subitaneae alvi excretiones faecum quasi succo viscido involutarum quse, 

 si continua per aliquot temporis serie sese excipiant, cum visibili 

 aegroti levamine, boni exitus pro indiciis habentur." Copious perspir- 

 ations follow, and these are succeeded by a gentle sleep. The violent 

 action of these roots renders them dangerous to employ, except in 

 cases of poisoning, or in such maladies as require a prompt and com- 

 plete evacuation of the intestines. They would possibly prove bene- 

 ficial in hydrophobia, in the opinion of Von Martius. It has been 

 introduced into European practice, and appears to be of the greatest 

 use as a remedy in dropsy. See an excellent account by Wood and 

 Sache, 2d edition, p. 200. 



COFFEA. 



Limb of calyx small, 4-5-toothed. Corolla tubular, funnel- 

 shaped, with a 4-5-parted spreading limb. Stamens 4-5, in- 

 serted in the middle of the upper part of the tube, exserted or 

 inclosed. Style bifid at the apex. Berry umbilicate, naked, or 

 crowned with the calyx, containing 2 seeds enclosed in a parch- 

 ment-like putamen. Trees or shrubs. 



876. C. arabica Linn. sp. 245. JSot. mag. t 1303. DC. 

 prodr. iv. 499. (Fothergill 's works, ii. 279. t. 3.) Low moun- 

 tains of Arabia Felix. (Coffee.) 



A large erect bush, quite smooth in every part. Leaves oblong- 

 lanceolate, acuminate, shining on the upper side, wavy, deep green 

 above, paler below. Stipules subulate, undivided. Peduncles axillary, 

 short, clustered. Corolla white, tubular, sweet-scented, with a spread- 

 ing 5-cleft limb. Anthers protruded. Berries oval, deep-purple, suc- 

 culent, 2-seeded. The albumen of the seeds constitutes the aro- 

 matic coffee of commerce, the agreeable stimulating effects of which 

 after being roasted are well known. It has the power of removing 

 drowsiness and of retarding the access of sleep for some hours. It 

 has been prescribed medicinally in various derangements of the chj'lo- 

 poietic viscera, and in headachs resulting from indigestion. 



PSYCHOTRIA. 



Limb of calyx 5-lobed, or 5-toothed, or nearly entire. Corolla 

 funnel-shaped, short, 5-cleft ; limb spreading or recurved ; throat 

 bearded or glabrous. Stamens 5 : anthers exserted or inclosed. 

 Stigma bifid. Berry drupaceous, crowned by the limb of the 

 calyx, becoming 10-ribbed when dry, with papery 1- seeded 



stones. Seed erect. Embryo cartilaginous Trees, shrubs, 



or herbaceous plants inhabiting equinoctial regions. Flowers 

 panicled or corymbose. 



877. P. emetica Mutts in Linn. f. suppL 144. Humb. and 

 Bonpl.pl. cequin. ii. 142. and 126. Cephaelis emetica Pers. 

 synop. i. 203. New Granada. 



Root perpendicular, knotted, branched, with a slender axis, and a 

 thick friable bark. An erect, simple, hairy undershrub. Leaves oblong, 

 acuminate, narrowed at the base, membranous, ciliated, hairy beneath. 

 Stipules ovate, acuminate, very short. Peduncles axillary, few-flowered, 



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