root is from Martiijs's excellent plate in the " Specimen" above 

 quoted. The same author has, in his " Plantes Usuelles du Brazil," 

 given some information as to the native country of this valuable herb. 

 It is found inhabiting the moist and shady forests of various parts of 

 Brazil, especially the provinces of Pernambuco, Minas Geraes, and 

 Bahia ; its growth extending as far South as lat. 22° . On the islands 

 of Parahyba and the banks of two rivers, called Pomba and Xipota, it is 

 particularly abundant. 



To the native Brazilians, who have used it from time immemorial, 

 we owe our knowledge of the valuable qualities which reside in the root 

 of Ipecacuanha. Marcgraaf and Pison were among the earliest to 

 introduce the drug to Europe, in the time of Louis XIV, when a French 

 merchant, named Grenier, brought 130fts. of it from Spain to Paris, 

 and trials were made of it in the Hotel Dieu. To Helvetius, who first 

 ascertained the efficacy of Ipecacuanha for the cure of dysentery, the 

 French monarch gave the liberal reward of £1,000 sterling. Many 

 years, however, elapsed, ere Naturalists had any certain knowledge of 

 the plant which yielded this, the mildest and safest emetic in the whole 

 Materia Medica ; for though experience confirmed the praises which 

 Marcgraaf had originally passed upon it, yet his description was too 

 imperfect to convey much information as to its botanical affinities. In 

 the year 1800, Dr. Gomez brought some flowering specimens to 

 Europe, which were described and figured by Brotero in the " Trans- 

 actions of the Linnsean Society" of London, and the name of Cephaelis 

 Ipecacuanha finally secured to the plant by M. Richard of Paris. The 

 Genus was so called by Swartz : and the specific appellation is that 

 which the natives of Minas Geraes give to the drug ; though, in most 

 parts of Brazil, it is called Poaya, a name by which they designate 

 emetics of all kinds. The derivation of Poaya is not very clear ; that of 

 Ipecacuanha comes from Ipe (bark), caa (plant), cua (scented), and nha 

 (striped) : thus forming the Word " bark of a scented and striped plant. " 



It is unnecessary to say much about the properties of Ipecacuanha, 

 which is commonly administered as an emetic, and if given in smaller 

 quantities, produces perspiration, and soothes chronic coughs and ca- 

 tarrhs. It is also valuable as a digestive tonic, and to remove dysen- 

 tery ; and not being very capable of adulteration, and easily known, it 

 possesses additional claims to the esteem of medical practitioners ; so 

 that we must deeply regret that, through the carelessness and im- 

 providence of the collectors, it should be daily becoming more scarce. 

 Already the plant is entirely extirpated round Rio Janeiro and other 

 large towns, where it once abounded. Though experiments have 

 proved that it grows from seed and cuttings as readily as by dividing 

 the roots, the half-ripened fruits are continually pulled up and thrown 

 away ; while the progressive destruction of those virgin forests which it 

 constantly and naturally inhabits, must limit its places of growth. The 

 culture requires no other care than the shade of trees ; and we would 

 press upon those who are interested in the continued supply of this 

 precious remedy, the necessity for raising it extensively in Brazil. 



Three kinds of Ipecacuanha are known in commerce, the white, the 

 grey, and the brown, the two latter sorts being most common ; but 

 Martius assures us that they are produced from the self-same plant, 

 and that a skilful apothecary, to whom he showed his specimens, de- 

 tected all three growing together from one root. 



Fig. 1. Flower. 2. The same with the Corolla laid open. 3. Calyx and Pistil -.—magnified. 



