A treatise of the materia medica v1&2 combined

Table of contents :
Title vol 1
PREFACE
CONTENTS v1
INTRODUCTION.
1. OF THE ACTION OF MEDICINES UPON THE BODY IN GENERAL.
S. 1 OF TEMPERAMENTS
Art. I. Of the simple Solids.
Art. II. Of the Slate of the Fluids.
Art. III. Of the Distribution of the Fluids.
Art. IV. Of the different Proportion of Solid and Fluid
Art. V. Of the State of the Nervous Power.
2. Of the several means of our learning
3. OF THE MOST PROPER PLAN FOR A TREATISE
PART I. OF ALIMENTS.
1. OF ALIMENTS IN GENERAL.
1. OF ALIMENTS IN GENERAL.
2. OF PARTICULAR ALIMENTS.
S. 2 Of Aliments taken from the Animal Kingdom,
3. OF DRINKS.
4. OF CONDIMENTS.
Title vol 2
CONTENTS v2
PART II OF MEDICINES.
1. OF ASTRINGENTS.
2. OF TONICS.
3. OF EMOLLIENTS.
4. CORROSIVES.
5. OF STIMULANTS.
6. SEDANTIA.
7. REFRIGERANTS
8. ANTISPASMODICA.
9. DILUENTIA.
10. ATTENUANTIA.
11. INSPISSANTIA.
12. DEMULCENT!A.
13. ANTACIDA.
14. ANTALKALINA.
15. ANTISEPTICA.
16. ERRHINA.
17. SIALAGOGA.
18. EXPECTORANTIA.
19. EMETICA.
20. CATHARTICA.
21. DIURETICA.
22. DIAPHORETICA.
23. MENAGOGA.
INDEX to BOTH VOLS.

Citation preview

;

G

TREATISE OF

THE

MATERIA MEDICA, By

WILLIAM

C

U L L E N,

M. D.

PROFESSOR OF THE PRACTICE OF PHYSIC IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH^ FIRST PHYSICIAN TO HIS MAJESTY FOR SCOTLAND FELLOW OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF EDINBURGH i OF THE ROYAL SOCIETIES OF LONDON AND OF EDINBURGH, OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF MEDICINE OF PARIS, OF THE ROYAL COLLEGE OF PHYSICIANS OF MADRID, OF THE AMERICAN PHILOSOPHICAL SOCIETY OF PHILADELPHIA, OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF COPENHAGEN,

OF THE MEDICAL SOCIETY OF DUBLIN, OF THE ROYAL MEDICAL, AND OF THE ROYAL PHYSICO-MEDICAL, SOCIETIES

OF EDINBURGH.

IN

TWO VOLUMES. VOL.

I.

"^DUBLIN; Printed

for

LUKE WHITE, M DCC LXXXIX.

Dame-Street.

Km>m i^^-» wui- jmiu

Muftard. I>.

IVf .

Balfam of Copaiba orCapivi. Balfamum Peruvianum, Myroxylon Peruiferum M,

Benzoinum, Croton Benzoe

Balsamica.

M.

863,

Benjamin. Terebinthina Veneta, Pinus Larix M. 860, Venice turpentine. Terebinthina communis, Pinus Silveftris M. 860,

Common

turpentine.

II.

Aromatica. Cinnamomum, Laurus Cinnamomum M. Cinnamon. St'imulantia,

,

MATERIA M E D

Cha^.III. Stimulatitia,

Stimulantia.

Aromntica,

Aromatica.

C

A.

371

Cardamomum minus, Amomum Cardamomum M. 50,

Caflia lignea,

Laiirus Caflia M. 383, Caflia bark.

Nux

I

Cardamom.

Mofchata,

MorchataM.493j Nutmeg.

Myriftica

Zedoaria,

Mac is,

Kaempferia rotunda M. 5 1^ Zeuoary.

Myrifl:ica Mofchata M.49 3

Serpentaria Virginiana,

Mace.

Ariftolochia Serpentaria

M. 824, Virginian fnake-root. Ginfeng,

Caryophillus,

Caryophillus aromaticus

M

496, Cloves.

