The juice of hypocistis: an infpiffated juice, of a firm consistence and a bright black colour; prepared from a certain fleshy juicy vegetable production (hypocistis sub cisto C. B. Asarum Hypocistis Linn.) which, in the warmer climates, grows up from the root of different kinds of the ciitus or rock-rofe, three or four inches high, easy to break, clothed with scales, bearing a number of little bell-shaped flowers on the top, but no leaves.

This juice is a mild astringent, of no particular smell or flavour. It is looked upon as similar to the Egyptian acacia; from which, however, it differs remarkably in its pharmaceutical properties, the hypocistis being almost totally dissoluble in rectified spirit of wine, whereas acacia gives out little or nothing to that menstruum. It is at present scarcely other-wife made use of among us, than as an ingredient in some of the old compositions.