Lemon. Lemonis succus.

Related entry: Citric acid

Synonym—Lemon Juice.

Therapy—Because of the citric acid present in this substance it is exceedingly useful in therapeutics. The preservation of this juice from decomposition is easily accomplished by boiling, and pouring it while hot in bottles with narrow necks. The neck of the bottle above the hot juice is filled with sweet oil to the cork, which must fit tightly.

In Italy lemon juice is extensively used in malarial localities as an active anti-malarial remedy. It has produced cures in many stubborn cases.

It is an active anti-scorbutic and is in common use on shipboard for the prevention or cure of scurvy, for which it is of more service than citric acid.

It has been used in some, cases of chronic rheumatism and gout with good results.

Diluted and sweetened it makes a most refreshing drink in fevers, especially if an acid is indicated, the mouth being dry and parched and the membranes of a dark color. It is useful in the hoarseness of singers and speakers to temporarily clear the voice. It will serve a good purpose in irritably dry coughs, added to cough syrups.

The pure juice has been injected into the cavity of the womb to control intractable post-partum hemorrhage. It is also useful in other hemorrhages.

The American Materia Medica, Therapeutics and Pharmacognosy, 1919, was written by Finley Ellingwood, M.D.
It was scanned by Michael Moore for the Southwest School of Botanical Medicine.