Arrack, Facti′′tious

Syn. Mock ar′rack , Brit′ish a. ; Vauxhall′nec′tar ; . Prep. Good old Jamaica rum (uncoloured), rectified spirit (54 to 56 o. p.; clean flavoured), and water, of each 1 quart; flowers of benzoin, 1 dr.; sliced pine-apple, 1 ⁄ 4 oz. (or e ence of pine-apple, 1 ⁄ 2 teaspoonful); digest, with occasional agitation, for a fortnight; then add of skimmed milk 1 wine-gla ful; agitate well for 15 minutes, and in a few days decant the clear portion. The crude Indian arrack, when subjected to distillation until it has a sp. gr. ·920, is employed in India, as proof spirit, in the preparation of official tinctures, and for other pharmaceutical purposes. A very useful stimulating application, known in India as toddy poultice, and intended as a substitute for yeast poultice, is prepared by adding freshly drawn toddy to rice flour, till it has the consistence of a soft poultice, and subjecting this to heat over a gentle fire, stirring constantly till fermentation commences. The light brown cotton-like substance from the outside of the base of the fronds belonging to the Palmyra palm is employed by the Cyngalese doctors as a styptic for stopping the hæmorrhage of superficial wounds.