THE AMERICAN BOTANIST 95 



Hairbrushes and Combs. Among the Indians and poorer 

 Mexicans of northwestern Mexico the custom has been ob- 

 served of using the fruit of Pachyccrcus pcctcnaboriginum 

 Britton & Rose as material from which to make hairbrushes. 

 The long yellow spines are trimmed off from one side, leaving 

 a place for the hand, and the result is a rude but remarkably 

 serviceable hairbrush. In Chile, according to Safford, combs 

 have been made of the long stiff spines of a species of Ccrcus. 



Hedges. Almost anywhere in cactus country one may see 

 hedges made from growing plants of the columnar Cerei and 

 the tall Opuntias. These living fences, with the stout trunks 

 and interlaced spines, form an effective barrier against man 

 or beast, and, owing to the high water content of the cactus, 

 serve even in some localities as a protection against fire. 



Materia Medica. The roots of Ccrcus striatus, Brandegee, 

 are cut into thin strips, dried and sold in the markets in Mexico 

 for medicinal purposes, according to Dr. Edward Palmer. 

 They are called "raiz de nopal", and are supposed to assist in 

 the knitting of broken bones. The milk of certain species of 

 Maiuiilaria is employed in Durango, Mexico, according to 

 Safford, for healing cracks in the feet of the natives, and in 

 other places is administered internally for various purposes. 

 The leaves of Opuntia dillcnii Haworth are often used in India 

 as a poultice, and the juice is a very efficient purgative. 



Aporocaetus flagcUiformis Lem., the rat-tail cactus, pro- 

 duces beautiful rose-colored flowers which are used medicinally 

 in Mexico, being sold under the name "flor del cuerno", and 

 the flowers and stems of Sclcniccrcus grandiflorus Britton & 

 Rose have been used in the form of a fluid extract as a cardiac 

 stimulant. The action is similar to that of digitalis, but less 

 uniform. Certain astringent principles are said to be found 

 in the roots and bark of Opuntia kancinskiana Salm-Dyck. 

 The "mescal buttons" which are sold throughout this country 

 are merely the dried tops of Lophophora williwnsii Coulter, 



