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Aphaca are said to produce intense headach if eaten abundantly : the seeds 

 of the Laburnum are poisonous ; they contain a principle called Cytisine. 

 The root of a species of Mimosa, called Spongia, is accounted a poison in 

 Brazil, Ed. P. J. 14. 267. The leaves and branches of Tephrosia are used 

 for intoxicating fish ; the leaves of Ornithopus scorpioides are capable of 

 being employed as vesicatories. The juice of Coronilla varia is poisonous. 

 Dec. The powerful purgative effects of Senna are possessed also by other 

 species, even by Colutea arborescens and Coronilla emerus. Cassia mari- 

 landica is found in North America a useful substitute for the Alexandrian 

 Senna. Barton, 1. 143. The Senna of the shops consists, according to 

 M. Delile, of Cassia acutifolia, Cassia Senna, and Cynanchum Argel. He 

 says the Cassia lanceolata of Arabia does not yield the Senna of commerce. 

 The active principle of Senna is called Cathartine. It was discovered by 

 MM. Lassaigne and Fenuelle. Ed. P. J. 7. 389. Purgative properties 

 are also found in the pulp within the fruit of Cathartocarpus fistula and 

 Ceratonia siliqua, of Mimosa fagifolia, and also of the Tamarind, the pre- 

 served pulp of which is so well known as a delicious confection. Malic acid 

 exists in the Tamarind, mixed with tartaric and citric acids. Turner, 634. 

 The same may be said of Inga fseculifera, or the Pois doux, of St. Domingo, 

 that bears pods filled with a sweet pulp, which the natives use. Haviilt. 

 Prodr. 62. The roots of the liquorice contain an abundance of a sweet 

 subacrid mucilaginous juice, which is much esteemed as a pectoral ; similar 

 qualities are ascribed to Trifolium alpinum roots. The root of Abrus pre- 

 catorius possesses exactly the properties of the liquorice root of the shops. 

 Ainslie, 2. 79. In Java it is found demulcent. The seeds are con- 

 sidered by some as ophthalmic and cephalic, externally applied. The roots 

 of Beans, Genistas, Ononis, Guilandina Nuga and Moringa, Anthyllis cretica, 

 &c. are diuretic. Dec. Those of Dolichos tuberosus and bulbosus, and 

 Lathyrus tuberosus, are wholesome food. Some are reported to produce 

 powerfully bitter and tonic eflPects. Various species of GeofFraea, the bark 

 of ^schinomene grandiflora and of Csesalpinia Bonduccella are of this 

 class. The kernels of Guilandina Bonduccella are very bitter, and are sup- 

 posed by the native doctors of 'India to possess powerful tonic virtues. When 

 pounded small and mixed with castor oil, they form a valuable external ap- 

 plication in incipient hydrocele. Aitislie, 2. 136. The leaves are a valuable 

 discutient, fried with a little castor oil, in cases of hernia humoralis. Ibid. 

 The bark of Acacia Arabica is considered in India a powerful tonic ; a 

 decoction of its pods is used as a substitute for that of the seeds of Mimosa 

 saponaria for washing. Ibid. 2. 142. The root of Hedysarum sennoides 

 is accounted in India tonic avd stimulant. Ibid. 2. 53. These powers are 

 probably connected with the astringent and tanning properties of several 

 others. Some of the Algarobas or Prosopises of the western part of South 

 America bear fruit, the pericarp of which consists almost wholly of tannin. 

 The bark of some of the species of Acacia abound to such a degree in tan- 

 ning principles as to have become objects of commercial importance. In 

 1824 some tons of the extract of Acacia bark were imported from New South 

 Wales for the use of tanners. Ed. P. J. 11. 266. The pods of Cassia 

 Sabak and Acacia nilotica are used in Nubia for tanning. Delile Cent. 10. 

 The valuable astringent substance, called Catechu, or Terra Japonica, is 

 procured by boiling and evaporating the brown heart-wood of Acacia Catechu, 

 or Khair Tree : it is obtained by simply boiling the chips in water until the 

 inspissated juice has acq^uired a proper consistency; the liquor is then strained, 

 and soon coagulates into a mass. Brewster, 5. 349. Gum Kino is the 

 produce of Pterocarpus erinacea R. Br., Gum Dragon and Sandalwood 

 of Pterocarpus Draco and Suntalinus, Gum Lac of Erythrina monosperma, 