Panax quinquefolium

Pimento, Myrtus Pimenta M. 462, Jamaica pepper or AU-fpice.

920, Ginfeng. Acorus verus, Acorus Calamus

339,

Sweet-fc^nted flag.

Canella aiba, Canella alba M. 443, "Wild cinnamon.

I.

Cortex Winteranus,

Wintera aromatica

M.

M.

M. 507,

Winter's bark.

ACR!A. Arum, .Arum maculatumM. 828, Cuckow pint. Perficaria urens.

Polygonum Hjdropiper M.

Cafcariila,

377»

Croton Cafcaiilla

M.

863,

Cafcariila.

Piper,

Piper nigrum Black pepper.

M.

Water-pepper or arfmart. Pyrethrum, Anthemis Pyrethrum M77^>

74,

Pellitory of Spain.

Staphifagrja,

Capficum, Capficum annuum

Delphinium Staphifagria

M.

2Z6,

Guiney pepper.

Sedantia.

Zingiber,

Amomum Gingiber M.

50,

Ginger. Cubebse, Piper Cubeba five Cauda-

tum M. Cubebs.

M. 503, Staves acre.

74,

VI. a,

Narcotica. Rhaades*

Papaver,

Papaverfomniferum M.490 WHiite poppy. Sedanticu

>

C A T A L O G

172 Sedant'ia,

Narcotica.

Thea,

b. Umheilafd;,

Cicuta,

ConiummaculatumM. 278, Hemlock. Cicuta aquatica, Cicuta virofa M. 286,

Thea Bohea M. 495, Thea viridis M. 496, Bohea and green tea. Crocus, Crocus fativus M. 83, Saffron.

Water hemlock.

Nymphaea,

Nymphxa

c. Solanacea:,

Belladonna. Atropa Belladonna M. 22 1 night-fliade.

Hyofcyamus, Hyofcyamus niger Henbane.

2203

VH. Refrigerantia. Acida quaecunque

diluta.

Sales neutri ex acido quovis

221,

prseter muriatico cuiii

aU

kali quovis jun£to,

Solanum, Solanum nigrum M. 224, Night-fhade.

Stramonium, DaturaStramoniumM.220,

Sal terreftris ex acido ,cum terra alkalina junfto^

Sal metallicus ex acido plumbo jun£lo,

Aquse minerales

cum

falinse.

Borax,

apple.

Alumen,

d. Varia,

Plantarum FrutSlus Herbx

La£luca virofa, Laftuca virofa M. 713,

et

Radices Acidi,

La6tis ferum,

Strong-fcented lettuce.

Lauro Cerafus, Prunus Lauro-Cerafus M. 462, Cherry bay.

Lac ebutyratum.

VIIL Antispasmodica. I.

Ex

FOSSILIBUS.

Ambra,

Ambra Ambroflaca L.S«N.

Laurus,

M. 383,

Bay. Campliora, Laurus Camphora

Camphirc,

491,

Vinum.

Tobacco.

nobills

M.

Alcohol.

M.

NicotianaTabacumM.

Laurus

alba

Nymphsea lutea M. 49 \ > Water lily. e.

Nicotiana,

Thorn

Chap. Ill,

S

Sedantia.

Norcotica,

Deadly

U

107,

Ambergreafe. Succinum,

M.

383,

Succinum eledlricum L. 1 08 Amber, Anti-

mater lA ME Die A.

Chap^IIL

Antifpofmodica

Ajit'ifpafmodica.

Ex

Gumml fcetidte.

Fojfil'ihus,

Rock oil.

Opopanax, Paftinaca Opopanax M. ap'O, Opopanax.

Ex Vegetabilibus.

Sagapenum,

Petroleum,

Bitumen Petroleum L. 109, 1,

173

.

Sagapenum.

Herba foettda, Artemifia, Artemifia vulgaris

Tacamahaca, Populus baifamifera L.

M. 744,

M.

M. 600,

Mugwort.

Tacamahaca.

Atriplex foetida,

Chenopodium Vulvaria M.

