Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/311

Rh coffee, which last appears to be the most effectual antidote.—The cold bath, and the application of blisters to the head, have likewise produced beneficial effects in recovering persons poisoned with this drug.

Opium pays, on importation, the sum of 1s. $7 1⁄2$d. per lb. if brought from the place of its growth; but, if not, it is subject to the duty of 4s. $11 1⁄2$d. per lb. When imported by the East-India Company, it pays, on warehousing, the sum of 2l. per cent. according to its value, and is liable to the farther payment of 1s. $7 1⁄2$d. on being taken out for home-consumption.—It has been proved, from the Custom-house lists, and other sources of information, that a larger quantity of opium is annually used in Great-Britain, than in all other States of Europe, collectively.  ORACHE, or Atriplex, L. a genus of plants, comprising seventeen species; of which the following are the principal, and indigenous:

1. The porlulacoides,, or ; growing on sea-shores; flowering in the months of July and August.—It may be easily propagated from cuttings; as it requires but little culture, and thrives well if planted in a poor gravelly soil, vhere it seldom attains above two and a half, or three feet in height, and becomes very bushy: hence it is well adapted for gardens, among other low shrubs, where it displays a very pleasing appearance.—Being a marine vegetable, its ashes contain a large proportion of alkaline salt, and may, therefore, be usefully substituted for soap.

2. The hastata,, or , which grows on rubbish, dunghills, and in kitchen-gardens: it flowers in the months of August and September.—This plant is sometimes used as a substitute for spinach and other greens, though it is not relished by cows, goats, sheep, or swine.

3. The laciniata, or, which thrives on sea-shores, and flowers in July or August.—The fruit of this annual plant contains a viscid yellow juice which, according to , a respectable German writer on pharmacy, possesses similar properties with the exotic drug, termed Gummi-Guttæ. Hence it may be substituted for the latter, as a very powerful purgative in cases, where aqueous humours are to be evacuated: namely, in obstinate quartan agues, the humid asthma, melancholy, and especially in the dropsy: it may be given in conserves, pills, or powders, from four to eight grains for a dose.  ORANGE-TREE, or Citrus Aurantium, L. an exotic shrub, highly esteemed on account of its pleasant and cooling fruit.

The Orange-tree is divided into several varieties, of which the most esteemed are those of China and Seville: it is seldom raised in Britain, excepting in the hot-houses of the curious; and, its culture being the same as that of the, we refer the reader to that article.

The flowers of the orange-tree are highly esteemed, on account of their odoriferous perfume: they are of a slightly pungent, bitter taste, and communicate their flavour, by infusion, to rectified spirit; and also, by distillation, both to spirit and water. Formerly they were in great repute, on account of