53-2 
coughs dependent upon a chronic irritation of the mucous membranes of the 
air-passages, puerperal peritonitis, erysipelas, and typhoid forms of fever, To 
the arts it furnishes a hard wood, something like mahogany, with a fine grain, — 
suitable for cabinet-work; it weighs 40 lbs. 7 0z. per cubic foot, and has a sp, 
er. of 647. The seeds are said to have been used by the early settlers of 
Central United States as a substitute for coffee, and the leaves as a purgative 
and insecticide. Concerning the use of Gymnocladus as a fly-poison, a Virginia 
correspondent of Zhe American Agriculturist says: “Back of our house here, 
and overhanging the piazza, is a very large coffee-tree. Though this locality is — 
infested, like Egypt, with a plague of flies, we have never suffered any serious” 
annoyance from them. One year this tree was nearly stripped of its leaves by a 
cloud of potato-flies (the blistering fly), and we feared that the tree would die from 
the complete defoliation. In three days the ground beneath was black with a 
carpet of corpses, and the tree put out new leaves, and still flourishes. For ten 
years we have used the bruised leaves, sprinkled with molasses water, as a fly- 
poison. It attracts swarins of the noisome insects, and is sure death to them.” 
Gymnocladus 1s officinal in none of the Pharmacopeeias. 
. 
PART USED AND PREPARATION.—The fresh, green pulp of the unrig 
seed-pods is to be crushed and prepared as in the preceding drug. The tincture, 
after filtering from the mass, has a clear orange color by transmitted light 
gummy upon the fingers; and of a familiarly, characteristic odor, resembling th: 
of the pulp. ‘ 7 | 
--- CHEMICAL CONSTITUENTS.— Cytisine, C,,H,,N,9. This alkaloid, found in 
the seeds of Cytisus Laburnum, is said to exist also in the leaves and fruit pulp 
Me of this tree. Extracted from Laburnum, it crystallizes in radiate, colorless, 
- deliquescent forms, having a caustic and bitter taste, and an alkaline reaction, 
‘ etely. It sublimes without decomposition by the careful | 
1 ralizing acids compl 
cation of heat. | 
«PHYSIOLOGICAL ACTION.—Gymnocladus causes vertigo with a sensatior 
of fullness of the head; burning of the eyes; sneezing; salivation ; nausea with 
burning of the stomach; desire to urinate; increased sexual desire; pains in the 
limbs, numbness of the body, sleepiness, and coldness. ce 
DESCRIPTION OF PLATE 53- ; 
1. End of asterile branch, Ithaca, N. Y., June 17 
2. A small leaf, four times reduced. 
3 and 4. Sterile flowers. — 
5- Sterile flower in section. ie | 
6 and 7. Stamens, posterior and lateral views. 
(5, 6 and 7 enlarged.) | : 