Camphora.

262, Stinking orache.

Radices graveolentes,

Poeonia,

Cuminum.

Pceonia oiEcinalis M. 502, Pceony. Valeriana filveftris, Valeriana officinalis M. 80,

Matricaria,

Matricaria Partlienium

M.

Feverfew.

Wild

Pulegium.

Fuligo

Ruta,

Ruta graveolens M. 39), Rue.

valerian. ligni.

Olea effentialia. ^thera. Olea empyreumatica. Alcohol.

Sabina,

Juniperus Sabina

M.

3.

Ex Animalibus.

894,

Mofchus,

Savin.

Gummi fcetida,

Mofchus mofchiferusL. 91, Muik.

,

Caftoreum, Caftor Fiber L. 78,

Afafoetida,

Ferula Afafoetida

M.

281,

Caftor.

Afafoetida.

Sales alkalini volatiles.

Ammoniacum,

Ammonia

Gum

Volatile alkali.

ammoniac.

Galbanum,

Bubon Galbanum M. 285, Galbanum.

IX.

Ph. Lond.

DiLUENTIA.

Aqua, Aquofa bianda.

X.

CATALOGUS

^4

S. Attenuan-tia.

Chap.IIL

Demulcentia. Mucilaginofa.

Aqua,

Ichthyocolla,

Alkalina, Sales neutri,

Acipenfer Sturlo L. 403,

Sapones, Dulcia, Saccharum,.

liinglafs. c.

Gelatine ex rebus animali-

Mel,

d.

Oieofa blanda.

Giycyrrhiza, Fruclus ficcat^.

XIII.

bus.

Magnelia alba,

Acida, Alcohol,

Demulcentia farinofa

et

Cornu

Demulcentia.

Sales alkalini volatiles.

Calx

Confolida major, officinale

M,

GynoglolTum, CynogloiTum oiHcIrale

in-

fiti,

Sales alkalini turn fixi turn

Gummi Arabicum, nilotica

M. 917,

volatiles,

Sales neutri ex acido quovis cum Sale alkaline vel

Arabic. cerafi,

Prunus Cerafus M. 463, Cherry-tree gum. Tragacantha,

Aftragalus Tragacantha

Gum

omnes fupra

ter Refrigerantia recen-

b. Mucilaginofa,

Gummi

XV. Antiseptica. Sales acidi

Hound's tongue.

Gummi

XIV. Antalkalina.

merata.

M.

86,

Gum

viva.

Acida quascunque fupra InRefrigerantia enuter

Comfrey.

Mimofa

cervi uftum,.

Sales alkalini fixi,

3. Afperifolt^.

Symphytum

Teftacea, Corallium, Corallina,

mucilaginofa.

1

calcari^e,

Creta,

XT. Inspissantia.

XII.

Antacida.

Lapides

M.

Tragacanth.

cum terreis jun(^o, Plantarum partes acidae, Olera acefcentia, Saccharum, Mel, Plantx Siliquofce vulgo antifcorbutica

ditSlse,

Plantae alliacex,

Amylum, Ex triticovcl

Aftringentia, aliis farinofis,

Amara,

Starch.

Anti'

,

Cha?.

MATERIA M E D

III.

Externa

Aromatica, eflentialla,

A.

17;

Gummi

Caryophyili,

Refinse,

Crocus, Radix Contrayervse,

Radix Valerianae Silveftris, Opium, Deco(Si:um capltum papave-

Imperatoria, Imperatoria Oftruthiumi M,

289, Mafterwort. Nicotiana^

ris albi,

et liquores

majlicatar'uu

Angelica,

Camphora,

Vinum

C

XVII. SlALAGOGA,

Antlfeptica,

Olea

I

fermen-

Piper.

Pyrethrum^

tati.

Alcohol. Inter7icu

XVI. Errhina.

H)^virargyru's,

Mitiora,

XVIII. EXPECTORANTII,

Beta, Betonica,

Hedera

Major ana.

terrefiris,

HyiTopus.

Acriora,

Afarum, Afarun^Europseum M.44 r Afarab-acca.

