CLOVE, the unexpanded flower-bud of an East Indian tree (Eugenia aromatica) some what resembling the laurel in its height and in the shape of its leaves. The flowers g.row in clusters, and the petals are small, rounded and of a bluish color; the fruit is an oval berry. The Molucca Islands, where the raising of dif ferent spices was formerly carried on by the Dutch colonists to a great extent, appear to be the native land of the clove, and the best are still brought from that quarter. At one titne, however, In order to secure a lucrative branch of commerce in this article to themselves, the Dutch destroyed all the trees growing in other islands and confined the propagation of them to that of Ternate. But both clove- and nut meg:trees were transplanted from the Moluc cas into the islands of Mauritius and Bourbon, and the clove is now cultivated with success in many warm countries, including Zanzibar and the West Indian islands. At a certaut season of the year the clove-tree produces a vast pro fusion of flowers. The operation of gather ing is performed between the months of Octo ber and February, partly by hand, partly by hooks and partly by beating the trees with bamboos. The cloves are subsequently dried by exposure to the smoke of wood fires, after ward to the rays of the sun. When first gath
ered they are of a reddish color, but by drying they assume a deep-brown cast This spice yields a very fragrant odor and has a bitterish, ptmgent and warm taste. It is most frequently used in culinary preparations. When fresh gathered, cloves will yield, on pressure, a fra grant, thick and reddish oil; and by distillation a limpid essential oil.
The medical value of cloves is due to the presence of eugenol, Cal.302, in the volatile oil. Eugenol is extremely active, acting lilce the phenol, or carbolic add group, to which it is related. Clove is a marked local anmsthetic, a strong antiseptic and bactericide, an excellent stimulant to the sympathetic nervous systetn, expelling flatus from the stomach and the in testines, by increased peristalsis, and increasing dte flow of the gastric and intestinal juices. Its value in toothache is due to its anusthetic and bactericidal properties. A number of new compounds of engenol are on the market. Ben zoyl-eugenol and cinnamyl-eugenol are used in the treatment of tuberculosis.