Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 4, 1802).djvu/55

scu the most eligible of which arc, tamarinds, prunes, cream of tartar, arid rhubarb, — When the scurvy proceeds chiefly from the long-con- tinued use of salted provisioas, it will be necessary to take, medici- nally, large portions of the juice of lemons, oranges, limes, tamarinds ; water- cresses, brook-lime, scurvy- grass, and fresh vegetables of every description ; but, where the latter cannot be procured, pickled or pre- served cabbages, cucumbers, oni- ons, gooseberrieSi and other fruits, as well as horse-radish and mus- tard, may be employed with equal advantage. At first, however, thd^-- patient ought to eat or drink the remedies above speciried with great moderation ; in order to avoid a diarrhoea or flux. For common beverage, good cyder, perry, whey. Spruce-beer, or a simple decoflion of the spruce-fir (of which last, two pints are to be drunk every day) will prove highly beneficial : with the same intention. Bishop Berkley recommends tar-water. ■ — One of tlie most efficacious antiscorbutics, however, is Sauer Kraut, a well-known preparation of the white cabbage, described under the head of Crout ; which alone has often checked the pro- jgress of scurvy, under the most alarming appearances. — See also Wort, Considerable benefit has, in se- veral instances, been derived from a deco6tion of the Water-Dock (Riimex aiiuatiais, L.) by boiling one pound of the root in six pints of water, and adding an ounce or two of crystals of tartar, till one- tliird part of the liquor be evaporat- ed j of which, from half to a whole pint, is to be drunk every day. If, during this vegetable course, the body should be costive, and the SGU [35 sJdn dry, the mild aperients before mentioned, and warm bathing with aromatic plants, may be resorted to with advantage; tiiough the lat- ter must be omitted, when there is any apprehension of hemorrhages. — The mouth should be rinsed with a decoiftion of the Peruvian bark, to which a small portion of tindture of myrrh may be added : farther, lint dipped into a simple deco6tioii of the bark, and applied to the ul- cers, will be found ver}' useful. Lastly, if the limbs be swollen, or the joints stiff, it will be advisable to foment them with warm vine- gar j or to bathe thq parts aff^ei^ed in tepid water. SCURVY - GRASS, or Cock- learia, L. genus of plants compris- ing eight species, five of which are indigenous ; and the principal of these are : 1. The Armor ada. See Horse- radish. 2. The officinalis, Common ScURVY-GRASS, Or ScRUBY-GR ASS } growing on sea-shores, and ia mountainous situations, where it flowers in the months of April and May. — When cultivated in gardens, this maritime plant re- tains its properties, without any sensible change. It possesses a considerable degree of acrimony, which resides in a very subtle essential oil : and, as an anti- scorbutic, its efFeds are suffici- ently ascertained. In the pitui- tous asthma, and chronic rheuma- tism, the scurvy-grass is a power- ful remedy. It is likewise a pun- gent stiirrulating medicine, which may be advantageously employed for promoting the fluid secretions. — A distilled water, and a con- serve, are prepared from its leaves ; and the expressed juice is jjre- scribedwitb that of oranges, among D 2 other