COMMENTARY. Respecting this article there can be no difference of opinion. Plutarch and many of the ancient authorities take notice of the powers of almonds in resisting intoxication. Dioscorides states that a cataplasm formed from almonds, with vinegar or rose oil, and applied to the forehead or temples relieves headache. Taken internally, he says, they are laxative, soporific, and diuretic. (i, 186.) Serapion gives nearly the same account of them. (c. 82.) Dioscorides greatly commends almond oil as a demulcent in various complaints, such as pains, inflammation, and displacement of the uterus, also in headache and earache, in nephritic, calculous, and other diseases. (i, 38.) Avicenna gives it the same character, and otherwise enlarges very fully in recapitulating the virtues of almonds. As an article of food, he says, bitter almonds are stomachic, and sweet almonds are fattening. He recommends them as an application to herpes and other diseases of the skin. Bitter almonds he speaks highly of in obstructions of the kidneys. Altogether the account which he gives of this article is most interesting. (ii, 257.) See also Rhases (Cont. l. ult. i, 45); Averrhoes (Collig. v, 42.) The latter recommends them as powerful deobstruents of the liver. Ἄμυλον, Amylum, _Starch_, is formed from clean wheat moistened with water during the heat of the dog-days, which water is to be poured off five times in the day. When it becomes very soft, it is to be strained and the water poured off, and the bran separated; and it is to be dried quickly in the sun before it become sour. Its powers are moderately cooling, desiccant, and emollient of acrid humours. * * * * * COMMENTARY. Our author’s account of the mode of preparing starch is mostly taken from Dioscorides (ii, 123.) Pliny describes the process in nearly the same terms. He says, it may be prepared from wheat or spelt. (H. N. xxviii, 17.) He calls it astringent, and recommends it in hæmoptysis. Serapion also recommends it in this complaint. (c. 29.) Celsus ranks it among the “res boni succi.” (ii, 20.) It is mentioned by Hippocrates, who recommends it as an application to the mouth of the womb. (De Mulieb. ii.) Ἄμωμον, Amomum; its powers are like those of the sweet-flag; but the former is the drier, and the latter more digestive. * * * * *