A more correct knowledge of the operation of those medicinal substances which have been named balsamic or pectoral, has set aside the high opinion which formerly prevailed of the efficacy of honey as a remedy in pulmonary diseases. It is, however, still employed in pharmacy, and has some advantages over syrup, particularly where it is to be employed as a local application; but, for internal purposes, its use is to a certain degree limited, owing to the unpleasant effects which it produces on the bowels of some individuals. The Edinburgh College has altogether rejected this class of preparations, but a few of them are retained by the London and the Dublin Colleges. They are not apt to spoil, and, therefore, require less care to preserve them than the syrups.

1 Vogel. Annales de Chimie, vol. lxxxiii. p. 157.

Mel Despumatum. Dub. " Clarified Honey

"Melt the honey in a water bath; then remove the scum."

Syn. Miel despume (F.), Geschaumter Honig (G.). Mele Schiumato (I.).

By thus liquefying honey, the wax which it may have retained when expressed from the comb, rises to the surface; and at the same time any sand or other impurities, with which it may have been fraudulently mixed, fall to the bottom or rise with the wax, and are easily separated. The specific gravity of purified honey is 1.31. It is chiefly employed for forming the other preparations into which honey enters. It is less apt to gripe than the crude honey, owing, probably, to its being less liable to ferment. It is, undoubtedly, more agreeable to the taste and smell than crude honey.

Officinal preparations. - Confectio Rutae, L. Linimentum Ae ru-ginis L. Mel Boracis, L. Mel Rosae, L. D. Oxymel Colchici, D. Oxymel Scillae, L. D. Oxymel, L. D.

Mel Boracis. Lond. Dub. Honey of Borax

"Take of borax, powdered, a drachm; honey, an ounce. Mix them."

The biborate, in this preparation, undergoes a change, as well as the honey, and a preparation results which is not a simple solution of borax in honey. This change is not yet satisfactorily explained.

This is a cooling, detergent, useful application to the tongue and fauces in aphthous affections. Dissolved in water, it forms an excellent gargle for allaying the pain attending mercurial salivations.

Mel Rosae. Lond. Rose Honey

"Take of the petals of the red rose, dried, four ounces; boiling distilled water, two pints and a half; honey, five pounds. Macerate the petals in the water for six hours; then to the filtered liquor add the honey, and boil it down to a proper consistence by means of a water bath."

Dublin. "Take of the petals of red rose-buds, dried and freed from their claws, four ounces; boiling water, three pints; honey, five pounds. Macerate the petals in the water for six hours; then mix the honey with the strained liquor, and boil the mixture to the consistence of a syrup, taking off the scum."

Syn. Miel rosat (F.), Rosenhonig (G.), Mele rosato (I).

1 Mel rosarum, P. L. 1720. Mel rosaceum, P. L. 1745.

This honey has the pleasant flavour of the rose, and a slight degree of astringency. In making it, the clarified honey ordered by the London College is to be preferred. It is chiefly employed as an adjunct to detergent and astringent gargles.

Oxymel. Lond. Dub. Oxymel

"Take of honey, ten pounds; acetic acid, one pint and a half. Mix the acid with the honey made hot."

Syn. Oxymel (F.), Essighonig (G.), Ossimele (I.

Simple oxymel in doses of f 3j. or more, dissolved in barley-water, forms a pleasant and cooling beverage in fevers and inflammatory affections; but in some individuals it has a griping quality like honey, which prevents it from being generally used in these affections. It is often added to gargles in cy-nanche tonsillaris, and is a common vehicle of other remedies in catarrhal complaints. The Dublin College orders it to be prepared with unclarified honey, skimming it during the boiling; but the London directions are to be preferred.

Oxymel Colchici. Dub. Oxymel of Meadow Saffron

"Take of the fresh root (bulb) of meadow saffron, cut into thin slices, one ounce; distilled vinegar, a pint; clarified honey, two pints. Digest the colchicum with the vinegar in a glass vessel for two days; then to the liquor strongly expressed from the root add the honey; and, lastly, boil down the mixture to the consistence of a syrup, frequently stirring it during the boiling with a wooden spoon."

This preparation is very uncertain in point of strength. It is given in humoral asthma, and in dropsies. The dose is f 3 j. gradually increased to f j., given in a cupful of gruel, twice a day.

Oxymel Cupri Subacetatis. Dub. Vide Linimentum Aeruginis

Oxymel Scillae. Lond. Dub. Oxymel of Squill

"Take of honey, three pounds; vinegar of squill, one pint and a half. Boil in a glass vessel, over a gentle fire, to a proper consistence."

Syn. Meerzwiehelhonig (G.).

Oxymel of squill is principally employed as an expectorant, and as such is very useful in humoral asthma, and chronic coughs, in doses of from f 3 ss. to f 3 ij. It is generally given in some aromatic distilled water, to prevent the nausea which it is apt to induce : in larger doses it is given to excite vomiting, and at the same time clear the chest, in hooping-cough.

1 Mel acetatum, P. L. 1787.

2 Oxymel scilliticum, P. L. 1720, 1745.

When kept for a considerable, time, this oxymel lets fall a precipitate which has the aspect of crystallized honey. Vogel found it to consist of citrate of lime, tannin, and honey.1