38 



be obtained by slicing the tubers, drying them in the sun, and then 

 reducing to a powder. This plant is deserving of being more gene- 

 rally cultivated than it has been. It can be planted at any season of 

 the year, and the roots are fit for digging in the course of 4 or 5 

 months ; the return is infinitely greater than that from arrow-root, and 

 the proportion of starch also is more abundant." (Macfadyen.) 



The young pods may be used like French Beans, but the ripe beans 

 are poisonous. 



DOWN TREE. See Ochroma Lagoptjs. 



DUTCHMAN'S LAUDANUM. See Passiflora Murucuja. 



EARTH NUT See Arachis hypogjea. 



EBONY, WEST INDIAN. See Brya ebenus. 



EDDOES. See Colocasia antiquortjm. 

 ELM. SPANISH. See Cordia gerascanthoides. 



ERIGERON CANADENSIS, Linn. 

 Horse Weed, Butter Weed. 



Native of America and W. Indies. An annual herb, 2-4 feet high, 

 of agreeable, aromatic odour, with minute flowers of very pale violet- 

 white colour, in numerous small heads. (Compositce.) 



The plant should be collected, for medicinal use, while in flower. 

 The leaves and flowers are most active. Its properties are imparted 

 both to alcohol and water, but they are injured by boiling in conse- 

 quence of the loss of volatile oil. 



A tonic, astringent, and diuretic. Useful in diarrhoea, dysentery, 

 and dropsical complaints. 



" The oil was first introduced into notice by the Eclectic Physicians, 

 who had found it useful in diarrhoea and various haemorrhages. More 

 recent trials seem to indicate that it is a remedy of more especial value 

 in uterine haemorrhage. The dose is from 5 to 10 drops every two 

 hours. It has also been recommended in doses of ten drops in gonor- 

 rhoea. It is also emploj-ed by the eclectic practitioners when dissolved 

 in alcohol, in the proportion of one drachm of the oil to from one to 

 two ounces of alcohol, as an application to inflamed and enlarged ton- 

 sils, in inflammation and ulceration of the throat generally, and also 

 in other local inflammations. It is said to be a most valuable remedy 

 in such cases." (Bentley and Trimen.) 



ERIODENDRON ANERACTUOSUM, DC. 

 Silk-cotton Tree, Ceiba. 

 Native of W. Indies and tropical S. America. A very high tree; 

 leaves compound, palmate; flowers rose coloured l\ inch long; seeds 

 many, enveloped in wool. [Malvaceae,) 



