LEMONADE is formed by adding two lemons sliced, and 2 ounces of white sugar, to a quart of boiling water, and digesting till cold. It is a useful drink for allaying thirst, and as a. refrigerant in febrile and inflammatory complaints, and iu hemorrhage, in which cases it should be given iced., Andropagon schcenanthys, a beautiful perennial grass, 3 or 4 ft. high, with panicle mostly leaning to one side, and spikelets in pairs, or, if terminal, in threes. It is a native of India, Arabia, etc., and is extremely abundant in many places. It has a strong lemon-like fragrance, oppressive where the grass abounds. It is too coarse to be eaten by cattle except when young, and is therefore often burned down. Europeans in India make an agreeable stomachic and tonic tea of the fresh leaves. By distillation, an essential oil is obtained (lem,on-grass oil), which is employed externally as a stimulant in rheumatic affections, and is yellow, with a strong lemon-like smell. This oil is used 'n perfumery, and is often called ea of verbena by perfumers. Lemon-grass has been introduced into the West Indies, Australia, etc. See also GRASS OIL.
is a somewhat opaque, very sour liquid, obtained from lemons by expression and straining. Its acidity is due to the presence of citric and a little malic acid. Its principal uses in medicine are the following: 1. As an anti-scorbutic.
" Those only," says sir Gilbert Blanc. " who have made themselves acquainted with the early part of the naval history of this country, can dilly appreciate the value of this simple remedy." Its active principle, citric acid, is now frequently substituted for it. 2. In rheumatism.—Dr. G. O. Rees, who first employed it in this disease, " considers the citric acid to undergo changes in the stomach, and to supply oxygen to such ele ments as tend to produce uric acid, and thereby to induce the formation of urea and carbonic acid instead." 3. In the formation of effervescing draughts.—A scruple of bicarbonate of potash in solution, mixed with about 3 drams and a half of lemon juice, so as to form a citrate of potash, forms an excellent effervescent draught; it acts as a mild diaphoretic and diuretic, tends to allay febrile disturbance, and serves to check nausea and vomiting. If the object is specially to determine to the skin, a draught composed' of a scruple of sesquicarbonate of ammonia in solution, with 6 drams of lemon-juice, so as to form a citrate of ammonia, is preferable. Effervescing draughts are often employed as agreeable vehicles for the exhibition of other remedies.