LILIACEAJ.
657
1 e convulsions; as a remedy for some cases of deafness, a clove or aL ' v drops of the juice being introduced into the ear.
Administration. — A clove may be swallowed either entire, or, more'c °nveniently, cut into small pieces. The dose of the fresh bulbs is onetwo drachms. The expressed juice mixed with sugar, the infusion1 garlic, and a syrup, are sometimes employed.
Aflium Ce'pa, Linn. D .—The Onion.
Sex . Syst . Hexandria, Monogynia.
History. —The onion was known and used in the most ancient times.
. " as employed in medicine by Hippocrates . An onion taken from thea "d of an Egyptian mummy, perhaps 2000 years old, has been made togrovv (Muller’s Physiol, by llaly, vol. i. p. 29).
Botany. Gen. Char. —Vide Allium sativum.
Sp. Char. —Stem fistulous, ventricose beneath ; longer than the terete,j.^tulous leaves. Umbel capsuliferous, globose. Segments of perianth"ear-elliptic, obtuse; shorter than the stamens and pistil. {Bot. Gall.)'eiinial. Flowers whitish. July.
cult UC l° n ^ nc, J c l' °f Gard.) enumerates eighteen varieties deserving ofKar, —Egypt . Cultivated in kitchen gardens.
Be sckiption —The bulb (bulbus, D.) is tunicated. When cut, it' °h’es an acrid principle, having a well-known odour, and a powerfulc h°n on the eyes, causing a flow of tears. Its taste is sweet and acrid.Composition. —According to Fourcroy andVauquelin (Ann. Chim. lxv.f 1808) the onion contains an acrid volatile oil,uncrystallizable sugar,woody fibre, albumen, acetic and phosphoric acids, phosphate andT ate of lime, and water.
°f on i° ns * s acrid, piquant, colourless, and, like that of garlic, contains
® ll *on juice is colourless, but by exposure to the air becomes reddish.
P Brysiological Effects. —Analogous to those of garlic, but milder,y boiling onions, the volatile oil is dissipated, and the bulb is deprivedhs irritating qualities, and becomes a mild esculent substance,j Cses.—E xtensively used as an article of food and as a condiment. Itn V , er y rarely employed in medicine, but is adapted to the same cases as"e. Raw onions are occasionally taken as an expectorant, with'"ntage, by elderly persons affected with winter cough.e Aiim^mstrahon.—A roasted onion is sometimes employed as an■j,. °flient poultice to suppurating tumors, or to the ear to relieve ear-ache.e expressed juice has been given to children, mixed with sugar, as an
'Pectorant.
Other Dietetical, Medicinal, or Poisonous Inliacece.
Th
Crown Imperial (Fritilla'ria Imperia'lis) is a narcotic poison (Brandt and Ratz-f h ’ dftgewaclise). Orfila (Tox. Gin.) could not recognise any acridity in it.
<)!„" recent bulb of the Common White Lily (Lil'ium ean'didum) has been used as ay ! c m dropsies. The boiled bulb is employed as an emollient cataplasm.
n °Us species of Allium , besides those already mentioned, are cultivated for culinary