644 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



is well adapted for burning. It is said to be employed for adulterating East 

 Indian Croton oil. A decnction of the leaves is used by the natives of the Cape 

 Verd Islands to excite a secretion of milk. The seeds of J. gossypiiJoUa, 

 Bastard French Physic Nut, also possesses purgative properties. 



ManihotutUissima {Jatropha or Janipha Manihot), Bitter Cassava. — Cassava 

 Meal, which is largely employed in the making of the Cassava Bread or Cakes, 

 in common use by the inhabitants of tropical America as food, is obtained by 

 grating the washed roots, and then subjecting the pulp to pressure and drying it 

 over a fire. The roots and expressed juice are virulent poisons, owing chiefly 

 to the presence of hydrocyanic acid; but their poisonous nature is destroyed 

 by wasiiing and applying heat. Cassava Starch, Tapioca Meal or Brazilian 

 Arrow-root, and Tapioca are also prepared from the roots of Manihot uliliS' 

 sima. Cassava starch is the starch deposited from the expressed juice, which is 

 afterwards washed and dried. Tapioca is prepared by submitting Cassava 

 Starch while moist to heat on hot plates. Tapioca is largely employed as a 

 dietetical substance in this country and elsewhere. The sauce called Casareep 

 in the West Indies, &c. is the juice concentrated by heat and flavoured by aro- 

 matics. Manihot Aipi or Janipha Lceflingii, Sweet Cassava, has none of the 

 poisonous properties of the preceding plant. It is generally considered as a 

 variety of Mrtwj'Ao/ utiiissinia. Its roots is a common article of food in the 

 West Indies and some parts of South America. It is as mealy as a potato 

 when boiled. Cassava meal and bread, as also Cassava Starch and Tapioca, 

 are also prepared from the sweet cassava root. 



Ricinus communis, the Castor Oil Plant, or Palma Christ! — The plant 

 called Kikayon in the Bible, and translated Gourd, is by some considered to 

 refer to this species. This plant and other species or varieties, are largely cul- 

 tivated in the East Indies and some other parts of the world for their seeds, 

 which are commonly called Castor Seeds. The leaves have been lately recom- 

 mended as an external application, and for internal administration to promote 

 the secretion of milk. Castor oil is obtained from the seeds, either by 

 expression with or without the aid of heat, or by decoction, or by the aid of 

 alcohol. The oil employed in England is obtained by expression solely. Cas- 

 tor seeds when taken whole are extremely acrid, and have produced' death ; 

 but the oil obtained from them as above, is a mild and most efficient non-irri- 

 tating laxative. This oil owes its laxative properties principally to the presence 

 of an acrid resin, which is cont;dned in both the albumen and embryo. The 

 so-called concentrated castor oil, which is sold in gelatine capsules, is adul- 

 terated with croton oil, and hence may produce serious effects wlien given 

 in particular cases. The Ricinus communis has been recently cultivated in 

 Algeria for the purpose of feeding silkworms unon its leaves. The oil has also 

 been used therefor burning, and when deprived of its acrid principle, it is said 

 to be useful for food. 



RoUlern tincloria.— The fruit of this plant is covered by a red powder (pu- 

 bescence), which has long been employed as a dye for silk. This is commonly 

 mixed with alum and carbonate of soda, &c., when it produces a deep, durable, 

 beautiful orange or flame cnlour. The dye is known at Aden under the name 

 ot Warasor IVurrus. It is designated in the Indian bazaars, Knmala. The 

 root of this plant is also reputed to be used in dyeing. Kamala is also 

 much employed in India as an anthelmintic, and in certain cutaneous diseases. 

 The Arabs also use it in leprosy, &c. Lately it has been brought under the 

 notice of the medical profession in this country by Mr. Ilanbury, but its em- 

 plovment has not hitherto b-en attended with much success. 



Croton.— 'Y\\e seeds of C. T'glium, and probably also those of C. Pavana, 

 constitute the croton or tigliuin seeds of the Materia Medica. They yield by 

 expression an oil, called croton oil, which is a powerful drastic cathartic in 

 doses of from one to three minims. It is also employed externally, as a 

 rubefacient and counter-irritant. The seed< are used in India as purgative 

 pills, under the name of Jamnlgata pills. Croton Eluteria and C. Cascarilla 

 of Bennett, natives of the Bahama Islands and Jamaica, yield the aromatic 

 tonic bark, commonly known as case irilla or cleuthcria bark. C. Pseudo- 

 China yields the Quilled Copalche bark of Pereira, and C. suberosum is pro- 

 bably th(! source from whence Corky Copalche bark of the same author is 

 obtained. Copalche barks in their medicinal properties resemble cascarilla. 

 The aromatic bark known as Malambo bark, is the produce of C. Malambo. 

 It is a favourite medicine in Columbia in diarrhoea, and as a vermifuge, and 

 externally in the form of an alcoholic tincture in rheumatism. In the United 

 States it is reported to be in use for adulterating ground spices.. 



