1054
ELF.MENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.
11 Ab .—South of Europe , Astracan , Egypt , Cape of GoodTimor, &c. Probably migratory. Cultivated in England. ge ,i
Description. — The fruit, commonly called dill seed (/nm ® j )a jfsemina anethi ) is oval, flat, dorsally compressed, about a line an j pylong, and from a half to one line broad, brown, and surroun ^a lighter-coloured membranous margin {ala). Each mericarp 1°fruit) has five primary ridges, but no secondary ones. In each ta jnis one vitta, and on the commissure are two vittas. These vittie c ^
the aromatic oil. The odour of the fruit is strongly aromatic; tnwarm and pungent. ..
Composition. —Dill owes its peculiar properties to a volatile ot •
Oil of Dill {Oleum Anethi). Is pale yellow. Its sp. gr. is 0 881. I tsculiar and penetrating, analogous to that of the fruit. Its taste is hot bu ~ Jjs-Alcohol and ether readily dissolve it. According to Tietzmann 1440 parts ot Hsolve one part of this oil.
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Physiological Effects. —Aromatic stimulant, carminative andimentary, analogous to other aromatic umbelliferous fruits ( see P' ~. c lo-Uses. —Employed as a condiment by the Cossacks . Loudon {L> 1 ^ tre .of Gard.) says the leaves “ are used to heighten the relish of sometable pickles, particularly cucumbers; and also occasionally lD
and pickles.” _ children-
In medicine it is principally employed in the diseases ot cm ^
It is a common domestic remedy among nurses, to relieve flatulence _
griping of infants. Occasionally it is taken under the idea. °f ^ amoting the secretion of milk. Practitioners generally use c ‘ij-i/ij-en,vehicle for the exhibition of purgative and other medicines to cm^ ^
the griping of which it assists in preventing. The whole fruits m a >given to adults in doses of ten grains to a drachm. , 0 f
1. Oleum Anethi, E. (Obtained by submitting the bruised ^ Q , /S _dill, with water, to distillation).—Two cwts. of the fruit yield 8 lbs. ■
of oil {Private information). Principally used to prepare dillMay be taken in the dose of a few drops on sugar, or dissolved in s H, ro0 f
2. Aqua Anethi, L. E. (Dill, bruised, lb.iss. [Sxviij. E-]> ta
Spirit, fSvij. [Rectified Spirit , fjiij. E.] ; Water, Cong. ij. Mix-gallon distil.)—This compound is usually prepared by diffusing 1 ^ gTthrough water by the aid of sugar or spirit. Carminative. to
adults, f3j. to fSiij ; for infants, lyj. to fjiij. It is generally g 1 'infants with their food.
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Gal'banum officina'le, Don, L. E.— The Officinal Galbanum■
Sex. Syst. Pentandria, Digynia.
(Gummi-resina, L. D .—Concrete gummy-resinous exudation, E.)
History. —Galbanum is mentioned by Moses {Exodus, xxx. 31)ranks it among the sweet spices. It was used in medicine by "dycrates (401, &c. ed. Faes.) ; Dioscorides (lib. iii. 97) says it {x^P 0 '" 1 'the fieTuimov, growing in Syria . roV e
Botany. — Hitherto no sufficient evidence has been adduced to Pthat galbanum is yielded by any known plant. “ The Bubon Galof Linnaeus possesses neitlrer the smell nor the taste of Galbanum?in these particulars agrees better with Fennel , and the fruit has no .semblance whatever to that found in the gum.” (Don, Linn. Trans■ -