324 CASSIA MOSCHATA. 



18&4. Cassia moschata, H.B.K. is allied to C. Fistula, L., and C. brasil* 

 iana, Lain. : from the first, it is distinguished by its multijugate 

 leaves and shorter racemes ; and from the second, by its much 

 smaller legume, which is devoid of prominent sutures. The 

 woodcut represents a raceme of flowers, legume and leaf (some- 

 what reduced in size) ; on the right, a flower, the sepals and 

 petals of which have been removed ; on the left at top, the 

 stipitate ovary ; below on the left, an anther of one of the 

 three long stamens, next to it, an anther of one of the four 

 medium-sized stamens, one of the two short lateral stamens and 

 the central short stamen with inflated filament (all magnified). 

 Pharmaceu- But it is in its pharmaceutical aspects that I wish to draw the 

 tical details. a ^ e ntion of the Society to Cassia moschata. Many years since, 

 M. Henry, of Paris, published a notice of a sort of Cassia which 

 had been imported from America, and had then newly appeared 

 in French commerce. 1 This drug bore a close resemblance to 

 Cassia Fistula, differing from it principally in its smaller size, 

 pale-coloured, somewhat astringent pulp, thinner septa, and in 

 the legume being attenuated into a point at either extremity. 

 M. Henry published an analysis of the extract obtained from 

 this Cassia, and contrasted its properties with that afforded by 

 ordinary Cassia Fistula, the result showing the two to be exceed- 

 ingly similar. A description of this Cassia was also published 

 by Professor Guibourt, who expressed the opinion that it might 

 be derived from a species of Cassia distinct from C. Fistula, L. 2 

 Much more recently, my friend Mr. Morson obtained a package 

 of a small variety of Cassia imported from New Qranada, which 

 I felt no hesitation in regarding as the Small American Cassia 

 (Petite Casse d'Ame'rique) of the French pharmaciens, and which 

 I now consider I am warranted in .referring to the Cassia mos- 

 chata of Humboldt and Bonpland. M. Triana, who is now en- 

 gaged in writing a flora of New Granada, informs me that the 

 legumes of Cassia moschata supply the place in that country of 

 Cassia Fistula, a fact which renders their occasional importation 

 into Europe not surprising. From Cassia Fistula, they may be 



1 Journal de Chimie Medicate ii. (1826) 370. 

 3 Hist, des Drog. iii. 347. 



