534 LEGUMINOS#E—PAPILIONACE. 
Mellotus officinalis—The flowers and seeds of this and other species’. 
possess a peculiar fragrance, which is due to the presence of coumarin. 
They are used to give flavour to the ‘Schabzieger,’ a hard cheese used for 
grating. 
Mucuna.—The hairs covering the legumes of M. pruriens, a native of 
the East and West Indies, are sometimes used as a mechanical anthelmintic, 
under the name of Cowhage or Cow-itch. Aninfusion of the root of M. pruriens 
has also been employed in India as a remedy for cholera. The young legumes 
are also cooked and eaten.—M. urens and M., altissima furnish a black dye. 
Myrozxylon or Myrospermum.—Two balsams which are obtained from 
plants of this genus are official in the British Pharmacopeeia, namely, Balsam 
of Tolu and Balsam of Peru. Balsam of Tolu is obtained from the stem of 
Myroxylon Toluifera (Toluifera Balsamum), by incision. It possesses 
mild stimulant and expectorant properties, and is used in chronic bronchial 
affections. It is also employed in perfumery, and as an ingredient in fumi- 
gating pastilles. Balsam of Peru is obtained from M. Pereirz ( Toluifera 
Balsamum, var.), a native of the Balsam Coast of the State of San Sal- 
vador, in Central America. It is a viscid liquid balsam, which exudes 
from the tree after the bark has been first beaten and charred by the appli- 
cation of lighted torches or bundles of burning wood, and subsequently re- 
moved. Balsam of Peru has similar properties to Balsam of Tolu, but it is 
far less frequently employed. Balsam of Peru is sometimes known in com- 
merce under the names of Sonsonate or St. Salvador Black Balsam. Two 
other medicinal products are also derived from M,. Pereire, namely, White 
Balsam, which is obtained by pressing without heat the interior of the fruit 
and seeds ; and Balsamito, or Essence or Tincture of Virgin Balsam, which 
is made by digesting the fruit (deprived of its winged appendages) in rum. 
A peculiar crystalline substance has been obtained by Stenhouse from White 
Balsam, to which he has given the name of Myroxocarpin—M. peruiferum, a 
native of Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil, and which was long erroneously regarded 
as the botanical source of Balsam of Peru, yields a fragrant balsam not 
unlike Balsam of Tolu, called at Rio ‘ Olea vermelho.’ 
Orobus tuberosus.—The roots are occasionally eaten in the Highlands of 
Scotland, and in Holland. 
Physostigma venenosum, Calabar Bean.—The seeds of this plant have 
been known for some vears under the name of the Ordeal Beans of Old 
Calabar, from their use in that country for trial by ordeal. They are very 
poisonous, acting as a powerful sedative of the spinal nervous system. 
Calabar Beans and their active alkaloid, Physostigmine or E’serine, are official 
in the British Pharmacopeeia, and in the form of an extract, or some other 
suitable preparation, have been extensively employed as a local application 
to the eye to cause contraction of the pupil. The seeds, &c., have also been 
administered internally in tetanus, chorea, and some other nervous affections ; 
and also in the treatment of strychnia poisoning. The seeds, described by 
Holmes as the produce of another species named P. cylindrosum, do not pro- 
bably differ in any very important characters from those of P. venenosum, and 
the two plants do not appear to be specifically distinct ; but they require 
further examination. 
Pongamia glabra—The seeds yield an oil by expression which is 
favourite application in India in rheumatism and in several skin iiss 
Psoralea glandulosan—Vhe leaves are used in Chili as a substitute for 
Paraguay tea. 
Pterocarpus.—P. Marsupium is the source of the kind of Kino which is 
official in the British Pharmacopeia. This is known under the names of 
East Indian, Amboyna, or Malabar Kino, or commonly as Gum Kino. It 
is a valuable and powerful astringent ig erinaceus, a native of West 
Africa, yields a similar astringent ‘substance called African Kino, East 
Indian Kino is that commonly met with in this country. Some other species 
