( 30 ) 
It is a native of the Eaft Indies, and, according to the Hortus 
Kewenfis was introduced into England in 1778, by Dr. Patrick 
Ruffell ; but it has not yet been cultivated with fuccefs in this coun- 
try. The plate prefixed is taken from a very perfe@ {pecimen in the 
_ poffeffion of Sir Jofeph Banks, to whofe liberality every branch of 
natural knowledge is much indebted, and this work for fome of its 
moft valuable figures. : 2 
The mux vomica, lignum colubrinum, and faba fanéi Ignati, have 
been long known in the Materia Medica as narcotic poifons, brought 
from the Eaft Indies, while the vegetables which produced them 
were unknown, or at leaft not botanically afcertained. ‘ é 
By the judicious difcrimination of Linnzus, the Nux vomica was 
found to be the fruit of the tree defcribed and figured in the Hortus - 
Malabaricus under the name Caniram, now called Strychnos. To 
this genus alfo, but upon evidence lefs conclufive, he likewife juftly 
referred the colubrinum.* But the faba fanéti Ignatii he merely con- 
jectured might belong to this family, as appears by the query az 
Strychni fpecies?° which fubfequent difcoveries have enabled us to 
decide in the negative; for in the Supp. plant. it conftitutes the new 
genus Ignatia, which Loureiro has lately confirmed, changing the 
{fpecific name amara to that of philippinica.‘ The Strychnos and 
Ignatia are however nearly allied, and both rank under the order 
Solanacez. nee : SS 2 
We have thought it neceffary to inquire thus far into the botanical 
origin of thefe productions, from finding that by medical writers they 
are generally treated of under the fame head, and in a very confufed — 
and indifcriminate mannet. 7 . 
The feed of the fruit or berry.of this tree is the officinal nux 
vomica : it is flat, round, about an inch broad, and near a quarter of 
an inch thick, with a prominence in the middle on both fides, of a 
grey colour, covered with a kind of woolly matter, and internally 
hard and tough like horn; to the tafte it is extremely bitter, but has 
no remarkable fmell. It confifts chiefly of a gummy matter, which. 
is moderately bitter; the refinous part is very inconfiderable in quan- 
- 
- 
* Contendunt Indie Botanici hanc aS. Nuce vomica non effe diverfam. Supp. 
Plant. 149. _* Vide Mat. Med. Lin. © Flor. Cochin. 125. 
tity 
