24 MEDICAL BOTANY. 
The manner of obtaining the substance, is to incise the tree or remove the bark, w 
by exposure. Royle states that the Ceylon Gamboge is found in the Bazaars of India. 
The Gamboge of Siam is the product of a tree most probably allied to the preceding, but with respect to which 
no precise knowledge exists. 
Gamboge is a gum-resin; the Siam and Ceylon are so similar in composition, according to the experiments of Dr. 
Christison, that they may be regarded as nearly identical. 
The Ceylon Gamboge is a purgative, equal in efficacy to the commercial kind. It has been experimented with 
by Drs. Christison and Graham. 
Piate XV.—Represents the plant in Jlower, the organization of the flower, and the SFrutt. 
hen it flows freely, and hardens 
MELIACEA. 
JUSSIEU. 
ESSENTIAL Cuar.— Calyx monosepalous, in four or five divisions, more or less profound. Corolla composed of 
four or five petals, sessile, equal or unequal, sometimes connected at base. Stamens definite, of the same number, or 
double that of the petals; they are always united, sometimes at base only, sometimes completely, so as to form a tube 
enclosing the pistil, the anthers prominent. The pistil is free, surrounded by an annular disk, under which are in- 
serted the petals and stamens. The ovary contains four or five cells, in each two ovules, attached to the inner and 
upper angle. The style is always simple, terminated by a stigma, either simple or obscurely lobed. The fruit is dry, 
or fleshy, composed of four or five cells, each containing one or two seeds, and opening by four or five septiferous 
valves. The seeds are composed of a fleshy endosperma, in which is the inverted embryo. 
The Meliacee are trees or shrubs, inhabiting the warmer regions of the earth ; the leaves are either simple and 
alternate, or compound, without stipules. In properties they are tonic and bitter, or sometimes emetic and purgative, 
°F poisonous. Martius has made the sub-order Canelle from the following plant, with those allied to it. 
CANELLA ALBA. 
MURRAY. 
Sex. Syst.—Dodecandria, Monogynia. 
- Rass Cuar.—Sepals three. Petals five, somewhat coriaceous, glaucous, blue, twisted in estivation. _ Stamens 
ee ined in a tube ; anthers fifteen, resembling furrows. _Stigmas three. Berry three-celled, or by abortion some- 
(De Coes cells one to two-seeded. Embryo surrounded by fleshy albumen, curved, with linear cotyledons. 
Srecir. CHar.—A tree ten to fifty feet hi ag tire, 
ewhat emargina . eet high. Leaves alternate, shining, obovate, cuneate at the base, entir 
later, ane, = ‘or an and opaque when old, dotted when young, petiolate, obscurely meee ae ns 
Sp clusters, of a violet- : : th, ack. 
The oa are extremely fragrant. a violet-purple colour. Berry the size of a pea, fleshy, smoo 
with a rough, i) oe a somatic and pungent. The bark, which is the medicinal portion, is of a whitish colour, 
Canella Aye e824 epidermis, which peels off entirely in mass from the true bark. 
; Linneus, who at first deseri . : distinct genus 
i ee » wh escribed the two as Laurus Winterana, and afterwards made a lla 
under the name Winterana, taking the characters, however, from the Canella, and calling it W. C 
