216 THE MEDICINAL PLANTS OF THE PHILIPPINES 



twelve of the former equal in effect 30 to 40 drops of the 

 latter. Its density is 0.919, and it differs from castor oil in 

 being only slightly soluble in absolute alcohol. In some parts 

 of the Philippines it is used for purposes of illumination, and 

 it is exported to Europe to adulterate soaps and candles. It 

 contains a little stearin which begins to be deposited at 9° and 

 is entirely solidified at 0°. 



The fruit is strongly purgative, and this action is not due to 

 the oil but to a peculiar resin so active that 3 fruits produce 

 drastic effects. Whatever purgative action the oil possesses is 

 due to the resin which it contains in solution. It seems, there- 

 fore, preferable to treat the seeds with alcohol, thus dissolving 

 the resin, and use the tincture thus obtained in place of the 

 oil. 



The natives use the plant to intoxicate the fish in ponds and 

 sluggish streams. 



The seeds of the species /. multifield, L., also called tuba 

 in Tag., and mana, are likewise purgative in their action. Dr. 

 Waring saw a case of poisoning with the fruit ; the patient, a 

 young man, suffered violent vomiting, intense pain in the 

 stomach and head, and marked prostration. He recovered 

 under the use of lime juice and stimulants. 



Botanical Desckiption. — The J. Curcas is a small tree 

 growing as high as 9°. Leaves alternate, cordate, glabrous, 

 3-5 cut-lobed. Flowers yellowish-green, monoecious, in ter- 

 minal umbels, staminate and pistillate flowers mingled without 

 order. Staminate : Calyx, 5 unequal sepals ; corolla bell- 

 shaped, 5 petals, woolly within, a small notch at the end, bent 

 downward ; stamens 10, in 2 whorls of 5. Pistillate : Calyx 

 and corolla as above ; several tongue-like staminodes replace 

 the stamens ; ovary free, oblong, 3-celled, 1 ovule in each cell ; 

 style 3 -branched. Seed vessel fleshy, of 3 capsules, each bear- 

 ing 1 oval, coriaceous seed. 



Habitat. — Luzon and Visayas. 



