OCR Text |
Show JUNIPER. JUNIPER. a bitterish one. Their predominant constituents are essential oil, and a sweet mucilaginous matter. Tothe oil they are indebtedfor their stimulating carminative, diaphoretic, and diuretic properties. They are most commonly the juniper is nowseldom, if ever relied upon for the cure of dropsies, and only called to the aid of more powerful remedies, it is justly observed by a modern author, that ¢ perhaps one of the best forms under which the berries can be used is that of a simple infusion. This either by itself, or with the addition of a little gin, is a very useful drink for hydropic patients*.”” Me- used in the form of infusion, as a diuretic drink in dropsy. dical writers have also spoken of the utility of juniper in ne- 846 MEDICAL USE. The essential oil may be separated bydistillation. It possesses the same properties in a higher degree, and imparts themto ardent spirits. The peculiar flavour and well knowndiuretic effects of Hollands, are owing tothe oil of juniper. extract are very inert preparations. Thedecoction and Everypart of the plant contains the same essential oil; there. fore an infusion of the tops is likewise diuretic. .The wood, also, was formerly officinal. In warm countries a resin exudes from the juniper tree. It is called sandarac, better known by the name of pounce, used by schoolmasters, andis often mixed with mastich. It is not a pure resin, for, according to Mr. Giese, about one.fifth of it is not soluble in water, or in alcohol, but in ether, resembling in these respects copal. Of the efficacy of juniper-berries in many hydropical affections, we have various relations by physicians of great authority, as Du Verney, Hoffman, Boerhaave, and his illustrious com- mentator baron Van Swieten, &c. Authors, however, seem not to be perfectly agreed which preparation of the juniper is most eflicacious ; many prefer the rob or inspissated decoction; but Dr. Cullen observes, that this is an inert medicine, alleging that the essential oil must be almost entirely dissipated by the boiling; for to this oil, which is much the same as that of turpen- tine, only of a more agreeable odour, he thinks all the virtues ascribed to the different parts of juniper are to be referred. Hoffman, on the contrary, strongly recommends the rob, and declares it to be of great use in debility of the stomach and intestines ; and he experienced it to be particularly serviceable to such old people as are subject to these disorders, or labour under a difficulty with regard to the urinary excretion: from hence it appears that the berries still retain medicinal powers, though deprived of the stimulating effects of the essential oil*. But as * Van Swieten prescribed the follow ing formula: Kk. rob. bace. junip. 4ii dilue in aque junip. fb ii. add. spirit. bace. junip. Zii. Quandoque 8417 phritic cases, uterine obstructions, scorbutic affections, and some cutaneous diseases, and in the two last-mentioned complaints, the wood andtops of the plant are said to have been employed with more advantage than the berries +. Weare told by Linneust that the Laplanders drink infusions of the juniper-berries as we do tea and coffee, and that the Swedes prepare a beer from them, in great estimation for its diuretic andantiscorbutic qualities. Our pharmacopeeias direct the ese sential oil and a spirituous distillation of the juniper-berries, to be kept in the shops: the former, in doses of two or three drops, is found to be an active and stimulating medicine; the latter contains this oil and that of some other aromatic seeds united to the spirit, and therefore differs not considerably from the ge- nuine geneva imported from Holland; but thereis great reason to believe that the gin usually sold hereis frequently nothing but the commonfumentacious spirit, imbued with turpentine or other materials to giveit a flavour.— Woodville. OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. CompounpSpirit or Junirer. (Spiritus Juniperi Com. positus. EH. L. D.) Take of juniper-berries, well bruised, one pound; carrawayseeds, — sweet fennel seeds, each, bruised, one ounce and a half ; diluted alcohol, nine pounds (one gallon, L, D.): Spiritus nitri dulcis 3 ss. ad sitim sedandamadditur. Comment. in Boerh. Aph, t. iv, p.258. Of this mixture one or two ounces were given every three hours. * Duncan, NewEdin. Dispens, p. 214. + Bergius says, “ Virtus: ligni et summitat. diuretica, sudorifera, mundificans. Bacca diuretica, nutriens, diaphoretica.” M. M. p. 810. { Flor. Lapp. p. 801. They are likewise knownto afford a pleasant Wine. See Du Hamel, Arbres, t. i. p. 325. |