BOTANIC MATERIA MEDICA. 239 
which are pubescent, with six or more oil tubes 
and as many ridges or ribs; in size Cuminum 
takes an intermediate place between caraway 
and anise, and like them, contains two small 
seeds. Cumin contains oz/ which is composed 
of cymene and cuminol, resin, muctlage and ash, 
The odor is aromatic and not as agreeable as 
the other fruits of this class, whilst the taste is 
by no means pleasant, being bitter, warm and 
aromatic. It was, from all accounts much val- 
ued as a medicine years ago. Cumin isa stim- 
ulant, carminative and an antispasmodic, and 
may be given in form of an infusion in doses of 
20 to 30grains, but is rarely found in the stores. 
Origin of the name doubtful. The Greek phi- 
losophers called the plant uzinon, and Latin- 
ized into cuminum, 
Diospyros, Persimmon, Diospyros Virgin- 
iana.—Natural order Ebenaceze. Native of the 
United States. This tree often attains the 
height of 40 or 50 feet; the trunk is rough and 
corrugated; the leaves are entire, ovate- 
oblong in shape and sharply pointed; flowers 
dicecious, with from 8 to 16 stamens and 4 
to 6 stigmas; corolla awn-shaped and of a 
greenish-yellow color; calyx 4 to 6 toothed; 
fruit globular in shape, containing many seeds 
(6 or more); fruit when green is smooth 
and very astringent; when fully ripe and ex- 
posed to the action of several frosts the fruit 
is succulent and sweet, with a flavor of its 
own kind. The Persimmon contains sugar, 
tannin, mucilage, malic acid and pectin. ‘The 
unripe fruit was the part used in medicine, and 
at one time held in high esteem as an astrin- 
