168 Salt of Berberry ’. 
A Syrup made from the Berries of this 
Shrub is an ufeful Purgative in Compofti. 
tions ; but extremely nauieous, and fome- 
what too churlifh given alone, unlefs for 
Perfons of very rob u ft Conftitutions. ' 
C H A P. XXXVII. 
Salt of the Berberry, 
T HE Heat neceffary to put this Salt in, 
Addon mu ft be very final], but briikj 
other wife it will harden into a tranfparent 
Glue, without .producing any Figures $ 
the Reafon of which probably is, that be¬ 
ing of a vifcous Nature, when more Heat is 
given than is abfolutely neceffary to put the 
Particles of the Salt in motion, the watery 
Parts evaporating, leave this vifcous juice 
fo Prong, that the Cryftals are entangled, 
and cannot force their Way through it: but 
are prevented from acting as they do when 
the watery Parts remain, and the Fluid is 
thereby rendered lefs denfe. 
The Fig ures it produces feem all to de¬ 
rive their Origin from Spicule?, which pro¬ 
trude and expand themfelves in the Man¬ 
ner to be deicribed b.elow, Moil of thefe 
Spiculce are thickeft in the Middle, tapering 
to fharp Points at each Extremity, and are 
very 