Euphorbium, Euphorbium oiHcinale M.

Marrubium, MarrubiumvulgareM. 537,

White hore-hound, Pulegium,

Euphorbium.

Enula campana, Helenium M- 766^ Elecampane.

Helleborus albus,

Iris

Florentina,

Veratrum album M. 902,

Iris

Florentina

White

Florentine Orrice.

Inula

449>

hellebore.

Iris noftras.

Nicotiana

Nicotiana.

Scilla,

Ptarmica, Achillea Ptarmica Sneezewort.

Pyrethrum, Turbith minerale. Hydrargyrus acido co jundius.

Scilla

M.

maritima

M.

88,

M. 328,

Squill.

777, Tuffilago,

Tuffilago Farfara

^,

755,

Golt's foot. vitrioli-

£xpeB$^

C A T A L O G

176

U

Chap. IIL

S

Cathartica^

ExpeBoraniia.

Mitiora,

Petafites,

TuffibgoPetafites Butterbur,

M.

756,

Benzoinum*

Acejcentia.

Caffia Fiftularis, Caffia Fiftula

M. 393,

CalTia of the cane.

Styrax calamita. Balfamum Canadenfe*

Ballamum Tolutanum.

XIX. Emetic A. I.

Ex FOSSILIBUS.

Tamarlndus, Tamarindus Indica

Tamarind. Dulcia.

Hydrargyrus,

Saccharum. Mel.

Antimonium, Zincum,

Fraxinus Ornus

Ex Vegetabilibus.

Manna.

Afarum*

Radices dukes. Olera blanda.

Cuprum,

-.

M.

81,

Manna,

M. 918,

Erlgerum, Senecio vulgaris M. 756, Groundfel. Ipecacoanha, Pfychotria emeticaM. 214, Ipecacuanha.

Rofa Damafcena, Rofa centifolia M. 474> Damalli rofe. Viola,

Viola odorata M. 803, Sweet fcented violet.

Nicotiana.

Polypodium, Polypodium vulgare

Scilla.

Sinapi.

Raphanus

ruftlcanus.

Sales alkalini volatiles.

935. Polypody.

Amara.

Serum

XX. Cathartica.

M,

laftis.

Lac ebutyratum. Olea

expreffa

blanda ex

Vegetabilibus. I.

Mitiora,

Accfcentia.

ex animalibus. Sapo albus Hifpanus. Sinapi nigrum. Sulphur.

Fni£his acidio-dulces recentes. iiccata:.

Salifia.

Tartarus, CatharticM,

Chap.

MATERIA MEDIC A.

IIL

177

Cathartica.

Catharticcu

Acriora, JMitiora,

Helleborus riiger, Helleborus niger M. 5 19., Black hellebore. Jalapium Ph. Lond. Jalapa Ph. Edin. Convolvulus JalapaM.20i,

Salina,

Alkalina fixa.

Magnefia

alba.

Sales neutri.

Aquae minerales Amara. Bills

falinae.

Jalap.

Scammonrum, Scammonium

animalium.

Convolvulus M. 200,

Ealfamica. 2. Acrior.a*

Scammony.

Aloe,

Aloe perfoliata M. 337, Socotrine and hepatic aloes,

Rhamni baccge, Rhamnus CatharJ:icti3 M. 232,

Rhabarbarum, Rheum palmatum M.385, Rhubarb. Seneka, Polygala Senega M. 640, Rattle-fnake root. Genifta,

JSpartium Scoparium

M,

Broom.

Buckthorn

berries,.

-Gambogla,

Cambogia Cutta M. 49O3 Gamboge. Nicotiana.

Helleborus albus.

Colocynthi^ Cucumis Colocynthis 869,

M.

Bitter apple.

Sambucus, Sambucus nigra

Common

M.

Elaterium,

295,

elder,

868,

Ebulus,

Elaterium,

Sambucus Ebulus M. 295,

Dwarf elder. Ricini

Momordica El^erlum M.

Oleum,

Ricinus communis

M.865,

Caftoroil.

