1889.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 383 



mintic. The leaves can be used as a substitute for soap. A fer- 

 ment similar to pepsin is present in the juice and leaves, and hence 

 they have a remarkable power of making tough meat tender, 

 though many Nassau people are skeptical about this. 



Order XLVI. CUCURBITACEAE. 



1. Lagenaria vulgaris, Ser. 



Bottle Gourd. Naturalized in all tropical countries. Originally 

 from India. 



2. Luffa acutangula, Rox. 



Strainer vine. Naturalized from East Indies. 



3. Momorclica Balsamina, L. 



Balsam Apple. Naturalized from Asia, probably. Known in 

 Egypt from time of Moses to present day. 



4. Cucumis sativus, L. 

 Cucumber. Cultivated. 



5. C. Anguria, L. 



Wild Cucumber. Known in Egypt and in Rome by the ancients. 

 Orig-inallv from India. 



6. C. Melo, L. 



Musk-melon. Cultivated. Orisfinallv from India. 



7. C. Citrullus, Schrad. 



Water-melon. Cultivated. Originally from Tropical Africa. 



8. Cucurbita Pepo, L. 



Pumpkin. Cultivated. From Africa, probably. 



9. C. maxima, L. 

 Gourd. 



10. Cucurbita sp. ? 



Squash. From tropics of the Old World. 



11. Seohium edule, Sw. 



Chow-chow, from Jamaica. Cultivated throughout West Indies. 



The plants of this order all possess an acrid, purgative property, 

 though many are excellent fruits and vegetables. The seeds of 

 Lagenaria are purgative, and the fruit of Luffa is violently so. 

 From this latter plant is obtained the substance known as vegetable 

 sponge. A decoction of the roots of the Balsam Apple is said to 

 be good for jaundice, while the distilled water from its leaves and 

 fruit is a wash for St. Anthony's fire. The oil from the fruit is 

 good for buzms. 



