BY F. M. BAILEY, F.L.S. 23 



whicli is used by the Sandwich. Islanders for their native cloths. 

 According to the Pharmacapoeia of India, Dr. O'Eorke found 

 that in doses varying from one to two ozs., it acted as a mild and 

 sure purgative producing in from three to six hours, after injection 

 free bilious evacuations, its operation being unattended either by 

 nausea, colic, or other ill effects. It was found to approach nearly 

 the castor oil in the mildness and certainty of its operation, but 

 superior to it having neither taste or smell, and as producing its 

 cathartic action without causing any degree of nausea, whether 

 administered in emulsion or in the pure state. 



In Baron Ferd. von Mueller's useful work " Select Plants for 

 Victorian Culture," a tree commonly met with in Queensland 

 is spoken of — " Mallotus philipinensis,^^ Mueller, Arg. Though 

 not of great importance this bush should not be passed on this 

 occasion, inasmuch as the powdery substance investing the 

 seed-capsules constitutes the kamala which can be employed 

 not only as an orange dye, but also as an anthelmintic remedy. 

 The Hindoo silk-dyers use it for an orange colour obtained by 

 boiling the kamalas with carbonate of soda. Dr. Lindley says 

 the root peldsthe same colour as the mealy substance around 

 the capsules, but he speaks of it as a scarlet colour. According 

 to Lennis, in one part of India this tree is called ' ' Corunga 

 Munji Maram," on account of the monkeys staining their faces 

 with the mealy substance which surrounds the capsules. 



None of our naturalised plants have spread with greater rapidity 

 over the colony than the castor oil plant, Riciniis communis, Linn, 

 and if all accounts are true, few plants are of more value. Dr. 

 WooUs in " Contributions to the Flora of Australia," says: — 

 ^^ Ricinus not only yields castor oil, but the leaves of the plant 

 have been successfully used by Dr. Pringle as a galactopoietic." 

 The doctor has reported two remarkable cases. The first one was 

 that of a women who from total absence of milk in one breast, 

 and a very limited supply in the other had lost two children in 

 succession in early infancy. By the application of the castor oil 



