DRUGS. 85 



pared from them is also administered for internal haemor- 

 rhage. They come by way of Panama in bales or serons. 

 Matico was first brought to notice in this country by a 

 Liverpool physician in 1839. 



Though the source of Matico is generally believed to be 

 the plant mentioned above, the leaves of other allied species 

 no doubt are often mixed with them. Thus, at the close of 

 the year 1888, a consignment of Matico leaves reached the 

 London market which proved to be derived from Piper 

 Mandoni. 



LARCH BARK (Larix europea). The bark of this well- 

 known coniferous tree, which has been known for a very 

 long time to possess astringent properties, and is in conse- 

 quence used for tanning, was first brought to notice in this 

 country in 1858 as a stimulating astringent and expector- 

 ant. It is used chiefly in the form of a tincture. 



ARECA or BETEL NUTS (Areca Catechu). This is a palm 

 growing to a height of 40 or 50 feet, with a straight smooth 

 trunk from 1 to 2 feet in circumference. The tree is prob- 

 ably a native of the Malayan Archipelago, where it is also 

 cultivated, as well as in the warmer parts of the Indian 

 Peninsula, Ceylon, and the Philippine Islands. The seeds 

 of this palm, which are known as Areca nuts, are about the 

 size and appearance of a small nutmeg somewhat flattened 

 at the base, and like the nutmeg they are ruminated or 

 marked throughout their substance by dark irregular lines. 

 They possess astringent properties, and are held in high 

 repute among Asiatics as a masticatory, as well as for 

 strengthening the gums and sweetening the breath. It has 

 attracted some attention of late years as a tsenifuge for the 

 expulsion of tapeworm, given in doses of from four to six 

 drachms in milk, and has been used in this country for this 

 purpose since 1867. 



INDIAN POKE-ROOT ( Veratrum viride). A plant belonging 

 to the natural order Liliaceae, and common in swamps and 



