658 LAURACEA. 
medicinally as a cordial, stimulant, tonic, astringent, carminative, anti- 
spasmodic, and as an adjunct to other medicines, is the inner bark of C. 
zeylanicum. The best comes from Ceylon. It owes its properties essentially 
to the presence of a volatile oil. This volatile oil is the Oil of Cinnamon of 
commerce. Both the bark and volatile oil are official in the British Phar- 
macopeeia. A concrete fatty substance is obtained in Ceylon by expression 
from the ripe fruits, which is called Cinnamon Suet; this is supposed by 
Royle to be the Comacum of Theophrastus. From the leaves of the Cinnamon 
tree a volatile oil is also distilled in Ceylon. It has an analogous odour and 
taste to that of oil of cloves. The Cinnamon tree is the Ainnemon or Kinman 
of the Bible.—-C. Cassia of Blume, yields Cassia lignea or the Cassia bark of 
commerce which is obtained from China; this possesses analogous pro- 
perties to Cinnamon, and like it yields by distillation a volatile oil, called 
Oil of Cassia, to the presence of which its qualities are essentially due. 
Cassia buds of commerce, which are brought from China and occasionally 
used as a condiment and in medicine, are the flower-buds of the same plant. 
Cassia buds possess somewhat similar properties to Cassia bark. The Cassia 
tree is the Kiddah or Cassia of the Bible. The inner bark of C. iners is very 
similar in its nature to that of Cassia bark. The bark called Indian Clove 
Bark is obtained from C. Culi/awan. 1t possesses properties resembling those 
of Cassia. Sintoc bark, which has analogous qualities, is the produce of C. 
Sintoe.—C. nitidum (eucalyptoides) and C. Tamala were probably the sources 
of the Folia Malabathri of the old pharmacologists, formerly so highly 
esteemed for their stomachic and sudorific properties. The roots of C. parthe- 
noxylon and C. glanduliferum resemble the official Sassafras in their effects. 
The latter is the Sassafras of Nepal. 
Cryptocarya moschata yields a kind of False or Wild Nutmeg, which is 
termed the Brazilian Nutmeg. (See also Acrodiclidium and Agathophyllum.) 
Dicypellium caryophyllatum yields Brazilian Clove-Bark or Clove 
Cassia Bark. It is occasionally imported, and used for mixing with other 
spices. 
; Laurus nobilis, the Sweet Bay, is said to be the Ezrach or Green Bay 
Tree of the Bible. It is the classic Laurel which was used by the ancients 
to make crowns for their heroes, hence it is frequently called the Victor’s 
Laurel. The fruits, which were formerly official, are commonly known under 
the name of Bay or Laurel berries. Bay berries are reputed to be aromatic, 
stimulant, and narcotic, but they are very rarely used in medicine. By 
distillation with water they vield a volatile oil, commonly known as the 
Volatile Oil of Sweet Bay. ‘The substance called Hxpressed Oil of Bay or 
Laurel fat is obtained from both the fresh and dry fruits by pressing them 
after they have been boiled in water; this substance is of a green colour and 
butyraceous consistence, and is a mixture of volatile oil and fatty bodies, 
like the expressed oil of nutmegs. Laurel leaves have somewhat similar 
properties to the fruit. From their aromatic properties they are used by 
the cook for flavouring. These leaves must not be confounded with those of 
the Cherry Laurel, already noticed. (See Prunus.) 
Mespilodaphne pretiosa, a native of Brazil, yields the aromatic bark called 
Casca pretiosa by the Portuguese. 
Nectandra.— N. Rodixi is the Bebeeru or Greenheart Tree of Guiana, 
the wood of which is very hard and durable, and has been employed in 
ship-building, &e. Bebeeru or bibiru bark is obtained from this tree; it 
has been used in medicine asa substitute for the cinchona barks, possessing, 
like them, tonic, antiperiodic, febrifugal, and astringent properties. These 
properties are due essentially to the presence of a peculiar alkaloid called 
Beberine, which has nearly similar medicinal properties to quinine, and is 
employed by itself, and in the form of a sulphate, as an economical substi- 
tute for sulphate of quinine. It is, however, very inferior in its properties 
to quinine. Bebeeru bark and sulphate of beberine are both official in the 
