24 MEDICINAL PLANTS OF QUEENSLAND, 



leaves for about a week, tlie effect was truly astonisliing, for tlie 

 evil was remedied and the woman was enabled to rear lier cMldren 

 afterwards. The second case was that of a delicate lady, who 

 through the same simple application for three days was rendered 

 capable of suppljang the nourishment necessary for twins." 

 Baron Mueller in " Select Plants," says the seeds contain about 

 50 per cent, of oil, to obtain which for medicinal purposes, 

 hydraulic pressure should be employed and the seeds not subjected 

 to heat. 



ia lucida, Endl., or Norfolk Island Blood wood, a large 

 tree, having dark green oblong leaves, and fragrant white flowers, 

 is abundant on the Main Range, Enoggera, &c. On the trunk 

 of this tree being wounded a large quantity of sap flows out, 

 which Baron Mueller says forms a beautiful red indelible pigment 

 without any admixture. The most dangerous of the trees of this 

 order found in Queensland is Exececa/ria agallocha, Linn., a small 

 tree with somewhat fig-like leaves, often met with near salt rivers 

 and swamps from the Brisbane northwards. The trunk abounds 

 in a most dangerous virulent acrid milk ; woodcutters upon whom 

 this juice has flown after a stroke of their axe, reported to 

 Roxburgh that it produced inflamation and ulceration. Eumphius 

 states that sailors who were sent ashore in Amboyna to cut timber 

 sometimes became furiously mad from the pain produced by the 

 juice that fell on their eyes, and that some of them altogether 

 lost their sight. The juice is a violent purgative. 



The large climbing Peppermint, Piper Novcb hollandice, Miq., 

 which may be seen climbing up the stems of our scrub trees like 

 ivy, has been found by Dr. Bancroft to contain in its stem an 

 aromatic principle which is likely to become valuable in medicine. 



Aristolochia indica, Linn., a tall twining plant of Aristolochiacce 

 or Birchworts, is one of the many plants recommended as antidotes 

 to the bite of snakes. The root of this and other species are said 

 to be used as purgatives and vermifuges in India. Several species 



