"Take of decoction of barley, two pints; figs, sliced, two ounces and a half; liquorice (root), sliced and bruised, five drachms; raisins, (stoned,) two ounces and a half; water, a pint. Boil down to two pints, and strain."

Dublin.

"Take of decoction of barley, four pints; raisins stoned, figs sliced, of each two ounces; liquorice root, sliced and bruised, half an ounce. During the boiling add first the raisins, then the figs, and, lastly, the liquorice root a short time before it is finished : when it is completed, the strained liquor ought to measure two pints."

Syn. Decoction d'Orge (F.), Gerstedekokte (G), Decotto d'Orzo (I.).

The preparation of these decoctions is generally intrusted to nurses and the attendants of the sick-room : but a practitioner ought not to be ignorant of the best manner of making them, as his directions may be occasionally necessary. They are elegant and useful demulcents, in cases of fever, phthisis, gonorrhoea, stranguary, and all acute diseases, given ad libitum. A few drops of tincture of opium may be added to the compound decoction, to obviate its laxative effect, where this might prove hurtful. Equal parts of this decoction, and of decoction of bark, form a useful gargle in cynanche maligna.

The simple decoction, mixed with an equal quantity of good milk and a small portion of sugar, is an excellent substitute for the breast milk in those cases in which infants are so unfortunate as to require being brought up with the spoon.