Arena, or Betel.----The seeds of Areca Catechu have long been esteemed by Asiatios as a masticatory, supposed to sweeten the breath and promote digestion ; but only recent experiments have proved its value for the expulsion of worms (both lutnbricas and tanks) from men as well as animals. (See Nuts.) Arnica (Fe. and Gee., the roots of Arnica montana, is prepared a tincture for application to bruises and chilblains, and occasionally taken internally as a stimulant and diephoretio. The plant ie a perennial, found in the meadows of the central and northern parts of the N. hemisphere (except the British Islands), favouring the uplands in central and W. Europe, and the lowlands in colder climes. In the Arctic latitudes of Asia and America, the leaves become so narrow as apparently to constitute another species. The root has a herbaceous, slightly aromatic odour, and a somewhat acrid flavour ; it is sometimes adulterated with the root of Geum urbanum, which has a purplish centre, and a clove-like and astringent flavour. The flowers ware probably first employed in making the tincture in Germany, but are not now officinal in the British P/aarmaoopceia. Arnica root is worth about ls. 4d. a lb.
Asafcetida.—The gum-resin derived from several species of Ferula is reputed stimulant and antispasmodic, and is muoh employed on the Continent, but little in Britain. In the East, it is used as a condiment, and as food. (See Resinous Subatancee.) Mess or Atis.---The root of Aconitum hcterophyllum has long been known in India as a tonio and aphrodisiao, and has recently been extensively prescribed as an antiperiodic in paroxysmal fevers. The plant is 1-3 ft. high, and grows in the temperate districts of the W. Himalayas, at alti tudes of 8000-13,000 ft., as Simla, Kumaon, and Kashmir. The root has a bitter but not acrid flavour, is of a dirty-white colour, and in shape less conical than aconite root. The name is used kn. several other roots, inoluding A. Napellus (v. ante—Aconite), and the tasteless root of Asparagus sarmentosus, &o.
Bael, Indian Bael, or Bengal Quince.—Almost every part of "Egte Marmelos (Cratceva Marmelos) has some medioinal value ; a decoction of the bark of the root is used against melancholy, and palpitation of the heart, and in intermittent fevers ; the leaves are made into poultices for ophthalmia, and are employed in decoction for asthma ; but the principal virtue lies in the fruit, which acts as a tonio and astringent in diarrhoea, and as a laxative in constipation, and has been commonly used in India and Ceylon for centuries, as a specific against dysentery. The fruit is dried in elioes when half ripe, but is also sometimes collected when fully ripe, and dried whole. The tree is common throughout Hindostan, Ceylon, Java, Sumbawa, Celebes, and Amboyna ; it is wild and gregarious in the Coromandel Ghats, and the W. Himalayas, up to 4000 ft. ; and promises
to flourish in the hotter parte of Australia. Its ordinary height is 30-40 ft. The fruit somewhat resembles an orange, but has a woody shell, and though not eaten as dessert, its juicy pulp is made into jam with sugar, or into a refreshing drink with sweetened water ; when wild, it is flavourless and hard. The astringent rind yields a yellow dye. The fruit is sometimes replaced by that of the wood-apple (Feronia Elcphantum), and even by pomegranate peel.
Barberry (Indian).—The wood and root of several Indian species of Berberis were long employed in the preparation of an extract, commonly used in various forms of eye disease, and known to the ancients as Lycium, and in the bazars as _Besot or Rasot ; it is now replaced by a tincture of the bark of the rhizome and rootlets, extensively administered in the treatment of Indian fevers, diarrhoea, and dyspepsia, and as a tonic. The three species yielding the drug are—(1) Ber beris Asiatica, distributed throughout the dry valleys of Bhotan and Nepal, westwards along the Himalayas to Gar whal, and in Afghanistan ; (2) B. aristata, in the temperate altitudes (6000 10,000 ft.) of the Himalayas, in the Nilgiris, and in Ceylon ; (3) B. Lycium, peculiar to dry, hot portions of the Himalayas, at 3000-9000 ft., not used in this country as yet.
Bearberry (Fa., Busserole ; GER., Bdrentrauben).—The leaves of Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi (A. officinalis, Arbutus Uva-ursi) are valued as an astringent tonic in affections of the bladder. The plant is a small evergreen shrub, widely distributed in the N. hemisphere ; it occurs in Scotland, N. England, and Ireland, on the chief mountain ranges of Central and S. Europe, in Russian Asia and N. Europe, in Iceland, and in N. America. The leaves are in. long, and f--1 in. wide, dark-green in colour, with a very astringent flavour, and when powdered, a tea-like odour. They are sometimes confounded with those of the red whortleberry, or cowberry (Vaccinium Vitis-idcea), which are dotted underneath, and have revolute margins.
Belladonna, or Deadly Nightshade (FR., Belladone ; GER., Belladonna, Tollkraut).—The root of Atropa Belladonna is used chiefly for the preparation of atropine, also an anodyne liniment ; from the fresh leaves, an extract is made ; and from the dried ones, a tincture. The plant is a tall smooth herb, growing in the clearings of woods in Central and S. Europe. It is found doubtfully indigenous in some of the S. counties of England, chiefly on chalky soil, and is cultivated at Hitchin. It is also sparingly cultivated in France and N. America ; in a wild state, its range extends eastwards to N. Asia Minor, Caucasia, and the Crimea.