MetaU'tca.

Ex auro. Ex Argento, Ex Hydrargyro, Ex Antimonio. Eraetica.

Senna, Callia

Senna

Senna.

Vol. L

XXI. DiURETiCAo

M.

393,

a.

Umbellat£.

Petrofelinum,

,

CATALOGUS

nS

Diuretica.

Piuretica.

Varia,

Umbellate;

b.

Daucus, Fosniculum,

Nicotiantl.

Pimpinella,

Perficaria.

Eryngium,

Ranunculus. Ruta.

Genifta.

Stellata:.

Sabina.

Senega.

Aparine, Rubia. C.

Scilla»

Amara.

Varia,

Alkekengi, Phyfalis

Balfamica,

AlkekcngiM. 222,

"Winter cherry.

Siliquofe, Alliaceas.

Ex

Bardana,

M.

Ar6lium Lappa Burdock.

723,

Dulcamara,

Animalihts,

Cantharides, Milleped^e, Sales acidi.

SolanumDulcamaraM. 223 >

15 ales

Bitterfweet.

Sales neutri,

Triticum repens

M.

127,

Quickgrafs.

XXII, DjAPHORETICA. ^ Calendula,

Lithofpermum, Lithofpermum

Calendula 79i> Marigold.

ojSiciriale

185,

Gromwell. Ononis,

Ononis fpinofa

JVf .

~

Crocus.

V

Dulcamara.

officinalis

^t

Opium. Campbora.

65 1,

Reftharrow.

Contrayervft,

Arum.

Serpentaria.

Alarum. Afparagus, Digitalis,

Digitalis

alkalini fixi.

Sapo albus Hifpanus.

Gramen,

M.

Chap. IIL

purpurea M. 562,

JFoxglove.

- Salvia. -

Scordium. Guaiacum.

-SafTafras.

Senega.

Enula canipana. '

Diaphoretica.

Chap.

III.

MATERIA MEDIC A.

Diaphorettca,

Diaphoretka,

Mofchus. Acida vegetabilia. Alkali volatile.

Hydrargyrus.

XXIII.

Menagoga.

Sales neutri.

Aloe.

Olea eflentialia. Olea empyreumaticsu

Gummi foetida.

Vinum.

179

Plantse foetidse.

Alcohol.

Crocus. Caftoreum.

Antimonium.

Ferrum.

Djluentja.

Hydrargyrus.

N2

A TREA-

T

R

T

A

E

I

S

E

THE

OF

MATERIA MEDICA. A V I N G thus finifhed all that feemed neceffary by way of introdu£tion, we now proceed to enter more directly upon our fubjedl, and fhall divide our work into two parts ; Jtl

t% one treating of aliments, the other of medicines The former being, as we have faid, fuch fubftances as are fuited to fupply the matter, whether folid or fluid, of the human body ; and the latter being fuch as have no fuch property, but are capable of varloufly changing the ftate of the body, and particularly of changing t^ie ftate of difeafe into that of bcakh. It is true indeed, that this laft mentioned purpoic may often be obtained by a certain management of alimentary matters, which thereby becomes medicines and fubje6ls of the materia medica ; and we fhall have frequent occafion tp view them in this light. But ftill it will be alfo proper to eonfider them feparatcly and we ihall begin firft with :

*,

treating of the aliments.

PART

A R t

P

OF

A L

I

M

I.

E

Nf

CHAPTER

T

S.

I.

OF ALIMENTS IN GENERAL.

WE

have already

which taken

into

faid, that aliments are thofe fubftances the body are fitted to afford and fup-

ply the fluid and folid matter of it. On this fubjeft, it might be fuppofed at fir ft fight that thefe ahments fhould be diftinguifhed according as they are fitted to fiipply the matter of the folid or of the fluid parts ; but upon further

marking of fuch a

be with refpeft to the alimentary matters taken into the body, that if they be in a folid flate, they muft, in order to their diftribution and proper application, be by the powers of the animal ceconomy converted into a fluid form and as it is alfo ob-

confideration, the

found necefiary.

