GUAlACUM-TREE. 185 



it may be most conveniently taken in the form of an emulsion, 

 into which it may be brought by triturating it with almonds, or ra- 

 ther with a thick mucilage of gum-arabic, till they are well incor- 

 porated, and then gradually adding a proper quantity of water. 

 The dose of the balsam should rarely exceed twenty or thirty 

 drops. 



[Ray. TVoodv. Labat. Cullen. 



SECTION XVIII. 



Guaiacum Tree. 



Guaiacum Officinale. Linn. 



This tree is usually known by the name of lignum vitce. It 

 grows to the height of forty feet, and to the circumference of four or 

 five, sending forth several large dividing and subdividing knotted 

 branches : the bark of the trunk is of a dark grey colour, variegated 

 with greenish or purplish specks, but of the branches it is uniformly 

 ash-coloured, striated, and marked with fissures; "the roots are 

 very thick in proportion to the size of the tree, and run a great way 

 into the ground, in a perpendicular direction :'* the leaves are pin- 

 nated, consisting of two, three, and sometimes four pair of pinnae, 

 with very short footstalks, smooth, shining, veined, of an inversely 

 oval shape, and dark green colour : the flowers grow in clusters, or 

 umbels, upon long peduncles, which spring from the divisions of the 

 smaller branches : the calyx is of five leaves ; these are concave, ob- 

 long, obtuse, patent, unequal, and deciduous; the petals are five, 

 elliptical, concave, spreading, and of a rich blue colour; the stamina 

 are erect, villous, taper from the base, and are crowned with yel- 

 lowish hooked antherae ; the germen is oval, angular, and in its cap- 

 sular state assumes the figure we have separately described ; the style 

 is short and tapering; the stigma is simple, and pointed; the seeds 

 are solitary, hard, and of an oblong shape. 



Linnaeus makes three species of the guaiacum, viz. the officinale, 

 sanctum, and afrum; the specific difference between the two former 

 he fixes wholly on the number of the pinnae of the leaves, defining 



to its laxative quality, I cannot determine, but must observe, that I have learn- 

 ed from an empirical practitioner, that it gives relief in haemorrhoidal affec- 

 tions; and I have frequently employed it with success, viz. given from twenty 

 to^tbirty drops twice a day." Mat. Med. vol. ii. p. 190. 



