1159
. y *e conversion of the lowest pair of leaflets into two pair of pinna;;a flels obovate or obcordate. Flowers yellow.
Ha it. —Cainpeachy. Introduced into Jamaica , where it now grows ino r eat abundance, wild.
'-'Ommerce.—T he stems of the Logwood-trees are cut into logs or,. ® °f about three feet long, the bark and white sap (alburnum) oflc h are chipped off, and the red part or heart (duramen) sent to^gland (Wright, Med. Plants of Jamaica ). It is imported from Cam-ac hy, Honduras, and Jamaica . In 1839 duty (3s. if from British£.^ ess i°ns, 4s. 6d. if from other places) was paid on 15,867 tons ( Trade
. Description.—L ogwood ( lignum hcemaloxyli seu campechianum ), asPorted, consists only of the heartwood or duramen. The logs are ex-l,. rri % of a dark colour; internally they are red. The wood is dense,a sp. gr. 0 f 1-057 ; admits of a fine polish, has a sweetish taste andI casant odour. Large crystals of hacmatin are sometimes found in theoofl (Thomson, Org. Chem. 407).
C’/p 0 Mp °sition.—L ogwood was analyzed in 1812 by Chevreul {Ann.fatf 1 ' ^ Xxx *- 128), who found its constituents to be volatile oil, luematin,ftiatt ° r res ^ nous matter, brown substance containing tannin, glutinous^ er > acetic acid, woody fibre, various salts (phosphate, sulphate, and-te of lime, acetate of potash, and chloride of potassium) and thees of aluminum, silicium, manganese, and iron.
4$t r j^ nia 0» or Hematoxylin is a red crystalline substance, of a slightly bitter, acrid, and
te tl(] er ,i ' oxiuxi'- ........
Ca Us the solution yellowish or red ; alkalies give it a purple or violet colou
l. > J .......... w ... .....
, s e nt taste. It is soluble in alcohol and ether, and slightly so in water.
Q e u e ? a v iolet precipitate, and several metallic solutions (as of tin and lead) a blue one.•ne produces a tlocculent reddish precipitate,n
Aotj iIICAL Characteristics. —The decoction of logwood is deep-red., *ds - - - - —. •
Acids
Alum
Plish reiu ^ er if paler and brighter coloured. The alkalies give it a pur-lin • ° r v i°let-blue colour. Acetate of lead causes a blue, alum a violet,a ro n^ a *‘ e ' l'i ie sa i ts °f iron make it dark violet-blue. Gelatine formspolish precipitate with it.
eff ^Biological Effects. —Logwood is a mild astringent (see theUvo S as tringents, p. 79). It does not so readily disorder the diges-ii U( , ( |°„ r 8 a ns as some other astringents, and hence its use may be conti-Hi a ,‘° r a longer period. Its colouring matter becomes absorbed, audfliat e detected in the urine. Dr. Percival {Works, vol. iv. p. 386) states,at, ii] Un<lei ^ le use °i' ex t rac f °f logwood the urine of a female suddenlyir 0ll le< i a purplish-red colour, which was deepened by the sulphate ofstools ^ er some hours the secretion returned to its natural colour. Theft s °inetimes acquire a purplish-red colour from the use of logwood.'Wh S ' D* medicine logwood is employed as an astringent in oldb f) \v . <Pas and dysenteries, in hemorrhages (from the uterus, lungs, anddr en s )> and in leucorrhcea. It is well adapted to the diarrhoeas of chil-jG Dr. Percival employed it to restrain profuse sweating in phthisis,j -Jinistration. —It is employed in the form of decoction or extract.\V alcr b c°ctum Hmmatoxyli, E. D. (Logwood, in chips, 3j. [Siss.D.];logty ’ Dj- [Oij. wine measure,!).]; Cinnamon , in powder. 3j. Boil thenaino. 0 ln ^ le 'cater down to ten fluidounces [Oj. D.], adding the cin-diar^ 1 to ' Vai 'ds the end, and strain). Employed as an astringent in® a - Dose, for adults, fSj. to f3ij.; for children, f.iij. to fjss.