CUCURBITACEA. 667 
Bryonia dioica.—The fresh root is sold by herbalists under the names of 
White Bryony and Mandrake root ; but the true Mandrake root is derived 
from Mandragora officinalis. (See Mandragora.) In the form of a tincture, 
in small doses it is said to be useful in pleurisy ; but in large doses it acts as 
a hydragogue cathartic, and in excessive doses it is poisonous. The root 
is also employed as an external application to bruised parts. The young 
shoots when boiled are eaten as Asparagus.—JB. alba, B. americana, and B. 
africana have similar properties. The root of B, epigea is employed by the 
natives in India as an alterative in syphilis, and other affections. Itis also 
reputed to be a powerful remedy in snake bites, 
Citrullus Colocynthis, the Bitter Apple-—This plant is supposed to be the 
wild vine of the Old Testament, the fruit of which is translated in our 
version wild gourd (2 Kings iv. 39). The pulp of this fruit, which is 
commonly known as the Bitter Apple or Colocynth, is, in proper doses, a 
valuable hydragogue cathartic, but in excessive doses it is an irritant poison. 
It owes its properties to a bitter glucoside called colocynthin. Two kinds 
are known in commerce, viz.: Peeled Colocynth, which is chiefly imported 
from Spain and Syria; and Mogador or Unpeeled Colocynth, which is 
obtained from Mogador. The former is the best kind, and is official in the 
British Pharmacopeia. It is commonly known as Turkey Colocynth, but 
that imported from France and Spain is sometimes distinguished as French 
and Spanish Colocynth. Mogador Colocynth is principally used by phar- 
macists for their show-bottles. The seeds possess the purgative property to 
a slight extent, but the pulp is by far the more active part of the fruit. 
In parts of Africa, more especially in the Sahara, the seeds form an article 
of food. 
Cucumis.—The fruit of Cucumis sativus is the Cucumber; that of C. 
Melo is the Melon.—C. trigonus and C. Hardwickii, both of which are 
natives of the East Indies, are reputed to be purgative, like the true official 
colocynth. 
Cucurbita.—The fruits of several species or varieties are used as articles 
of food. Thus the fruit of C. Citrullus is the Water-melon ; that of C. Pepo 
the White Gourd or Pumpkin ; that of C. Melopepo the Squash; and that of 
C. ovifera suceada is the Vegetable Marrow. The fruit of some other species 
or varieties of Cucurbita are also eaten. The seeds of the Pumpkin are said 
to possess valuable anthelmintic properties in cases of tape-worm ; the ex- 
pressed oil is also reputed to be equally effectual. By some the fresh seeds 
are preferred. ‘The seeds of the so-called C. maxima, Duch., or Red Gourd, 
have similar properties; this plant is, however, only another form of C. Pepo, 
and in Bentley and Trimen’s ‘ Medicinal Plants’ both plants are treated of 
under C. Pepo. The seeds of the Water-melon and other species also possess 
diuretic properties. An oil called Hgusé by the inhabitants of Yorruba in 
Africa, and which is largely used by them for dietetic purposes, and also as 
a medicine, is supposed to be derived from one or more species of Cucurbita. 
This oil is also well adapted for burning, and for the lubrication of machinery. 
Ecballium officinarum (Momordica Elaterium) is commonly called the 
Squirting Cucumber, from the fruit separating when ripe from the stalk, 
and expelling its seeds and juice with much violence (jig. 965). The 
sediment from the juice of the nearly ripe fruit, when dried, constitutes 
the official Elaterium of the British Pharmacopeeia. In doses of from 7; to 4 
of a grain, when pure, it is a powerful hydragogue cathartic. It owes its 
properties to a white crystalline extremely bitter principle called Elaterin, 
which is also official in the British Pharmacopeia. In improper doses 
elaterium is an irritant poison. 
Feuillea cordifolia has intensely bitter seeds, which are violently pur- 
gative and emetic; thus forming a striking exception to the generally 
harmless properties of Cucurbitaceous seeds. The fruit is reputed to act as 
an antidote to poisoning by strychnine. (See Strychnos.) 
Lagenaria vulgaris is commonly called the Bottle Gourd, from its hard 
