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A treatise on foreign vegetables. Containing ... such as are now commonly used in the practice of physick ... / Chiefly taken from the Materia medica of S.F. Geoffroy. By R. Thicknesse.

  • Étienne François Geoffroy
Date:
1749
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: A treatise on foreign vegetables. Containing ... such as are now commonly used in the practice of physick ... / Chiefly taken from the Materia medica of S.F. Geoffroy. By R. Thicknesse. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    The Tree is called !Tamarjndus, Raii Hift, 1748° Sill qua Arabic a, Tamar indus, C. B. P. 40.3. 2V marindus Detelfide appellata, P. Alpin. ^ Plait. TEgyp* jut ay, five Tamar Indus, Pi fin. 157. Tama- nndus Marcgr. 1071. Balam-pulli five Maderam- pulli, H. Malab. T. S. It grows in Egypt, Arabia, the Indies, Ethiopia, and that Part of Africa, which is called Senega. In hot Seafons this Tree fome- times gives out a glutinous, acid, and reddifh Sub- fiance, which afterwards becomes white and hard like Cream of Tartar. From the four Tafte of Tamarinds, it is evident they are plentifully hocked with acid Salt : Which is alio proved by their Analyfis, wherein fcarce any alkaline Salt is obtained *, but, befides the acid, a large Proportion of Oil. Six Pounds being dihblved in eight Pints of common Water, and having hood for two Months, fix Drachms of an effential Salt were found hicking to the Sides of the Cafk, and after a longer Time the Quantity was greatly aug¬ mented, This Salt differs not from Cream of Tartar, having an acid Tahe, and being only folu- ble in boiling Water. Again, after they have been macerated for fome Days, an acid Spirit is drawn from them in Dihillation, not unlike the Spirit of Vinegar. Hence it appears that they abound with acid Salt, and Sulphur *, yet fo, that the acid pre¬ dominates : Whereas in the Pulp of Caffia the Sul¬ phur is more copious than the Acid. The lurks and Arabians, according to the Rela¬ tion of Bellonius, when they fet out upon long Journeys in the Summer, or are to pafs over the Deferts of Arabia, lay in a Provifion of Tamarinds; which they ufe only to flake their Thirfl, and not as Phyfick. For the fame End they likewife preferve the Fruit or Pods in Honey, or Sugar, as well when they are ftnall and green, as when larger and come stO Maturity. N 3 The
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