108 THE NEW ZEALAND FAMILY HERS DOCTOR, 
bleaching. Ginger ranks next to cayenne as a stimulant; it 
is also a carminative and aromatic, and may be taken with 
safety and advantage in almost any trouble. The chief 
indications for its use are flatulance, pain in the stomach and 
bowels, indigestion, enfebled circulation. It is an excellent 
addition to bitter medicines, imparting to them an agreeable 
flavour and a warming sensation, which is grateful to the 
stomach. When chewed it produces heat and a large amount 
of saliva from the glands; on this account it will be found 
beneficial in a relaxed condition of the organs in the mouth 
and throat. Dr. Coffin strongly recommends it in consumption 
and for those who are accustomed to. speak or sing in public. 
His custom was to put a piece in his mouth after lecturing, 
which he did very often. The dose of the powder is 10 to 
20 grains crude or in infusion, A good way is to steep 
a ¢ of an ounce in a pint of boiling water. After stirring 
let it stand covered for half an hour, strain, sweeten, and take 
from a quarter to the whole; children much less. Wemake a 
strong tincture, which will be found a very good and handy 
preparation ; dose : $ to ateaspoonful in water, sweetened when 
required, In vur compounds ginger will be found in many 
mixtures. 
CARYOPHYLLUS (Aromartcvs). 
This plant is one of the most elegant of those inhabiting the 
isles of India. It has a pyramidal form, is always green, and is 
adorned throughout the year with a succession of beautiful rosy 
flowers. The stem is of hard wood, and covered with smooth 
greyish bark. The leaves are about four inches in breadth, 
and two in length; oval, long, sharp at both ends, with many 
parallel veins on each side, supported on long foot stalks and 
opposite. They have a firm consistence, and a shining green 
colour, and when bruised are highly fragrant. The flowers 
are arranged in clusters, and exhale a strong penetrating 
odour. It appears that the ancients did not know of the 
cloves. The first that we can learn of them was their intro- 
duction into Europe by the Arabs. Now they are exported in 
