i86 



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This extrad is called Cuit by the natives, by the EngUih Cutch 



and by different authors Terra Japonica, Catechu, Khaath, Cate 

 Cachou, &c. ^' In its purefl: ftate it is a dry pulverable fubftance 



ardly of a reddifh colour, internally of a fhining dark brovm 



(D 



tinged with a reddifh hue ; in the. mouth it difcovers confiderabl 



aftringency, fucceeded by a fv/eetiili mucilaginous tafte. Ac 

 to Lewis, " it diirolves almoft totally in water, excepting the imp 

 rities ; which are ufually of the fandy kind, and amounting in the 

 fpecimens 1 examined to about one-eighth of the m.afs. Of the pure 



, redified fpirit -diffolves about feven-eighths into a deep red 

 quor : the part which it leaves undiilblved, is an almoft infiDid 



cilaginous fubftance.''^ " Catechu may be ufefully employed for 



moft purpofes v/here an aftringent is indicated, provided the moft 



powerful be not required. But it is particularly ufeful in alvine 



"^uxes; and where thefe require the ufe of aftringents, we are ac- 



quainted with no one equally beneficial. Befides this, it is employed 



alfo in uterine profluvia, in laxity and debility of the vifcera in 



eneral, in catarrhal affedions, and various other difeafes' wh 



iftringents are neceffary. It is often fuffered to diffolve leifurely in 

 the mouth, as a topical aftringent for laxities and exulcerations of 



the gums, for apthous ulcers in the mouth, and fimilar affcaions." 

 This extrad is the bafts of feveral fixed formulsE in our pharma 

 copoeias, particularly of a tindure and an eleduary :^ but one of th 

 beft forms under which it can b 





m water, 



of a fimple infii 



h a proportion of cinnamon or caftia ; for by 



means it is at once freed from its impurities, and improved by tl 



ddition of the aromatic 



fh 



fi 



alhe 



t) 



o 



; value. TRey 

 but very neg- 

 louy by which, 



beiides what avarice may prompt them to put into it.' 



Lewis's M. M. n. A^o k c„^ r-k. ..._„._, . 



Th 



p. 642. e 



Kerr l. c. 



Nciv Di/penf. p. 167 



P 



)!/•/ n'^r'^f^;^ ''^''''^'''''PP"^^^ ^^o"i ^'^e experiments made by Sir John 

 iftdentj oftheJrrny.Jpp.Exp.^iO.) Huxham employed it fuccefsfaliy in 

 ^_ a putrid diholved ftate of the blood nrpvnil^/l -PuL «Cf,..A \. cK^ nrinrinal 



inarpriipnf- \r^ ^ • . 7 uiuuu pievauea. 1 nis extract is tne priin-i^j^i 



alum n ne d^.rn.°'tv'''' ?^ r '"P"'^ ^'" ^"^^^' ^om^oM of Catechu four ounces, 

 wkh the Lnr;^! r'^'" ^-T' ^"""^^ ' '^'^^^ ^re reduced to a fine powder, and mixed 



die mafs to i: itf^ c^ ''"• """'^^^'' ^'"^^ ^ ^"^^'^"^ ^^^^^ity of water, to bring 

 me mats to the confiftence of an oinrmPnf-_ nr^ .u r..„„ Aj ..iA. ■ L .u^ofpc; 



aitringent applications of 



anointment. T 



d to be 



:uliar]y ufeful. See Kerr Ic. 



MIMOSA NILOTICA 





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