Spec. Plant. Willd. ii. 981.

Cl. 12. Ord. 1. Icosandria Monogynia. Nat. ord. Myrtaceae.

G. 930. Calyx five-cleft, superior. Petals five. Pome many-celled, many-seeded.

Sp. 1. P. Granatum.1 Pomegranate tree. Med. Pot. 3d edit. 531. t. 190.

Officinal. Granatum, Lond. Baccae tunica exterior.

Radicis cortex. Flores, Dub. Pomegranate bark, and flowers.

Syn. Le Grenadier (F.), Granatass felschale (G.), Granaat-boom (Dutch), Drzewo Granatow (Pol.), Pomo Granato (I.), Roma (Port.), Granado (S.), Granatnik (Russ.), Rana (Arab.), Anar (H.), Darim (San.), Daelfima (Sang.), Magilara palam (Tarn.), Dalema (Malay), Delunghedie (Cyng.), Daleemb (Mah.).

The pomegranate tree is a native of the south of Europe, Asia, and Barbary: but in the West Indies, where it was introduced from Europe, the fruit is larger and. better flavoured than in its native climates.2 In its proper soil, which is a cretaceous one, it rises twenty feet in height, sending out branches from the whole length of the stem, some of which bear thorns. The leaves are opposite, about three inches long, half an inch broad in the middle, pointed at each and, entire, and of a light, lucid green colour: the flowers, which are terminal and sessile, are three or four together : the calyx is thick, fleshy, of a fine red colour, and divided into five-pointed segments : the petals are wrinkled, and of a scarlet colour; the fruit, which is cellular, according to Gaertner1, is a pulpy many-seeded berry, the size of an orange, crowned with the calyx, which is sharply toothed, globular, and covered with a thick, coriaceous rind.

1 Poa Dioscoridis, Han Xe lieu (Chin.).

2 It stands our winters, and even bears fruit, which, however, has not the proper flavour.

The red succulent pulp, which is not officinal, is pleasantly acid 2, resembling that of the orange: it is cooling and useful for quenching thirst, and gently aperient; and was made into wine by the ancients.

Qualities.-The flowers, which are named Balaustines, are inodorous, and taste bitterish and astringent. The bark of the fruit, and of the root, have the same sensible qualities. Water extracts the virtues of both; and the solutions strike a deep bluish black with sulphate of iron. According to Reuss, 216 parts yield 60 of tannin, 74 of mucus, 2 of resin, 22 of oxidized tannin, and 45 of extractive.

Medical properties and uses.-Both the parts we have described are astringent. They are given in the form of decoction in chronic and colliquative diarrhoea, and the protracted stage of dysentery. They are supposed to prove beneficial also in checking the violent sweating which' accompanies hectic fever; but the chief use of the decoction is as an injection in leucorrhoea, or as a gargle in sore throats, after the local inflammation is moderated. Dr. Buchanan has stated that the bark of the root of the plant has been long used by the natives of Hindostan, and, according to M. Des-landz, by the negroes of St. Domingo, for expelling tapeworm; and its utility for this purpose has been fully confirmed by the experiments of Mr. Breton3, Dr. Gomes of Lisbon, and Dr. Wolff of Bonn.4 Mr. Breton gave it in the form of powder, in doses of Э j., and of decoction, prepared by boiling

ij. of the bark in Ojss. of water, and reduced to f ix., of which, when cold, a glassful was given every half hour, until four doses were taken. The action of the remedy is generally accompanied with nausea. The worm was generally voided alive, a few minutes after the last dose. Gelsus says it was used by the ancients for a similar purpose.5 The bark and

' Be Fructibus, i. ] 83. t. 38. f. 1.

2 Russel says there are three varieties of this fruit in Syria; one sweet, another very acid, and a third partaking of the qualities of both blended.-Nat. Hist, of Aleppo, ii. 85.

3 Fide Medico- Chirurg. Trans, vol. ii. p. 301.

4 Hufeland's Journal, Aug. 1825.

5 Vide Celsus de Medicind, lib. iv. § xvii.

flowers are given in the form of powder, in doses of a scruple increased to a drachm; or of a decoction made with 3 iv. of the bark and f vi. of water, f 3 vj. may be given for a dose every three hours.