Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/536

508&#93; ' ROS served, as they contaiii an equal tlegrce of permme with the es- sence. Such is the process followed in India, where this costly drucj is Ireqnentlv adulterated, by distilling the ra':pings of sandal-wood with the flowers; but the fraud may be easily deteded by the smdl, rtnd also by the fluidity of the oil of sandal: which wiil not congeal on exposure to the air. — ^The true Qttcr of roses is sold in the East In- dies at the exorbitant price of iwentif guineas, and upwards, per ounce. It is doubtl'ss the most elegant perfume in vegetable i"ui- ture ; as a single drop imparts its fragrance throughout the room or dwelling, and suppresses other less agreeable odours. Lastly, there is acon^trse, syrup, and vinegar of roses prepared in the shops ; though the first two only are generally sold. EOSE-CAY, or Kerium, L. a genus of exotic plants, consisting of live species, the mo>t remarkable fcf wh ch are the. following, viz : 1. "1 he Oleahdei-; or South Sea Rose, 'a beautiful shmb, cultivnted in gardens on account of its fine purple flowers; it is propagated by planting k^j^ers in rich, moist situa- "tions; We cannot, however, re- commend its culture; as the whole plant is ]x>isonous, and especially the roots. Its juice, if inadvertently swallowed, excites so great an in- flammation as immediately to pre- vent deglutition; Avhile it operates iTost powerfully as an emetic and purgative. P'arther, the odour of the flowers, if they be handled or kept in close apartments, is attend- ed with in-|iirious efl'cfts ; as it gra- dually excites numbness and acute pain in the head. — ^The proper an- ' ROS tidotcs are copious draughts of vi- negar, and other vegetable acids. 2. The anti-duseii tericum, a na- tive of Ceylon, which is not culti- vated. — The bark of its root, when grated and infused in water, is said to be of great service in the dysen- tery. 3. The tinciorium , or Dyer's Rose-bny, is a n:;tive of Madras, in the East Indies. It has beauti- ful blue flowers ; and a dccoftion of the leaves, together with the ad- ( it ion of lime, produces a very fine indigo. ROSEMARY, or Rosmarinus oJftcinaHs, I., an exotic plant, con- sisting of two varieties : 1. The G77c;/^f f^b/ia, or Narrow- leaved Rosemary ; and, 2. The laiifoiia, or Broad-leaved . Rosemjry. Both these species are nati%-es of the w^armer ciiraates of Europe, wheie they flourish on dry rockv soils, contiguous to the sea; and are also cultivated, on account of their medicinal properties, in the gardens of Britain : the climate of hich they endure, provided they be planted on poor, dry, and gra- velly lauds. — ^Ihey may be propa- gated eitlicr by cuttings, or by slips. Rosemary possesses a fragrant odour, together with a pungent and somewhat bitter taste, ]-esembling that of la'ender. The leaves and young tops are the stror.gest ; and from both, ns well as the flowers, an essential oil is prepared ; or, when distilled with spirit of wine, they aftbrd the celebrated Hungary ■water. These liquid medicines are esteemed excellent cephaiics in nervous and hysterical atfeCtions ; and have been found eminently ser'iceable in apoplexies, palsies, and vertigoes ; in which cases, they