94 



369. STRYCHNOS POTATORUM, L. 



a. Seed. (Clearing Nuts.) 



Note. These seeds are used in India for clearing muddy water ; the 

 fruits are said to be used in medicine as an emetic, this property residing 

 in the pulp and in the pericarp ; also as a remedy in diabetes and gonorrhoea. 

 The substance which clears water appears to reside in the coat of the 

 seed. Seelnd. Pharm., p. 146 ; P. J. [1] , vol. ix., p. 478. In use one of 

 the seeds is rubbed round the sides of a glazed earthenware vessel, and 

 the water then allowed to settle. For fig. of seed see P. J. [3] , vol. ii., 

 p. 44 ; of fruit, Per. Mat. Hed., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 656. 



370. STRYCHNOS PSEUDO-QUINA, St. Hil. (Quina do campo of S. Paulo 



and Minas.) 



a. Bark. Two specimens. 



Note. This bark is used in Brazil for intermittent fevers, and for 



. hepatic and other glandular complaints. Martiw, Syst. Mat. Med. Bra- 



sil., p. 41. A rutaceous plant.'Hortia Brasiliana, also bears the name of 



Quina do campo in some parts of Brazil. The specimens in this Museum 



were presented by Prof. Guibourt. Hist, des Drag., t. ii., p. 563. 



371. STRYCHNOS TOXIFERA, Benth. (Wourari, Curari, Woorali.) 



a. Prepared poison. 



Note. This specimen jar contains two sets of arrows, presented by 

 Mr. Morson, also some poison in a bamboo joint, some in a small gourd, 

 and some in a bottle. The poison in a bottle is labelled, "Received 

 from C. Waterton. 1821. See Phil. Trans., 1751 and 1780." The poison 

 is used by the natives of Guiana to tip their arrows and darts for 

 killing game. The specimen presented by Mr. Morson was brought to 

 this country in 1849, by Captain Gordon, of the Eoyal Marines, who 

 procured it from the natives of Pirara, about twenty-five miles from 

 Fort San Joaquim, on the Eio Branco, a branch of the Amazon. See 

 letter accompanying specimen. See P. J". [1] , vol. iii..p. 75; [2"), vol. i. 

 p. 246. Strychnia is said to be an antidote to Woorari poison. See 

 P. J. [2], vol. ii. p. 213. Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 657. 



. 



GENTIANACE^E. 



372. CHELONANTHUS SPECIES. 



a. Bark. 



Note. This specimen was presented by Dr. Lindley, and bears a label 

 as follows : " Quina naranjada, Chelonanthus species. This bark 

 belongs to the Gentianaceae. It is preferred in Popayan to the Cinchona 

 bark." It is occasionally exported. 



373. ERYTHR.SA CENTAURIUM, Pers. (Lesser Centaury.) 



a. Herb. 



Note. This plant is much used in the provinces as a bitter tonic. 

 The Greater Centaury of the old herbalists is supposed to be Centaurea 

 Centaurium, a plant belonging to the Composites. Chlora perfoliata, 

 L., another Gentianaceous plant, was formerly called Yellow Centaury. 

 See Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 629. 



