1158

ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.

Murray*

but I am totally unacquainted with it (Goebel, Pharm. Waarenk. i. 201 >

App. Med. ii. 492). . ^

Composition. —Cabbage-bark was analyzed in 1824 by Huttensch® ^(Gmelin, Handb. d. Chem. ii. 1264), who found in it the followingstances:— Jamaicina, yellow colouring matter, gum, much starch, gbrown resin, a small quantity of mouldy matter, a nitrogenous subs gsoluble in carbonate of soda, oxalate of lime, and woody fi^ re 'f7 r ; ( leashes contained carbonate, phosphate, and sulphate of potash, ch ^of potassium, carbonate and phosphate of lime, with magnesia, sih ca *oxide of iron. ^

Jamaicina is a brownish-yellow crystalline, fusible, very bitter substance, c0 ^ p 0 ,-of carbon, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. It is soluble in water and alcohol, a j] 0 wsesses alkaline properties. Its watery solution forms, with tincture of nutgalls, a ^ r0 ^s,precipitate. Two grains of the acetate of jamaicina, given to pigeons and spcaused restlessness and trembling, and in half an hour violent purging.

Physiological Effects. —Cathartic, emetic, and narcotic. Ih j^eof thirty or forty grains the powder of this bark purges brisklyjalap. In larger quantities it causes vomiting, fever, and delirium-accidents are said to have resulted from its imprudent use. . .

Uses. —Formerly employed as an anthelmintic, especially agaih -large round worm ( Ascaris lumbricoides ), but its use is now obso(For further particulars respecting the uses of Cabbage-bark, consuWri ght’s paper above referred to). . -^fic

Administration. —Dose of the powder, 9j. to sss. As an antbehthe bark is usually given in the form of decoction. . j Jj.i

Decoctum Gfoffroyai, D. (Bark of the Cabbage-tree,

Water, Oij. [wine measure]. Boil down to a pint, and to the sliquor add Jij. of Syrup of Orange Peel). Cathartic and narcotic-ployed as an anthelmintic. Dose, fjss. to fSij. for an adult. a dmi'

Antidotes. —In the event of an overdose, wash out the stomach*nister vegetable acids, and evacuate with castor oil.

Heematox'ylon campechia'num, L. E. D.— The Common Logutood-

Sex. Syst. Decandria, Monogynia.

(Lignum, L. D.— Wood, E.) 1

n i lie

History. —Monardes (Clusii Exot. cap. xxvii. p. 324) calis^ j[ C i-of this plant lignum ad renum affectiones et urince incommode- A)-i-nandez (Rev. Med. Novae Hisp. Thes. 119) terms the wood lignumticum; and describes the plant under the name of coatli. soi» e '

Botany. Gen. Char. — Sepals five, united at the base i'h° , f lV c*what persistent tube; the lobes deciduous, oblong-obtuse. \ e ^ picscarcely longer than the sepals. Stamens ten; filaments h air )'_ sgC d,base; anthers without glands. Style capillary. Legume c0 ®Ij. theflat, lanceolate, acuminate at both ends, one-

sutures mdehiscent; the valves bursting in the middle longn^^^csSeeds transversely oblong; cotyledons two-lobed.— Tree, with „hro'

unarmed or spinous below the leaves. Flowers racemose, hedite (D. C.)

Sp. Char .— The only species. bipihh atC

Tree forty or fifty feet high. Leaves pinnate or somewha