RosALES.] FABACEiE. 549 



was a Burtouia that produced the mischief (Gard. Citron.), but according to Mr. Jas. 

 Dnimmond the mischief was caused by a Gompholobium. — Lond. Journ. Bot. 1. !)5-, 

 Nothing, however, more plainly indicates the venomous nature of Leguminous plants than 

 their being used as fish poisons. The bark of the root of Piscidia Erythrina, a common 

 Jamaica tree, is a very usual fish poison in Jamaica, and yields a most remarkably 

 narcotic and diaphoretic tincture. Many Tephrosias are employed in the same way, 

 especially T. toxicaria, the young branches of which, with the leaves pounded, and 

 sometimes mixed with quick-hme, are thrown into a pool of some moimtain stream, 

 and have an almost immediate effect. The fish are observed to become stupefied, and 

 as it were intoxicated, and to rise to the surface, floating there with their belly upwards, 

 so as to be readily taken by the hand. It has been remarked that the larger fish 

 recover gradually from the effects of the poison, but that the younger fry perish. It 

 has been suggested that the action of the plant upon the human system would resemble 

 that of Digitahs, and might prove, in a climate where that plant does not grow, a 

 desirable substitute. 



In addition to all these uses, there is a long catalogue of species employed for miscel- 

 laneous piu'poses. Crotalaria juncea (Sun, Shunum, Taag, Bengal Hemp) furnishes a 

 coarse fibre called Bengal Hemp, from which bags and low-pi'iced canvas is largely 

 prepared in India. The volatile oil of Dipterix odorata, or Tonka Bean, a fragrant seed 

 used by the perfumers and makers of snuff, has been ascertained to contain a peculiar 

 principle called Coumariu. It may be found in a crystallised state between the skin and 

 the kernel, and exists abundantly in the flowers of Mehlotus officinalis and cterulea, the 

 latter of which gives its peculiar odour to the Chapziger cheese in Switzerland, and is said 

 to possess styptic properties, and to have relieved cases of bloody urine from inward 

 contusions. It is also employed in the preparation of an oily remedy for bruises. — 

 Pharm. Journ. 2. 128. A decoction of the root of Indigofera tinctoria, used as a lotion, 

 effectually destroys vermin ; the juice of the young branches mixed with honey is 

 recommended for aphthae of the mouth in cliildren ; and Indigo in powder, spruikled 

 on foul ulcers, is said to cleanse them. The disease in poulti-y, kno\vn in the West 

 Indies by the name of yaws, is cured by the application of a solution of Indigo by 

 means of a rag. — Macfadg. Fl. Jam. 1. 251. Indigo is also used in epilepsy and 

 erysipelas. — Med. Gaz. xx. 172. The hairs of the pods of Mucuna prm-iens, &c,, 

 constitute the substance called Cowitch, a mechanical anthelmintic. The seeds of 

 Astragalus boeticus are employed in Germany as a substitute for Coffee. A good many 

 species are emollient. The leaves of Sesbania picta are highly esteemed among the 

 Hindoos, on account of the virtues they are said to possess in hastening suppuration 

 when applied in the form of a povdtice, that is, simply made warm, and moistened with 

 a little castor oil. The root of Pueraria tuberosa peeled and bruised into a poultice is 

 employed by the natives of the mountains where it grows to reduce swellings of the 

 joints. A decoction of Melilot is emollient, and is occasionally used on the Continent 

 in lotions and enemas. A decoction of the seeds of Trigonella Foenum Grsecum (Fenu- 

 greek) is used as an emollient, and poultices are made with their flour, but only used in 

 veterinary medicine. 



C^SALPINIE^. 



Pm'gative properties are the great character of this Sub-order. Senna is their most 

 remarkable product. The Senna of the shops consists, accoi-ding to DeUle, of Cassia 

 acutifoha. Cassia Senna, and Cynanchum Argel. He says the Cassia lanceolata of 

 Arabia does not yield the Senna of commerce, but this statement is at variance with the 

 positive testimony of Forskhal. For the various quaUties of Senna, the reader is referred 

 to the Flora Medica and other works in which the subject is treated specially ; it will 

 there be found that many species yield this useful drug, which, according to Pallm 

 {Pharm. Journ. 3, 584.), is not an Egyptian product, as is usually supposed, the whole of 

 the Alexandrian supply commg from Dongola. Piu'gative properties are also found in the 

 fruit of Cathartocarpus Fistula and Ceratonia SiUqua, and also of the Tamai-ind, the pre- 

 served pulp of which is so well kno^\^l as a deUcious confection, and in the leaves of Poin- 

 ciana pulcherrima.— ilfarfiits. Many cases of eatable fiaiit occui- in this part of the 

 Order. DiaUum indicum, also called the Tamarind Plum, has a pod formed with a deli- 

 cate agreeable pulp, much less acid than the Tamarind. Two Codariums are called 

 Brown and Velvet Tamarinds in Sien-a Leone. Ceratonia Siliqua, under the name of 

 the Carob-tree, or Algaroba-bean, is consumed in the south of Spain by horses, and has 

 been imported into this country, it is said with profit, as a substitute for oil-cake. The 

 dry pulp in which the seeds are buried is very nutritious, and is supposed to have been 

 the food of St. John in the wilderness, wherefore it is called Locust-tree, and St. John s 

 Bread. Singers are said to chew this fruit for the purpose of improving their voice.-- 

 Pharm, Journ. 3. 79. The seeds of the Caxob-tree are said to have been the original 



