LIGNUM H^MATOXYLI. 



213 



acid, which acquires subsequeutly a vio]ent hue. Nitric acid is without 

 manifest influence. From these experiments, we may infer that the 

 active principle of the Bonduc seed is a bitter substance not possessing 



basic properties. 



Uses— The powdered kernels either per se, or mixed with black 

 pepper {Pulvis Bonducelloe comjjositus Ph. Ind.), are employed in 

 India against intermittent fevers and as a general tonic. 



The fatty oil of the seeds is sometimes extracted and used in India ; 

 it was shown at the Madras Exhibitions of 1855 and 1857. 



LIGNUM H^MATOXYLL 



Lignum Campechicmum v. Campescanmn ; Logiuood, Feachiuood ; 

 F. Bois de Cavipeche, Bois dinde ; G. Campecheholz, Blauholz. 



Botanical Origin — Hwmatoxylon campechianum L., a spreading 

 tree^ of moderate size, seldom exceeding 40 feet in height, native of the 

 bay of Campeachy, Honduras and other parts of' Central America. 

 It was introduced into Jamaica by Dr. Barham ^ in 1715, and is now 



West 



History — Her 



o-.-o «- c..^^^^. of his expedition to Honduras in 1525;' refers to the 

 Indian towns of Xiculango and Tabasco as carrying on a trade in cacao, 

 cotton cloth, and colours for dyeing, — in which last phrase there may 

 be an allusion to logwood. We have sought for some more definite 

 notice of the wood in the Historia de las^Indias of Oviedo,* the first 

 clironicler of America, but without much success. 



Yet the wood must have been introduced into England in the latter 

 half of the 16th century, for, in 1581, an Act of Parliament ^ was passed, 



burned _ „ __^ 



ofware or stuff called" Zo^iwS' alias iWawocZ . . • of late years 

 • • • . brought into this realm of England." The object of this 

 measure was to protect the public against the bad work of the dyers, 

 who, it seems, were unable at that period to obtain durable colours by 

 the use of logwood. Eighty years later the art of dyeing had so iar 

 improved that logwood was again permitted,' the colours produced by 

 It being declared as lasting and serviceable as those made by any otlier 

 sort of dyewood whatsoever. 



The wood is mentioned by De Laet (1633) as deriving its name 

 trom the town of Campeachy, whence, says he, it is brought in great 



ling its use and ordering that any found should be forfeited and 

 i. In this Act the obnoxious dye is described as " a certain kind 



plenty to Europe. 



As 



PiJ^^' ^^ Bentley and Trimen, Med. 

 ^ '^rih, part 5 (1876). 



1794 9/"* -'l'«e?-tco«Hs, KiugstGn, Jamaica, 



EiS^'^^^'' ^^^^'^ "/ Hernan Cortes to the 

 SS'T, ^'''«^''^* T^- T^ond. (Hakluyt 



*°,^!^ty) 1868. 43. 



havl ^^.^* edition bears date 1535. We 

 "sed the modern one of Madrid, 



1851-55, 4to., and may re/er m particular 

 to torn. i. lib. ix. c. 15, m. Idi. xxxi. c. 8 

 jjn^c. 11.— See Appendix: Fernandez. 



» 23 Eliz. c. 9. 



6 13-14 Car. ii. c. 11. sect. 26 (a.d. 

 1662), by -svhich the Act of Elizabeth ^\as 



repealed. , «*- 



^ JS^ovu'^ Orbis, 1633. 27-4 and 26o. 



* 



