Good lemon juice yields about 61⁄2% of crystallised lemon acid; 2 galls. yield fully 1 lb. of crystals. See Lemon juice, Lime juice. &c.
CIT′RON. The fruit of the citron tree (Citrus medica) is acidulous, antiseptic, and antiscorbutic; it excites the appetite, and stops vomiting; and, like lemon juice, has been greatly extolled in chronic rheumatism,
gout, and scurvy. Mixed with cordials, it is used as an antidote to the manchineel poison.
Citron, Oil of. See Oil.
Citron Peel. This is prepared in the same way as candied orange and lemon peel, which it for the most part resembles.
Citron. Syn. Lem′on colour. The term applied to a pale and delicate shade of yellow. See Yellow Dyes, &c.
CIT′RONELLE. See Liqueurs and Oils (Lemon-grass).
CITRUS. A genus of plants belonging to the natural order Aurantiaceæ, the species of which yields useful fruits. From Citrus Aurantium, and its varieties, all the various descriptions of sweet oranges are obtained. The species C. Bigaradia or vulgaris yields the bitter or Seville orange; C. Limonum and its varieties, yield the lemons; C. Limetta is the source of the lime; C. medica of the citron; C. Decumana of the shaddock; C. paradisi of the forbidden fruit; C. Pampelmos of the Pampelmoose; and C. japonica of the kumquat.
Citrus Bergamia. (Ind. Ph.) Syn. The Lime tree. Habitat. Commonly cultivated in India and other tropical countries.—Officinal part. The fruit (lime) closely resembles the lemon, but is smaller, with a smoother, thinner rind, and of somewhat less fragrant odour. Its juice (lime juice) has the same pungent acid taste, and contains the same ingredients as lemon juice, though in somewhat different proportions, that of the citric acid being larger and that of the mucilage less in quantity. Much of the article imported into England under the name of lemon juice is obtained from the lime.—Properties and Uses. Very similar to those of the lemon, the juice being equally refrigerant and antiscorbutic; indeed, it is preferred by many tropical practitioners.
The fresh juice of the lime is procurable in almost every portion of the tropics, and is considered more effectual than preserved lemon juice.