HEZMATOXYLUM CAMPECHIANUM. ORD, XXV. Lomentacee A57 
plants* The Logwood tree was first cultivated in Britain by Mr. 
P, Miller in 1739,’ who says, “ there are some of these plants new 
in England which are upwards of six feet high, and as thriving as 
those in their native soil;”* but this observation will not apply to 
the present time, for we have searched in vain for this plant 
through most of the principal garden stoves in the neighbourhood 
of London. 
The wood of this tree is of a solid texture, and of a dark red 
colour; it is imported into Europe principally as a dying drug, cut 
into junks or logs of about three feet in length; of these pieces, 
the largest and thickest are preferred, as being of the deepest 
colour. This wood has a sweetish sGhaeninvent taste, and no 
remarkable smell ; it gives a purplish red tincture both to watery 
and spirituous infusions, and tinges the stools, and sometimes the 
urine, of the same colour; but from the experiments of Du Hamel 
and others, it does not appear to colour the bones of animals, as 
observed of madder and some other plants of that class. It is used 
medicinally as an astringent and corroborant. In diarrhoeas it has 
been found peculiarly efficacious, and has the recommendation of 
some of the first medical authorities:* also in the latter stages of | 
dysentery, when the obstructing causes are. removed, to obviate 
that extreme laxity of the intestines usually superinduced by the 
repeated dejections. Extractum ligni campechensis is ordered in 
the pharmacopeeias, and may be given in the dose of one scruple 
or two, repeated according to the urgency of the symptoms. 
* In some parts of Jamaica ** are such quantities of it growing wild, as to in- 
commode the land-holders extremely.’ Long’s |. c. 754. He also observes, that 
** it makes an excellent and beautiful fence, which, if kept properly trimmed, grows 
so strong and thick, that nothing can break through.” 
» Hort. Kew. ‘ Dictionary abridged, sixth edition. * Baker, Clark, aeagty 
Duncan, Zimmerman, Baldinger, and others. 
No. 39.—=vot. 3. 5 z 