It is

diftinftion will not

fufiiciently evident

:

vious that this does conftantly take place ; fo it will readily appear that the matter fitted to form the foHds makes al-

ways a confiderable portion of the fluids. It is the producof thefe laft, therefore, that we are firft to account fur i and I expg^ that in doing this we ihall be able to account tion

Chap.

OF A L

I.

I

M

E

NT

183

S.

count alfo for the produiSlion of the matter fuited to form the folids.

When we

confider the whole of the fluids of the body, many different kinds j but we can par-

they appear to be of

ticularly diftinguifh thofe that are pretty conftantly in

the

courfe of the circulation, which we call the common mafs^ from thofe that are found in other veffels than thofe concerned in the circulation. Thefe, however, being all of them, as we prefume, drawn from the common mafs, and therefore originally of the fame matter, only fomewhat changed by the fecretory organs through which they pafs ; fo we fhall omit confidering them any further here, and fliall inquire at prefent only into the nature and produ6lion of that matter which forms the circulating or common

mafs.

To this purpofe it is to be obferved, that befidcs cle-* mentary water, which always makes the largeft portion of the human fluids, the next confiderable part of theconimbn mafs is what we have named the gluten or coagulablc lymph. This 1 eonfider as the chief part of the mafs, becaufe I fuppofe it to be that part of it which gives the matter of the folids, or the permanent confliituent parts of the body, and which, from the beginning to the end of life^ are conftantly receiving a further accretion and increafe. That the gluten is that part of the fluids which affords the matter of the folids, is fufEciently probable from this, that in all its qualities it very nearly refembles the Iblid matter of the body, while in any other part of the fluids Therefore this gluten wc there is no fuch refembianee. hold to be the chief part of the fluids and coniideririg how much of it is diffufed among the other fluids, and hoW much of it is diffolved in the ferum or ferolity, it is certainly, next to the water, the largeft portion of the com-,

It may confequenfly be viewed aff that into mafs. which the aliments, fo far as they are nutritious, are converted, and therefore may be cbnlidered as the proper ^im-

mon

maljiuid.

tinder this title we all ambiguity, I

or to avoid

animal

miimt.

fhall hereafter fpeak fhall

frequently call

of itj the

it

OF

i84'

A L

I

MINT

VaAT L

».

Ih ord«r to accotint f^ the o^h&t matters thM appear to be in the common mafs, we muft obferve, that wlien this animal mixt is fully formed, it does not long remain ftaticnary in that condition, but feems to be coni^ntly, although perhaps flowly, proceeding to a putrid^? putr^ cent ftate; as we know that if frefh aliment b^ not cotiftantly Supplied, the whole of the fluids will no long time betortie very putrid. In this progr€axauce in folution, and probably alfo to render the whole a more proper, complete, and powerful nourilhment to the human body. This other ingredient of farina is probably an oil of that mild and uniy morbid. 2dlyy Not only no chyle, but neither does any oil ever appear in any part of the mafs of blood, nor ever in any ^art of the human body, till it appears in the cellular or adipofe membrane, into which it is probably brought by a that oil peculiar fecretion It has indeed been alleged, has fometimes appeared on the furface of extravafated Wood t)r ferum ; but in all fuch inftances, we prefume it to have been a preternatural appearance For in the many hundred inftances in which I have looked upon the human blood, I have never met with any appearance of that kind ; and ij^hilft oil is fo conftantly and copioufly taken into the body, nothing can account for the abfence of its appearance, but the fuppofition of its having undergone an intimate mixture of it with the other parts of the blood. :

