as a sternutatory, and it grows abundantly in Malacca, Java, and Belega. In England it was first culti- 
vated by Miller in 1759. The dried root is externally greyish, and internally of a bright yellow or saffron 
colour ; is very hard, and somewhat resembles ginger in figure and size. It should be chosen large, fresh, 
resinous, hard to break, and heavy. 
Qualities and Chemical Properties. — Turmeric has a slightly aromatic odour, and a bitterish 
somewhat acrid taste. It readily gives out its active matter, both to aqueous and spirituous menstrua, com- 
municating to the former a deep yellow, and to the latter a fine yellowish-red tint. Distilled with water it 
yields a small quantity of a gold-coloured essential oil. The alcoholic extract is moderately warm, nauseous, 
and bitter. 
Medical Properties and Uses. — The medical virtues of turmeric are those of a slight stimulant 
and tonic. In Eastern countries this root, besides its use in colouring food, is considered as cordial and 
stomachic. It is a constant ingredient in curries, 11 and is prescribed by the Tamool doctors, in these watery 
diarrhoeas which are so troublesome and difficult to subdue in weak habits. Although the use of this root 
has been celebrated formerly as a powerful remedy in dropsies, intermittent fevers, and as a specific in the 
jaundice, it is now very rarely prescribed. 
Usually at this period the rigour of cold is severely felt. The indisposition of lie-a-beds to face its 
severity is pleasantly pictured by a popular author. He imagines one of those persons to express himself 
in these terms : “ On opening my eyes, the first thing that meets them is my own breath rolling forth, as 
if in the cottage-chimney. Think of this symptom. Then I turn my eyes side-ways and see the window 
all frozen over. Think of that. Then the servant comes in. ‘It is very cold this morning, is it not ?’ — 
‘Very cold, sir/ — ‘ Very cold indeed, isn’t it ?’ — ‘Very cold indeed, sir.’ — ‘More than usually so, isn’t it, 
even for this weather ?’ (Here the servant’s wit and good nature are put to a considerable test, and the 
inquirer lies on thorns for the answer.) ‘Why, Sir I think it is.’ (Good creature ! There is not a 
better, or more truth-telling servant. going.) ‘ I must rise, however — Get me some warm water.’ — Here 
comes a fine interval between the departure of the servant and the arrival of the hot water ; during which, 
of course, it is of ‘ no use’ to get up. The hot water comes. ‘Is it quite hot ?’ — ‘Yes sir.’ — ‘ Perhaps too 
hot for shaving : I must wait a little’ — ‘No sir; it will just do.’ (There is an over-nice propriety some- 
times, an officious zeal of virtue, a little troublesome.) ‘Oh — the shirt — you must air my clean shirt : — 
linen gets very damp this weather.’ — ‘Yes, sir.’ Here another delicious five minutes. A knock at the 
door. ‘Oh, the shirt — very well. My stockings — I think the stockings had better be aired too.’ — ‘Very 
well, sir.’ — Here another interval. At length every thing is ready, except myself. I now cannot help 
thinking a good deal — who can ? — upon the unnecessary and villainous custom of shaving ; it is a thing so 
unmanly (here I nestle closer) — so effeminate, (here I recoil from an unlucky step into the coldest part of 
the bed.) — No wonder, that the Queen of France took part with the rebels against that degenerate king, her 
husband, who first affronted her eye with a face like her own. The emperor Julian never 
showed the luxuriancy of his genius to better advantage than in reviving the flowing beard. Look at cardinal 
Bembo’s picture — at Michael Angelo’s — at Titian’s — at Shakspeare’s — at Fletcher’s — at Spenser’s — at 
Chaucer’s — at Alfred’s — at Plato’s. I could name a great man for every tick of my watch. Look at the 
Turks, a grave and otiose people — Think of Haroun A1 Raschidand Bed-ridden Hassan — Think of Wortley 
Montague. Look at the Persian gentlemen, whom one is ashamed of meeting about the suburbs, their 
dress and appearance are so much finer than our own — Lastly, think of the razor itself — how totally opposed 
to every sensation of bed — how cold, how edgy, how hard ! how utterly different from any thing like the 
warm and circling amplitude, which 
Sweetly recommends itself 
Uuto our gentle senses. 
Add to this, benumbed fingers, which may help you to cut yourself, a quivering body, a frozen towel, and 
an ewer full of ice ; and he that says there is nothing to suppose in all this, only shows, at any rate that he 
has no merit in opposing it. 
* Curry Powder. — The following receipt for curry powder is taken from the “ Cook’s Oracle .” The ingredients are the same 
as those used in India, with this difference only, that some of them are in a raw green state, and are mashed together, and afterwards 
dried and powdered ; — Turmeric, three ounces. Coriander seeds, three ounces. Black pepper, mustard, and ginger, one ounce of each. 
Lesser cardamons, half an ounce. Cayenne pepper, cummin seeds, a quarter of an ounce of each. Thoroughly pound and mix together, 
and keep them in a well-stopped bottle. 
