SQUILL, Scilla, a genus of bulbous-rooted plants of the natural order Liliacem, nearly allied to hyacinths, onions, etc., and having a spreading perianth, stamens shorter than the perianth, smooth filaments, a 3-partedovary, and a 3-cornered capsule with three many-ceded cells, Many of the species are plants of humble growth, with stapes like thos'.., of hyacinths, and beautiful flowers. Of these, two are natives of Britain: S. Dern% which is common on the western and northern coasts, and particularly in Orkney and Shetland, and has fragrant flowers of a deep blue color; and S. autamaalis, grows chiefly on the coasts of the s. of England, and has pinkish purple flowers. S. bifolia is a very doubtful native of Britain, but adorns hill-pastures and borders of woods in many parts of Europe with its blue flowers in early spring. S. ammena is another vet.; beautiful species found in many parts of Europe. Few plants are better adapted than these for the adorning or flower-borders, or for house-culture.—Very different in habit from these is the Sty:FILL (S. ?writhing, or (lighted Scilla), a native of the sandy shores of the Mediterranean, which has a scape from two to four ft. high, with a raceme of many whitish flowers, and large leaves. The bulb is of the size of a man's fist, or sometimes as large as a childs head, and contains a viscid juice so acrid as to blister the fingers if much handled, while the vapor from it. irritates the nose and eyes. Squill was used in medicine by the ancients, and continues to be so still, The Wilt) is dug up in autumn, divided into four parts, the center being cut out as being inert, and the remainder being cut into thin slices, which are quickly dried by a gentle heat. It is imported from Malta and other Mediterranean ports; also from St. Peters burg and Copenhagen. The dried slices arc white or yellowish white, slightly translu cent, scentless, disagreeably bitter, brittle and easily pulverizable if very dry. The
chemical composition of Squill is not accurately known, its most active principle being a very acrid, poisonous, resiuoid substance, soluble in alcohol, but not in ether, ever its active ingredients may be, they are taken up by alcohol, vinegar, and the dilute acids. This medicine is prescribed as a diuretic and expectorant. and occasionally as an emetic; but it must be recollected that in moderately large doses it acts as a narcotico irritant poison, 24 vains having proved fatal. When given as a diuretic. it.is usually prescribed in combination with digitalis and calomel, when it seldom fails to produce an increased secretion of urine, while at the same time it promotes the absorption of the effused fluid in the dropsy, which iF generally present when diuretics are ordered. Its use is counter-indicated if inflammatory symptoms are present. Its dose 'Is a diuretic is from one to three grains of the powdered bulb, or about twenty minims of the tincture. As an expectorant, it is much employed in the subacute stages and chronic forms of pulmonary affections, and is very serviceable in bronchitis and pneumonia of children. From its property of promoting the secretion of mucus, it gives relief by facilitating the expectoration in cases of asthma, etc., in which the sputa are viscid. rn these cases, it is usually associated with some of the more stimulating expectorants, as senep nr sesquicarbonate of ammonia. As an expectorant, the close of the powdered squill should not exceed one grain, repeated several times daily. For children, the syrup, in doses of from 10 to 30 minims, may be given. As its action as an emetic is. uncertain, it should not be prescribed with the view ofinducing vomiting if other and more certain remedies are at hand.