Some

have beeii fond of finding the red and in certain ; conditions thefe may appear to be inflammable : but a fluid readily, equally, and permanently difFulible in water, cannot be properly confidired as an oil. phyfiologifts

globules of the blood to be an oily matter

A fourth confideratlon fluid,

that leads to fuppofe the ©il taken be intimately mixed with the other parts of the animal and to make a coniiderabie part in the compofition

of

is

in, to

it,

this, that

in the adipofe

the

oil,

which

is

membrane of healthy

up upon

often copioufly laid

animals,

is

again,

abforbed and taken into the courfe of of thefe occaiions are raanifeftly thofe ftates in which ^ great degree of acrimony prevails in the mafs of blood, as in fcorbutic, liphylitic, he-

tlon mentioned, this aftbrds a proof that fuch abforption

is

a means of fupplying ahment, or at leaft of covering the acrimony which upon the want of alimen': is ready to take place. Upon either fuppoiitionj it affords a proof that oil unites very intimately with the other parts of the blood and, upon the whole, there can be little doubt that oil taken in, either in its feparate or united ftate, is a part, and a conliderable part, of the human aliment. :

We

now endeavoured to determine that there are of vegetable matter which feparately, or rather as united together, afford the proper aliment of man ; and we are difpofed to fay there are no others but it has been, and ftill may be, by many fufpedted, that there is a fourth fpecies of vegetable matter which fhould be taken into our account ; and that is the mucilaginous part of vegetables. have

three kinds

:

It feems indeed to be very well afcertained, that gum Arabic, the moft iimple and pure mucilage, is an alimentary matter ; and as a gelatinous matter is commonly fuppofed

form in which our nutritious juice is applied, it fuppofed that this mucilage of gum Arabic is to be coniidered as a limple fubftance, and in the fame form dire(5tly applicable to the nourifliment of the body. Perhaps it may be fo j but many objections may be raifed againft the conclufion. At prefent it will be enough to fay, that the gum mentioned is not a fimple fubftance, but a compound of acid, fugar, and oil, and that thereby only it be^ comes nutritious. In its powdery form it refembies farina ; and a further analogy may be drawn from hence, that falep in its entire form refembies very exadlly the gum, and in its powdery form comes ftill nearer to the appearance and properties of a farina. The conclufion of a limilar nature in thefe fubftances will be ftill more readily admitted, v/hen it is conlidered how nearly the amylaceous part of farina refembies the falep and gum in a powdered ftate ; and it may be readily admitted, that the only difference between gum Arabic and farina may be a little difference in the proportion of the feveral parts compoiing each. It may be fuppofed, to be the

may be

gum Arabic, and other fuch mucilaginous be like farina chiefly compofed of fugar and

therefore, that

matters, oil,

may

which the vegetable ceconomy may combine

O

2

in different

proportions,

O

196 proportions,

F

A L

and under

I

M

E

different

NT

Part L

S.

appearances,

which we

cannot either imitate or explain.

This further remark is to be added, that gum Arabic contains a portion of fugar feems probable from the experiment which fhows, that an acid exa6lly refembling the acid of fugar may be extracted from the gum, to that which extracts the acid from fugar

by a procefs

like

itfelf.

It is again, therefore, concluded, that the vegetable matters affording aliment are acid, fugar, and oil, which in diet may be taken in, fometimes in their feparate ftate j but may alio, as they are more commonly, and perhaps more properly, be taken in in a combined ftate j and in the latter cafe, either as they are combined in vegetable fubftances by nature, or as they are joined together by the cook in the preparations of diet*

Some time ago we Ihould have refted in this conclufion ; but the experiments of Beccaria, confirmed by KesselMAIER and many others, have difcovered a fubftance in certain vegetables, which probably makes a part of the nourilhment which they afford. Although this peculiar matter has hitherto been difcovered almoft only in wheat, it is probably alfo in fome proportion prefent in the other farinacea ; as thefe are all of them coagulable and nourifhing, and many of them are nearly, if not as much, nutrient as wheat is. But however this may be, the difcovery of Beccaria can amount to this only, that befides the parts we have affigned, there may be in certain vegetables a fubftance that makes a part of the aliment they afford j and juftly indeed, as this newly difcovered matter in its nature approaches more nearJy to the nature of animal fubftance than any other part of vegetable matter we know of: but with all this we cannot find that this difcovery invalidates our opinion of the chief part of the aliment afforded by vegetables being afforded by acid, fugar, and oil, to be compounded by the powers of the animal oeconomy. Befides

the confideration of alimentary vegetables with there may be another ge-

rclpe