378 CEDRON OF THE MAGDALENA. 
Pride (Mela Azedarach). The seeds are here much sought after, and 
sold at one real each cotyledon, being considered an invaluable speci- 
fic for the bites of snakes, for intermittents and stomach-complaints 
generally. The bark and wood, also, abound in a high degree with 
the bitter principle. Seeds and dried specimens and fruit preserved 
in brine will be despatched to the Royal Gardens.” 
The dried specimens sent by Mr. Purdie were further accompanied 
by the following note :—‘ The Cedron has an erect stem not more than 
six inches in diameter, crowned by an umbellate mass of branches, with 
large handsome pinnated foliage. So highly are the seeds prized here 
for their powerful medicinal virtues, that they cannot be purchased for 
less than two reals, or one shilling, each. I have had the testimony of 
medical men in Bogota in favour of their properties, and Dr. Cheyne 
has frequently tried them with success. Dr. Cespédes, some years ago, 
was sent expressly on a mission from Bogotà to the locality of this 
plant, which is in woods immediately behind the village of San Pablo, 
on the banks of the Rio Grande de Magdalena." The Cedron is, how- 
ever, probably more extensively distributed than Dr. Cespédes and Mr. 
Purdie imagine, especially to the westward towards the Pacific, in New 
Grenada ; for another Collector for Kew Gardens, then, and still, on 
board H.M. Surveying Ship the * Herald ’ (Capt. Kellett, Commander), 
transmitted specimens to Kew the following year, 1847, from the “ Isla 
de Caybo.” : 
I am informed that the thirty-first volume of the * Comptes Rendus, * 
recently published, contains some information respecting the Cedron 
from the pen of M. Jamord ; but as I have not access to this work at 
.. * Since the above was in type, Dr. Wallich has most kindly referred to that work, 
and sent me the following extract from pp. 141-2 :— 
DECINE.— Graines employées dans V Amérique tropicale comme remède contre 
les effets de la morsure des serpents. (Note de M. Jauonp.) 
| - «En quittant cette ville la semaine derniere, M. Herran, Chargé d'affaires de la 
| République de Costa-Rica en France, m'a remis un certain nombre de graines prove- 
‘nant d'un arbre nommé dans les pays Cédron, et qui habite sur les plateaux de la 
ees | Cordillére des Andes. La propriété qu'on attribue à cette graine, comme puissan 
4 A ET Fattention, et M. Herran souhaiterait qu'on la soumit aux expériences nécessaires - 
.— ymises M. Herran, ainsi que l'extrait suivant d'une lettre qu'il m'a écrite en partant :— 
t 
antidote contre la morsure des serpents les plus dangereux, parait de nature à appeler 
pour s'assurer de son efficacité. = = : 
“Je crois devoir, en conséquence, adresser à l'Académie les graines que m a re- 
* Ce n'est qu'en 1828 que les Indiens sauvages apportérent sur le marché de 
E m E s 
e quelques graines de cédron. Pour en démontrer la vertu infaillible, ils — 
e 
