EUPHORBIA OFFICINARUM. 271 
described by Wildenow ; one hundred and twenty are cultivated 
in our botanic gardens, and fourteen species are natives of 
Britain. 
GzocrapuicaL Disrrisution.—The Euphorbia officinarum 
is a native of Africa, about Mogador, the coast of Barbary, and 
the Atlas range. The different species are distributed all over 
the world. 
Parts UsED IN Mepictnz, AND Mop or PrEPARATION.— 
The Gum-resin. The officinal Euphorbium is the concrete 
juice of the plant, obtained by making slight incisions in the 
branches with a knife, from which a milky juice exudes, which, 
by exposure to the air and the heat of the sun, hardens and 
forms a whitish, yellow solid, generally pierced with two holes 
by the prickles of the plant. This drops off in September, is 
collected, and forms the Euphorbium of commerce.* ‘The recent 
juice is of so acrid anature, that the people who collect it are 
obliged to tie a cloth over their mouth and nostrils to prevent 
the small, dusty particles from annoying them, as they produce 
incessant sneezing. 
Bruce says, “the tree-gum which is found in the shops 
consists of irregular, yellowish, slightly friable tears, almost 
odourless.” When triturated with water, only one part in seven 
of the Euphorbium is dissolved. Alcohol takes up one part in 
four, and forms a clear, straw-coloured solution, which is ren- 
dered milky by the addition of water.t For homeopathic 
purposes: one part of the gum-resin, reduced to powder, and 
to which ninety-nine parts of sugar of milk is added ; these are 
mixed together, the three first attenuations made by trituration, 
then diluted to the thirtieth attenuation. 
* The plants are only cut once in four years, as the quantity exuded is so great 
that it is sufficient for the supply for that time. ee 
+ The concrete juice imported into Europe, and sold as Euphorbium —— 
is the produce of several species, but more particularly of the FAITE 
Canariensis; others, as the Euphorbia Hsula and E. Lathyris, are quite as violent 
in their effects. @ 
