in coughs and hoarsenesses; and 
is sometimes taken to relieve acidity of the stomach. It is also employed to cover the unpleasant taste of 
several bitter and nauseous drugs, particularly aloes and Peruvian bark. 
Off. Prep. — Decoctum Sarsaparillse comp. L. D. 
Infusum Lini. L. 
Pil. Hydragyri. L. D. 
Confectio Sennse. L. E. 
Paper has recently been fabricated in France from the liquorice root, or the root of the glycyrrhiza 
germanica. It is said that this paper is very white, and does not require any size in its preparation, while 
it can be manufactured at a price much lower than that made from rags. 
