EUPHORBIACE.E. 495 



an Indian and Asiatic shrub. It acts as an irritant purgative in the 

 dose of one drop. In large doses it is a dangerous poison. When 

 applied externally it produces pustules. Other species of Croton, as 

 C. Pavana and Boxburghii, yield a purgative oil. The oil procured 

 from the seeds of Euphorbia Lathyris, Caper-spurge, has cathartic 

 properties, and so has that procured from the seeds of Jatropha Curcas 

 ( Curcas purgans), Physic or Purging-nut, Jatropha multifida, and Hura 

 crepitans. The fatty matter obtained from the' seeds of Stilingia sebi- 

 fera, the Tallow-tree of China, is used for making candles ; the plant 

 also yields a bland oil. The roots of Euphorbia pilosa and palustris 

 are used as purgatives, and are said to have been useful in hydrophobia. 

 1018. Cascarilla is the bark of Croton Eleuteria, and of other species 

 of Croton. It acts as a tonic and stimulant. When burned it gives 

 out a musky odour, and is often used in pastilles. The bark of another 

 species of Croton (C. suberosus), is known by the name of Copalchi bark, 

 and used as a tonic. The bark of Buxm semperiirens, Box-tree, is said 

 to be alterative, and its leaves have bitter and purgative qualities. Its 

 wood is much used for wood-engraving. It is conjectured that the 

 hard wood called African Teak, is the produce of a Euphorbiaceous 

 tree. In the root of Janipha Manihot (Manihot utilissima), a shrub 

 about six feet high, extensively cultivated in tropical countries, there 

 is much starchy matter deposited, usually along with a poisonous nar- 

 cotic substance, which is said to be hydrocyanic acid. The latter can be 

 removed by washing, or it can be driven off by roasting, and then the 

 starch is used in the form of Cassava bread. There are two varieties 

 of the Cassava or Manioc plant ; one (called sometimes Janipha L&- 

 jlingii) having a spindle-shaped root, brown externally, about six ounces 

 in weight, which contains amylaceous matter, without any bitterness, 

 and is used as food under the name of Sweet Cassava ; another, called 

 Bitter Cassava, having a knotty root, black externally, and sometimes 

 30 Ibs. in weight, which is bitter and poisonous, and requires to be 

 rasped and washed thoroughly before the amylaceous matter can be 

 used. From the starch of the Bitter Cassava, Tapioca is prepared by 

 elutriation and granulating on hot plates. Manihot starch is some- 

 times imported into Europe under the name of Brazilian Arrow-root. 

 The milky sap of Euphorbia phosphorea, is said to emit a peculiar phos- 

 phorescent light. That of Siphonia elastica contains much caoutchouc, 

 and supplies the bottle India-rubber. Aleurites laccifera furnishes 

 gum-lac in Ceylon. Crozophora tinctoria supplies a purple dye called 

 Turnsole, which becomes blue on the addition uf ammonia. The 

 seeds of a few species of Aleurites, Anda, and Omphalea are edible. It 

 is said that, in some instances, the elaborated sap has poisonous pro- 

 perties, while the ascending sap is innocuous (1[ 263). A species of 

 Coelebogyne is stated to have produced perfect seeds without the 

 application of pollen (^[501). 



