Lemon Juice (Succus Limonis.) — The expressed strained juice of the ripe fruit.
Lemon juice contains citric acid, in the proportion of about 32 grains to each fluid ounce, with mucilage and extractive. To prevent its undergoing decomposition, which it is apt to do by keeping, a proportion of about 10 per cent, of spirits of wine or strong brandy may be added, and the mucilage separated by filtration. Another effectual plan is to allow the juice to stand for a short time after expression, till the coagula-able matter separates, then to filter and put into bottles, with a stratum of almond or other sweet oil upon its surface.
Properties. — Valuable anti-scorbutic and refrigerant ; primarily, anti-alkaline ; secondarily, antacid.
Therapeutic Uses. — In scurvy, it is one of the best remedies we possess, both as a prophylactic and as a curative. In febrile and inflammatory affections, the diluted juice, sweetened, forms an excellent refrigerant drink. In acute rheumatism and rheumatic gout, in some forms of acute tropical dysentery and diarrhœa, &c, it has been successfully employed. As an antidote to some acro-narcotic poisons, it often proves effectual. Lemon juice and gun powder used topically for scabies. — Ph. I.
The bark of the root has been used in the West Indies as a febrifuge and the seeds as a vermifuge (WATT.)
A decoction of the lemon, reported by Dr. Aitken of Rome is said to be a very valuable remedy in the treatment of ague (B. M. J. Oct. 4, 1884).
Var. III. C. acida. The sour Lime of India.
According to Bonavia (Oranges and Lemons of India, p. 246), it is more probable that this has descended from C, Hystrix of Kurz than from the C medica of Linnaeus.
For figures, see Bonavia's work Plates 238 and 239.
Syn. : — C. acida, Roxb. 589.,
Vern: — Lebu ; nebu ; nimbu ; kágugi-nebu (B.) ; Nimbu ; khatta-nimbu (Pb.}; Khata limbu (Guz.); Limbu (Mar.); Limun nibu (Dec.) ; elu-mich-cham-pazham ; elemitchum ; elimichum ;
