ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.
680
Dr. Prout regards arrow-root as a low variety of starch analogous tothe low sugar of honey ; while wlieat-starch he considers to be the mostperfect form of starch, and analogous to sugar-candy.
Commerce. —Arrow-root is brought, in tin cases and in barrels andboxes, from the West India Islands (Jamaica, Barbadoes , Antigu a >St. Vincent, Dominica, Bermuda, St. Kitt’s, Grenada , Dcmarara, andBerbice). Bermuda arrow-root is esteemed the most, whether justly ° rotherwise I know' not. Importations of a fecula called arrow-root am'occasionally made from Calcutta , and sometimes from Para, Maranhaunand Sierra Leone .
The quantity of arrow-root on which duty (of one shilling per cud)was paid during the last four years, is as follows:—
Cwts. Cwts.
In 1835 ...3,581 I In 1837 . 2,853
1836 .*3,280 | 1838 . 2,538
Adulteration. Potatoe-starch (sold in the shops as English ArroW'root) is said to be sometimes substituted for the Indian arrow-root-Jlie fraud may be readily detected by a good microscope. The parliclrfof potatoe-starch are distinguished from those of Indian arrow-root bytheir laiger size, and by the concentric markings (regarded by Raspad>Chim. Org. 2 ed. as ruga); by Fritzsche, Poggend. Ann. d. Phys. I'd-xxxii. as indications of concentric layers) on their surface.
. I’nvsiOLOGiCAL Effects. Nutritive, emollient, and demulcent,
!S somewhat less nutritive than wheat-starch, but more palatable
B
a»d
of
digestible
Uses. —Employed at the table, as an article of food, in the formpuddings. It forms a nutritious, easily-digested, agreeable, non-irritatmbdiet for invalids or infants. In irritation of the alimentary canal, of tb epulmonary organs, or of the urinary apparatus, it is especially valuableas a nutritive, emollient, and demulcent. ,
Administration. —To invalids and infants it is exhibited when bod C j
Milk disagrees with some patients, ^
in wrnter or milk and flavoured,in such is of course to be avoided.
The addition of sugar improves ^flavour and increases the nutritive qualities. Spices, lemon juice?wine, may be employed according to circumstances.
Other Dietetical or Medicinal MarantaceiB.
Recently a fecula has appeared in the shops, under the name of Tons lesStarch of the Canna coccinea. It comes from St. Kitt ’s, and is sold by Messrs.and Co. of 72, Welbeck Street, and is said to be prepared by a tedious and troubles 0 ’jprocess, from the root (rhizome) of the plant above named. It has been recomnie”as forming a valuable article of food for the invalid (Johnson’s Med-t’hir. Rev ■ 0° ' rlll1836). On a microscopical examination of it, I find that its particles agree, in ,0 ^. eand structure, with those of the ordinary potatoe-starch, from which, however, the,'distinguished by their larger size.