594 ELEMENTS OF MATEKIA MEDICA.

on account of its tendency to decompose. Both poultices are used in the treatment ofirritable ulcers. Toasted bread (panis tostus ) is used in the preparation of toast-water(infusum panis tosti ), a mild, agreeable drink in febrile disorders, and in some dyspepticcases. Brown or bran bread (panis furfuraceus) is used by persons troubled with habitualcostiveness: it acts as a slight laxative. It sometimes causes flatulency and acidity.Biscuit (panis biscoctus) is used by some dyspeptics as a substitute for fermented bread.Sea biscuit (panis nauticus) is preferred by some.

2. Furfur Tritici. Bran. —Decoction or infusion of bran is sometimes employedas an emollient foot-bath. It is also taken internally as a demulcent in catarrhalaffections. Its continued use causes a relaxed condition of bowels.

Seca'le cerea'le. Linn.— Common Rye.

Sex. Syst. Triandria, Digynia.

(Semina Offic).

History. —Rye is mentioned in the Old Testament .

Botany. Gen. Char .— Spikelets two-flowered. Florets sessile, dis-tichous, with the linear rudiment of a third terminal one. Glumes tw'O,herbaceous, keeled, nearly opposite, awnless or awned. Paleee two*herbaceous; the lower one awned at the point, keeled, unequal sided,broadest and thickest on the outer side ; the upper shorter and bicarinate-Stamina three. Ovarium pyriform, hairy. Stigmata two, nearly sessile,terminal, feathery, with long, simple, finely-toothed hairs. Scales two,entire, ciliate. Caryopsis hairy at the point, loose {Kunth).

Sr. Char. —Glumes and awns scabrous {Kunth).

Fig. 93.

4

mm.

ill

mm

Secale cere ale. _ . ^

1. a, ovarium, with its hairs, b; c, c, the plumose stigmata; e, e, scales; f,f> P osltl

of palese; y, receptacle. t t |,e

2. mature grain, with the embryo at the base and the remains of the stigmata a

top.

3- f, f, palese ; g, receptacle.

4. entire plant.

Hab. —The Caucasian-Caspian desert. Cultivated in Europe - ..

Composition. —The grains consist, according to Einhof, of mhusk, 24 - 2 ; and moisture, 10'2. The meal is composed of uncrysta t* ,sugar, 3'28; gum, 11'09; starch, fil'07; husky matter (woody ^6-38; gluten, soluble in alcohol, 9'48 ; albumen, 3 28 ; undeterminedand loss, 5'62 (Gmelin, Handb. 2, 1343).