QUASSIA EXCELSA. ORD. XXXII. Gruinales. 63 
Medical Properties and Uses. Quassia excelsa is a simple and powerful 
bitter ; hence it is considered tonic, and has been employed under the same 
circumstances, and for the same diseases in which the Quassia amara has 
been found useful ;* it is, therefore, unnecessary to enlarge upon the subject . 
here. It is usually exhibited in the form of infusion, combined with mineral 
acids or neutral salts, according to circumstances: it may be given in 
substance, in doses of from ten to thirty grains, repeated three or four times 
a day; but it is an inconvenient form for administering quassia, as it cannot 
be reduced to a fine powder; hence. its bulk and extreme bitterness render 
it excessively nauseous when exhibited in substance. 
Off. Prep. Infusam Quassie, L.E. 
Tinctura Quassie Excelse, E.D. 
* Vide Quassia amara, vol. iii. p. 573—574 of this work. 
LINUM CATHARTICUM. PURGING FLAX, OR MILL- 
MOUNTAIN. 
‘SYNONYMA. Linum pratense, flosculis exiguis. Bauh. Pin. 214. Linum. 
n. 839. Hall. Hist. v.i. 374. Chamzlinum Clusii flore albo, sive linum 
sylvestre catharticum. Park. 1336. Linum sylvestre catharticum. Raii ~ 
Syn. 362; Ger. Gm. 560.7. Linum catharticum. Linn. Sp. Pl. 401; 
Willd. v.i. 1541; Sm. Fl. Brit. 844; Eng. Bot. v. vi. t. 382; Curt. Flor. 
Lond. fase. 3. t.19. Hook. Flor. Scot. 97; Stokes, v.ii. 188. Br. #1. p. 147. 
Class Vv. Pentandria. Ord. V. Pentagynia. 
Nat. Ord. Gruinales, Linn. Linew, Decand. 
Gen, Char. Calyx five-leaved ; petals five; capsule five-valved, ten-celled ; 
seeds solitary: 
Spec. Char. Leaves opposite, obovate-lanceolate ; stem dichotomous ; petals 
acute. 
