OCR Text |
Show BARLEY, Decoction or Barrry. Hordei. L. D. Barney Warrr. 65 (Decoctum Decoctum Hordei Distichi. i.) Take of pearl barley, two ounces; water, four pints: First wash off the mealy matter which adheres to the barley with some cold water; then extract the colou ring matter, by boiling it a little with about half a pint of water . Throwthis decoction away; and put the barley thus purif ied into four pints of boiling water, which is to be boiled down to one half, and strain the decoction. Comrounn Decocrion or Bantry. (Dec octum Hordei compositum. L. D.) Take of the decoction of barley, two pint s (four pints, D.); raisins, stoned, two ounces; a) ARE Bay) La aa) Bah ET, HORDEUM DISTICHON. * Fe Class IY. Triandria. Essent. Gen. Cuar. together, Srec. Caar, Order 11. Digynia. Calyc lateral, with two valves, one-flowered, three Lateral flowers unbarbed: Seeds angular, imbricated. a DESCRIPTION, I, is too well knownto need any account. HISTORY. Barley is an annual plant, cultivated in almost every coune try of Europe. Linnaeus says that it is a native of Tartary, but without adducing sufficient proof. MEDICAL VIRTUE. Pearl barley is prepared by grinding off the husk of rough barley, and forming the grain into little. round granules of a pearly whiteness. In this state barley consists almost solely of amylaceous matter: when boiled it forms an excellent article of uourishment ; and a decoction of it, properly acidulated, is one of the best beverages in acute diseases, These are thus prepared; figs, sliced, two ounces; liquorice root, sliced and bruised, half an ounce ; (distilled water, one pint. L.) Boil to two pints, andstrain. L.. During theboiling, add the raisins first, and then the figs, and, lastly, the liquorice, a short time before it is finished, when the strained decoction ought to measure two pints. D. These liquors are to be used freel y, as diluting drinks, in fevers and other acute disorders ; hence it is of consequencethat they should be prepared so as to be as elegant and agreeable as possible: for this reason they are inserted in the Pharmacopeeia, and the several circumstances whic h contribute to their elegance set down; for, if any one of them be omitted, the beverage will be less grateful. These are, howe ver, much oftener prepared by nurses andservants than by the apothecary; but it is oftentimes requisite for the physician to direct them in the right preparation thereof. The French make great application of these diluting and softening drinks, and there can be no doub t in slight diseases they are found extremely serviceable; and are useful as an adjuvant to allay thirs t, keep up perspiration, and gently nourish, even in the most acute disorders. Malt.—Barley, when brought to astate of germination, and then dried by heat, is called malt. Bythis process the saccharine qualities of the barley are increased, which are easily extracted by water, when it is called wort, or more prop erly malt tea. F The |