147-3 
The seeds of the Tropical American Jatropha multifida, Linn., are an excel- 
lent emetic and purgative; the juice of the Indian ¥. glandulifera, Roxb., is said 
to be used by the Hindoos as an escharotic to remove films from the eye; and the 
oil of the seeds of ¥. e/auca, Vahl., is used as an application in rheumatism. 
The flowers of the East Indian Caturus spiciflorus, Linn., are said to be a 
specific in diarrhoea. The seeds of the Brazilian Anda-agu (Anda Gomesti, A, de J.) 
act as a very powerful but safe purgative. The Guayanian Hovea Guianensts, Aubl., 
furnishes Demerara and Surinam Caoutchouc. The roots of the Indian Z; raga 
envolucrata, Linn., are said by Ainslie to be used by the Hindoo doctors to remove 
old syphilitic cachexias. The juice of the Ganges Sapium Indicum, Willd., is highly 
poisonous; while that of S. acuparium, Willd., is really venomous, its exhalations 
causing erysipelatous inflammation. The Tropical American Sandbox (fLura crepi- 
fans, Linn.) yields a juice that is exceedingly posionous; it is said to produce blind- 
ness in a few days after application to the eyes; the seeds area dangerous purga- 
tive. Another plant, similar in its action, is the Indian Excecaria A lyallocha, Linn., 
of which Rumphius says that sailors who were sent ashore in Amboyna to cut 
wood, sometimes became furiously mad from pain produced when the juice of 
this plant spattered in their eyes, and that some cases of blindness resulted, The 
Cochin-China Commia Cochinchinensis, Lour., yields an emetic and purgative gum; 
and the West-Indian Jew-bush (Pedilanthus tithymaloides, Poit.) is used in venereal 
complaints, amenorrhcea, and in lieu of Ipecacuanha. 
The genus Euphorbia, the type of this order, is one of the largest purgative 
genera known, many of its species being dangerous, and all more or less active, 
The Indian £. 7zrucad/’, Linn., is a violent and dangerous cathartic, used also, in 
small doses, as an antisyphilitic; the Cape &. hepéagona, Linn., is said by Virey to 
be used by the Ethiopians as an arrow-poison; £. éribu/oides, Linn., of the Canary 
Islands, is said to be sudorific, and Z. Canariensis, Linn., to act much Jike Gum 
Euphorbium; the Indian £. “gu/aria, Roxb., is claimed to be alexiteric, and &. 
nereifolia, Linn., diuretic; the European £. esw/a, Linn., is a dangerous poison, 
£, Gerardiana, Lacq., emetic and cathartic, £. falcata, Linn., purgative, and £. 
FPeplis, Linn., of like action; the Indian £. ¢hymifolia, Linn., is anthelmintic, while 
the juice of the Brazilian Z. /‘nearis, Retz., is said to cure wounds of the cornea 
directly it is applied. 3 
Although we have found this order so highly active and so many of its species 
veritably toxic, especially the seeds, still it produces one of the finest of all edible 
nuts—the Tropical American Omphalea triandria, Linn. . : 
History and Habitat.—The Common Spurge is indigenous to North America, 8 
its typical form being found in the West Indian Islands. It grows generally 
throughout the country in dry fields, cultivated grounds, and on hillsides, where << 
it flowers from July to September, Poe a 
This species was probably first introduced in medicine by Dr. Zollickoffer, — 
who spoke of it as astringent and slightly narcotic, and recommended its use in 
- menorrhagia, leucorrhcea, cholera infantum, diarrheea, and dysentery ; Rafin 
adds to this that the plant is also purgative. Martius claims that the plan 
valuable in syphilis and ulcerations of the cornea. 
