MOMORDICA ELATERIUM. 47 
The fruit is gathered in autumn and is peeled or unpeeled, the first is Turkey Colocynth, the latter Mogadore. It 
is dried in the sun. The pulp is separated from the seeds for use. It is light, spongy, of a white colour, difficult 
to pulverise, destitute of odour, and of an intensely bitter taste. It contains, in connexion with other matters, a 
uliar principle, colocynthin, a bitter resinoid matter. 
Colocynth is a cathartic, possessing power in proportion to the dose; in moderate doses it is safe and effectual, 
quickening the peristaltic movements of the intestines. In larger doses it purges, and in overdoses is so violent as to 
produce inflammation and its attendants. It is usually given in the form of extract, either simple or compound. 
Pirate XX XIX.—Represents the plant in flower, and the pepo or fruit. 
MOMORDICA ELATERIUM. 
LINNAUS. 
SQUIRTING CUCUMBER. 
EcBALIUM ELATERIUM.— Richard. 
Sex. Syst.—Moneecia, Syngenesia. 
Gen. Cuar.—Flowers moncecious, yellow or white. Male: Calyx five-cleft, with a very short tube. Corolla 
five-parted. Stamen triadelphous, with connate anthers. Female: Filaments three, sterile. Style three-fid. Ovary 
three-celled. Fruit opening with elasticity when ripe. Seeds compressed, reticulate. (Lindley.) 
Specir. Cuar.—Root annual. Stem thick, round, short, trailing and branching, hispid, without tendrils. Leaves 
cordate, angulated, obtuse, crenate, dentate, rugose, grayish, and strongly reticulated on the under side ; petioles long 
and bristly. Flowers axillary ; the males form racemes of five or six flowers. Calyz adherent, with five lanceolate, 
acute teeth. Corolla campanulate, yellow, reticulated with green veins. Males: Stamina three, two of which bear 
doubly-folded anthers, (or five, four of which cohere, so as to form two bundles of two anthers each.) Fi emales : 
Filaments three, sterile ; ovarium inferior, one-celled, (spuriously called three-celled ;) style simple ; stigmas three, bifid. 
Pepo small, elliptical, pedunculated, grayish-green, covered with soft prickles; when ripe, separating from its stalk, and 
expelling with considerable violence its brown seeds, and a thin mucus, through the aperture at the insertion of the 
stalk. (De Candolle and Pereira.) ; : 
The plant under consideration is a native of the south of Europe. It is cultivated in England and the United 
States. Where indigenous, it grows in waste places. Se Turoohet 
It has derived its name of Squirting Cucumber, from the power the fruit has of expelling the juice. Dr. Dutroc i. . 
attention was directed to this circumstance, and explained by him upon the principle of endosmosis. It 2 ig figpi — 
the seeds in the centre of the fruit are surrounded by a membranous, elastic sac, containing thick mucus. This mucus 
attracts moisture from the surrounding substance during the growth of the fruit, until it becomes turgid a eee 
When a point of the sac is weakened by withdrawal of external support, as by the a teen Sa 
with a force proportioned to its elasticity, and a jet takes place, carrying the mucus, seeds, and fluid. 1 1 aiserated 
The green, thick mucus, when viewed with the microscope, appears to consist of — a i tna pete t th 
confusedly, or in irregular strie, swimming in a thinner fluid, of a white colour. Dr. Clutterbuck on that 
activity of the fruit resided in the mucus in contact with the seeds; hence he adopted a Pre ca cata ica 
allowing the fluid, (obtained by slicing the fruit and placing it on a sieve to drain through,) to ae oa iia 
feculent matter was precipitated. This, when dried, constitutes Clutterbuck’s Elaterium; only six grat 
obtained from forty cucumbers. an bcs ad 
The best Elaterium of the shops, (English Elaterium,) is procured by allowing me juice, Seppo Pris to 
gentle pressure, ) to stand until the thicker portion subsides, then decanting the t resign i jeiia el ons of 
commonest is procured by evaporating the entire quantity of juice. Dr. Pereira states tha 
inutes, however, by 
fruits be received on a plate of glass, it is at first nearly colourless and transparent. In a few minutes, } 
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