MUCILAGES.

Mucilages are soft, bland substances, made by dissolving gum arabic in

hot water; or by boiling marshmallows, slippery elm, or lily roots,

until their mucilaginous properties are extracted. A table-spoonful of

either of the above articles, when powdered, will generally suffice for

a quart of water.

_Use._--In all cases of catarrh, diarrhoea, inflammation of the

kidneys, womb, bladder, and intestines. They shield the mucous

membranes, and defend them from the action of poisons and drastic

cathartics.