QUASSIA WOOD 575 



finer fibrous portions than the external rougher cortical. 

 Oak bark contains a bitter crystalline substance, quercin, 

 and owes its astringency to 10 or 15 per cent, of querci- 

 tannic acid, which differs somewhat from gallo-tannic acid, 

 and does not, by oxidation, yield gallic acid. The infusion 

 has a powerful astringent taste, reddens litmus, gives a 

 blue-black precipitate with ferric salts ; and with gelatin 

 solution a white flocculent precipitate, which resists putre- 

 faction better than that of gallo-tannic acid. Acorns the 

 fruit of the oak are collected in many parts of England for 

 feeding sheep and pigs, are credited with a nutritive value 

 approaching that of beans, but on account of their astrin- 

 gency require to be used sparingly. 



ACTIONS AND USES. Oak bark is astringent, resembling 

 galls and catechu. It is prescribed to check chronic otor- 

 rhcea, diarrhoea, dysentery, and other excessive mucous 

 discharges. For weakly, scouring calves the infusion is 

 given once or twice daily as required, with warm starch 

 gruel, to which may be added aromatics, gentian, spirit, 

 ether, or chloroform, or where there is griping, laudanum. 

 It lacks the tonic properties of cinchona and gentian, and 

 constipates when given too frequently or freely. Infusions 

 are applied to dry and constringe hyper-secreting and 

 relaxed surfaces, and to relieve piles in dogs. 



DOSES, etc. Horses take 3ij- to ^iv. ; cattle, ss. to gij. ; 

 sheep and pigs, 3 SS - to 3iJ- 5 dogs, grs. x. to grs. xxx., 

 administered in infusion made with one or two ounces of 

 bark to the pint of water. 



QUASSIA WOOD 



QUASSIA LIGNUM. The wood of the trunk and branches of 

 Picraena excelsa (B.P.). Nat. Ord. Simarubaceae. 



The dense, tough, white quassia wood, the produce of a 

 handsome tree, is imported from Jamaica and other West 

 Indian islands in billets of varying length, and is met with 

 in yellow- white chips or raspings. Quassia has no odour, 

 but an intensely bitter taste, dependent on a neutral 

 crystalline principle, quassin (C 10 H 12 3 ). It contains no 

 tannin. 



