ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

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Europe; but there is no reason to believe that liquid storax is obtained inPetiver {Phil. Trans, vol. xxvi. p. 44) says, that the tree which yields it is themallas, and grows in Cobross, an island at the upper end of the Red Sea , near ^which is three days’ journey from Suez. The bark of this tree is removed annua />and boiled in salt-water until “ it comes to a consistence like birdlimeit is u>separated, put in barrels (each holding 420lbs.), and sent to Mocha, by way of Jud 'Under the name of storax, I have met with two liquids :— a. A pellucid liquid, havu £the consistence and tenacity of Venice turpentine, a brownish yellow colour, a sW'e etls .storax-like odour, different to that of liquidambar. A few particles of bran or saW' d .^_are intermixed with it. It was sold to me as balsam, or balsam storax, and I was .formed that it had been imported in jars, each holding 14 lbs. It agrees with tbep «•or fine liquid storax of Hill, the styrax liquida finissima of Alston. Professor Guibou <to whom I sent a sample, regards it as balsam of liquidambar, somewhat thickenedage. |3. The second kind is the common liquid storax of the shops; the imp* recoarse liquid storax of Hill; and, doubtless, is the variety referred to by Petiver.is imported in casks, holding about 4 cwts. each. It is opaque, of a grey colour,the consistence of birdlime, and the odour of storax, but frequently intermixed witn^,odour of naphtha. No complete analysis of it has been made. The following s .stances, however, are contained in it: — Volatile oil, benzoic acid, resin, styr a ^matter soluble in boiling alcohol (wax ?), fragments of bark, and earthy matter.effects and uses are similar to those of other balsamic substances (vide p. 74). II s dis from 9 i. to 3 k

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Order 23. Salica'ce.-e, Lindley. —The Willow Tribe.

Salicine.-E, Richard.

Essential Character. — Flowers unisexual, either monoecious or dioecious,ceous. Stamens distinct or monadelphous; anthers two-celled. Ovary superior,or two-celled ; ovules numerous, erect, at the base of the cell, or adhering V>lower part of the sides; style one or none ; stigmas two. Fruit coriaceous, 0 g {two-celled, two-valved, many-seeded. Seeds either adhering to the lower p * 1^0the axis of each valve, or to the base of the cell, comose; albumen none; ’ s .erect; radicle inferior. Trees or shrubs- Leaves alternate, simple, with S e,ltcent primary veins, and frequently with glands; stipules deciduous or p ers(Lindley). Iin ic

Properties. —The astringency possessed by most willow barks is referable to ‘ <u)1 ,eacid. The bitterness and tonic properties depend on saliciue, populine, ° runcrystallizable principle.

Sa'lix, Linn.— Willow.

Sex. Syst. Dioecia, Diandria.

(Cortex e speciebus salicis diversis: cortex salicis, offic.)

1 reff^

History. —Dioscorides (lib. i. cap. 136) speaks of the asti'd'c ^qualities of the T rta, or Willow {? Salix alba ), which was employ?medicine by the ancients. For a long series of years it fell into dubut was again brought into notice in 1763 by the Rev. Mr. Stone VTrans, vol. liii. p. 195), who published a paper on the efficacy 0bark of Salix alba , as a remedy for agues. flieir

Botany. Gen. Char. — Flowers dioecious, or rarely monoecious, ataceous; scales imbricated: a gland surrounding the stamens or °' ’JMales:—Stamens two to five, usually two, sometimes the two 11 ^;into one, and then tlie anther is four-celled. Females : —Seeds coc®the radicle inferior (Bol. Gall.) ^Ji-

Species.—S ir J. E. Smith (Engl. Flora, iv.) mentions sixty-four aJ , egenous species of Salix ; hut pharmacological and botanical write ^ enot agreed as to which species possesses the most medicinal power. eg $best practical rule to follow is this :—Select those whose harks p