SUBSTANCES REPUTED MEDICINAL. 167 
the colonies, it does not extend to China, so the Chinese probably 
first used it in an empirical manner. 
All the colonies. 
45. Cynometra ramiflora, Zeww., var bijuga, (Syn. C. dijuga, 
Spanoghe) ; N.O., Leguminose, B.FI., ii, 296. 
The root is purgative. In India a lotion is made from the 
leaves boiled in cow’s milk, which, mixed with honey, is applied 
externally in scabies, leprosy, and other cutaneous diseases. 
(Rheede.) 
Queensland. 
46. Daphnandra micrantha, Benth., (Syn. Atherosperma micran- 
thum, Tul.); N.O., Monimiacez, B.FI., v., 285. 
“Light Yellow-wood.” ‘“‘Satin-wood.” 
The bark of this tree is intensely bitter, and is in much 
repute as a tonic amongst sawyers. (Hill.) Dr. Bancroft has 
quite recently drawn attention to the properties of this bark, which 
are similar to those of D. repandula (q.v.). 
New South Wales and Queensland. 
+7. Daphnandra repandula, “v.47, N.O., Monimiacez, Muell. 
ieens., p--3- 
The bark of this tree has a transient bitter taste, and when 
first removed from the tree it hasa yellow colour on the inner 
surface, which changes to a metallic black on exposure to the air, 
but becomes yellow again when dry. Infusions of the bark are of 
a yellow colour, and remain free from microscopic organisms 
when kept. The extract of the bark does not appear to contain 
either gum or resin, but is rich in alkaloids. The extract is very 
poisonous, one grain being a fatal dose for a frog, and ten for 
warm-blooded animals. The alkaloids contained in the bark are 
colourless when pure and crystalline. The active one is easily 
separated from the others, being soluble in water. Its poisonous 
action is chiefly due to its action on the heart. To some extent it 
is antagonistic to strychnia. The poison powerfully affects fish, 
molluscs, and infusoria. When applied topically to voluntary or 
