1194 ELEMENTS OF MATERIA MEDICA.
Physiological Effects. —The berries, as well as their expressedare powerful hydragogue cathartics ; usually griping and causing S 1 ^thirst, and sometimes operating with considerable violence. “ Syrupbuckthorn,” says Sydenham (Works by Dr. Pechey, p. 391, 4di ^
“ purges in a manner only water, and evacuates a great quantity ®and does not disturb the blood, nor render the urine high coloure >other purges usually do ; and this syrup has but one ill property-— cthat whilst it is working, it makes the sick very thirsty. But if y° u «\ vethe greatest dose of it to those that are difficultly purged, it will not „many stools, nor bring away so much water from them as it ought ^ u tUses. —Buckthorn berries were formerly employed as cathartics* ,their violent operation, and the sickness, griping, and thirst oecasi „by them, have led to their disuse. “ They be not meete to be minister® ^says Dodoens (New Herbal, by Lyte, p. 501, Lond. 1619), “ h u 0 fyoung and lustie people of the countrie, which doe set more store ^their money than their lives.” The syrup is the only preparation norr
Administration. —Dose of the recent berries, 3j.; of the dried ° neS ’5j.; of the expressed juice, f3ss. to fsj. '
Syrup us Riiamnj, L. E. D. (Fresh Juice of Buckthorn Berries,[Oijss. -D.]; Ginger sliced, Allspice bruised, of each, 5vj. [3iij- ^Pure Sugar, lb. iv. [jxxix. 1).~\ Set by the juice for three days, tbadregs may subside, and strain. To a pint of the clear juice ado t
peat*
Ginger and Allspice; then macerate for four hours with a gentle .and strain; boil down the residue to a pint and a half; mix the liffi 1 jadd the sugar, and dissolve).—Cathartic. It is employed as an adlto purgative and occasionally to diuretic mixtures. Sydenham f°nn cCin one case, most beneficial in dropsy; and “ with the juvenile eonm .of an experienced man, verily believed,” as he tells us, that he “ ha ». ga medicine that would cure any manner of dropsy but he foun“ mistake in a few weeks.” Dose 3ss. to 3j.
Order 61. Simaruba'cE/E, Lindley. —The Quassia Tribe-
Simakube.e, Richard. ^
Essential Character. — Flowers hermaphrodite, or rarely by abortion un jgjjjii'Calyx four- or five-partite, persistent. Petals four orfive, bypogynous,erect, ^ ai ious. Stamens equal in number, or twice as many as, the petals, inserte o||C ,bypogeuous disk, free. Ovary with lobes as numerous as the vAfJ on tb efiliform, enlarged at tbe base. Carpels as many as the petals, articulate 1 0 „ s ,axis, capsular, bivalved, dehiscing inwardly, monospermous. Seeds exalt ' 11 ^ *
pendulous; cotyledons two, thick ; radicle short, superior.— Trees orvery bitter bark and milky juice. Leaves alternate, pinnate, without stipule lProperties.— Bitterness is tbe prevailing quality of the order (see Quassia)-
Simaru'ba ama'ra, Aublet, E .—Bitter Simaruba or Mountain
Simaruba officinalis, Decandolle t L .—Quassia Simaruba, Linn. D-Sex. Syst. Decandria, Monogynia.
(Radicis cortex, L. —Root, E .—Cortex radicis, D.)
History.—S imaruba bark was first known to Europeans
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