Kapa Mata

See Acajaiba.

Karatas

The penguin, or wild ananas; common in the West Indies, as an acid in punch, but too austere to be swallowed alone. The karatas of Plumier is, however, a different species from the pinguen of Dillenius. Each, however, is a species of bromalia, and each an American plant. See Lin. Sp. Pl. 408.

Karemyle

See Orobus.

Karfe

(Karfeh, Arab). See Cinnamomum.

Karin

Tagera. An evergreen tree in Malabar; it resembles an hazel. The oil from the root prevents the hair from falling off. Raii Historia.

Kari

Vetti. A tree in Malabar; the juice of its leaves is emetic. Raii Historia.

Karva

(Karvah, Arab). See Cassia lignea.

Katkin

See Amentacei flores.

Kato

CoelIA. The abdomen. See Coelia.

Kelp

Mineral alkali. See Kali, Alkali, and Chemistry.

Kenna

See Ligustrum Indicum.

Keratophyton

(From a horn, and a plant; because it is pellucid). Lithophyton. The name of a submarine plant, transparent, of a viscid consistence, and often covered with a cretaceous crust,some-times of elegant and various colours. The only species which possesses any medical virtue is the corallium nigrum, q. v. and these are very inconsiderable.

Kermes

(Arabic term chermah). See Chermes.

Kermes mineralis. See Antimonium.

Kerva

Ol, (kervah, Arabic). See Cataputia.

Ketmia

The leaves and flowers resemble those of mallows; the fruit is divided into many partitions, the top of which opens when ripe, and discloses many seeds. All the species, except those which taste like sorrel, agree in virtues with mallows. The genus called ketmia by Tournefort, is the hibiscus of Linnaeus. It is of little importance to ascertain any species, as none except the Abelmoschus, q.' v. has any medicinal quality.

Ketran

See Cedria.

Keyseri

Pi 'lulae. Keyser's pills, (from the inventor's name). According to an account in the Edinburgh Medical Commentaries, they consist of pure quicksilver, reduced to a red calx by a proper degree of heat, which, being dissolved in eight parts of vinegar, is to be mixed with manna, of which two pounds will be required to each pint of the solution. This composition being dried gently by the fire, is rolled into pills, and recommended as the most effectual remedy of all the mercurial preparations against the venereal disease. See Argentum vivum.

Mr. Keyser adds a singular remark; if to the solution of a pound of the red calx, in eight pints of vinegar, two pounds of mercury, in the metallic state, be added, a substance will arise, by agitation, to the surface, in the form of cream. If this be taken off, more will rise on every successive agitation. This cream, united with manna, he supposes to be highly useful in recent venereal complaints.

Kibes

An obsolete name for the heel, and consequently for chilblains, which usually affect the heel. See Pernio.