16 MEDICINAL PLANTS OF QUEENSLAND, 



Iponicea Turpethum, E. Br. Anotlier large climbing species of 

 our tropical coast, and also of India. It is said that the fresh 

 bark rubbed up with milk is used in India as a purgative. 

 About six inches in length of the root as thick as the little finger 

 is reckoned a dose. 



Tpomcea pes-caprae, Both. The species so commonly seen 

 trailing over the sandy beach from the Eichmond Eiver to Cape 

 York, with leaves on long petioles, broadly emarginate, the veins 

 of which are parallel. Peduncles long as leaves, bearing one or 

 two large pink flowers. It is used in Brazil to form a poultice 

 made with the boiled foliage in cases of scrofulous enlargement 

 of the joints. 



The common Solanaceous weed Solamim nigrum, Linn., the small 

 black fruit of which is at times eaten freely by children under 

 the name of black currants without any ill effects, although at 

 other times it has caused dangerous sickness ; is a narcotic ; the 

 extract is said to possess the same power as lettuce opium. The 

 leaves have been used with advantage in dropsical affections. Its 

 action is diuretic and laxative. 



Another plant of Solaneae, the Thornapple, Datura stramonium 

 Sim., which may be seen spreading over the colony, is a most 

 useful medicinal plant. It is a violent narcotic poison when 

 taken internally, acting fatally if taken in large doses, but a 

 valuable medicine in mania, epilepsy, convulsions, tic doloureux 

 &c. It palliates the distressing paroxysms of pure spasmodic 

 asthma when smoked, for which purpose the leaves are used. It 

 is also employed successfully as an external application, as an 

 anodyne and sedative in burns, haemorrhoids, irritable ulcers &c. 

 It would be well if some person living in the parts where our 

 endemic species D. Leichhardtii, F. v. M., grows were to forward 

 a quantity down to Dr. Bancroft, who has spent so much time in 

 testing the properties of our native plants that he might see what 

 its properties were. This species is said to be common on the 

 Gilbert, Comet, and Suttor Elvers. 



