These seeds when dry have an aromatic sweetish odour, and a warm pungent taste, qualities residing in an essential oil, which is extracted by distillation with water and by digestion with alcohol; the bruised seeds yield their flavour to boiling water by simple infusion. The seeds are but rarely used. The distilled water is a valuable carminative for children. ANISI SEMINA. L. E. D. (_Pimpinella Anisum._ _Semina._) Anise Seeds. Like the dill seeds, warm and carminative; water extracts very little of their flavour; rectified spirit the whole. It may be remarked in this place that the value of aniseed, as well as all those seeds which yield essential oil by distillation, may be estimated by their specific gravity, the heaviest yielding the largest proportion of oil; a chrondrometer employed by corn-chandlers might be very conveniently applied to such a purpose.[372] The seeds imported from Spain, which are smaller than the others, contain most oil, and are to be preferred. ANTHEMIDIS FLORES. L. E. (_Anthemis Nobilis._) _Chamomile Flowers._ QUALITIES. The _Odour_ of the flowers is strong and fragrant; _Taste_, bitter and aromatic, with a slight degree of warmth. CHEMICAL COMPOSITION. The active principles are essential oil, resin, and bitter extractive. SOLUBILITY. Both water and alcohol take up the active parts of the flowers; hot water, by infusion, dissolves nearly one-fourth of their weight, but boiling dissipates the essential oil, on which account they should never form an ingredient in a decoction. USES. The flowers given in substance are said to have cured intermittents; they are however but rarely used; externally they are applied in fomentations. See _Infusum Anthemidis_. OFFICINAL PREPARATIONS. _Decoctum Anthemidis nobilis._ E.D. _Infusum Anthemidis_. L.[373] There is a great variety in the quality and price of chamomile flowers; those which are large and whitish are to be preferred as the freshest; by keeping they become invalid, and are deprived of their aromatic principle and essential oil. They are always inferior in wet seasons. The double flowered varieties are also less powerful than the single kind, since the qualities reside in the disc florets. ANTIMONII SULPHURETUM. L. _Sulphuret of Antimony._