114 



457. LIUEUS BENZOIN, L. (Spicewood, Wild Allspice, Feverwood, 



Benjamin Bush.) 

 a. Bark. 



Note. The bark is used in N. America as an aromatic tonic and stimu- 

 lant ; but is not official in the U.S. Pharmacopoeia. It is given in decoc- 

 tion or infusion in ague, typhoid fever, and is also used as an anthel- 

 mintic. See Amer. Ditpens., p. 158. The berries are said to have been 

 used during the American war instead of allspice. Lindl. Flor. Med., 

 p. 339. 



458. LAURUS NOBILIS, L. (Sweet Bay, True Bay, or Noble Laurel.) 



a. Fruit. (Bay Berries.) 



b. Concrete oil. (Oil of Bays.) 



Note. The leaves possess tonic and febrifuge properties. See P. J. 

 [3] , vol. iii., p. 488. The fruit somewhat resembles Cocculus indicus in 

 appearance, but is perfectly, oval, and contains two loose cotyledons. 

 The bay berry powder, which appears, in the eclectic recipes for "com- 

 position powder," is not the powder of these berries, but of the root-bark 

 of Myrica cerifera, which is known in N. America under the name of 

 bayberry. See Amer. Dispens., p. 535. The common or cherry laurel 

 of the gardens is Prunus Lauro-Cerasus. The leaves may be distin- 

 guished from those of the true laurel by the difference in odour when 

 bruised, and by the garden laurel having serrate leaves, while those of 

 the bay laurel are entire and undulate. The leaves in which Solazzi 

 juice is packed are those of bay laurel. For a volatile oil of bay, see the 

 Hanbury collection. See Bentley and Trimen, Med. Plants, tab. 221. 



459. NECTANDRA RODIJEI, Schomb. (Bibiru, or Green Heart Tree.) 



a. Bark. 



b. Fruit. See Bentley and Trimen, Med. Plants, tab. 219. 



Note. This bark resembles flat calisaya bark in appearance, but is 

 much harder and heavier. The bark of Alstonia constricta has been 

 offered in the London market for Bibiru bark, but differs entirely in 

 appearance, having a thick, rough, grey external layer. See Pharma- 

 cographia, p. 481. The seeds, which contain starch, after their bitter 

 principle has been washed out, are made into bread by the Indians. 

 See Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 467. Bibirine has been found 

 useful in menorrhagia, see P. J. [2] , vol. ix., p. 27. 



460. NECTANDRA PUCHURY, Nees. 



a. Cotyledons. (Sassafras Nuts, Pichurim, or Puchury 

 Beans.) 



Note. These cotyledons have been used as a tonic and astringent. 

 Their taste is between that of sassafras and nutmeg. They are occasion- 

 ally imported from Brazil. See Per. Mat. Med., vol. ii., pt. i., p. 462. 



461. PERSEA GRATISSIMA, Gaertn.f. 



a. Fruit. (Avocado, or Alligator Pear.) 



Note. This fruit is eaten in the West Indies. The seeds yield an 

 indelible black stain, and are used for marking linen. Treas. Hot.. 

 p. 867. 



