280 



EUPHORBIACE^E. [Diclinous Exogens. 



Tiglium and Pavana, two East Indiantrees, whose seeds were formerly called Grana mo- 

 luccana, 'stand at the head of this class of medicines; their oil is so acrid as to blister the 

 skin, and it will even act when externally applied to the abdomen. Next to these comes 

 Ricinus communis, the castor oil plant, an annual in Europe, a tree in Africa, conspi- 

 cuous with its broad palmate leaves, which have given it the name of Palma Lhnsti, 

 and spiny capsules, whose use is traceable into remote antiquity, under the name 01 

 Semina cataputiffi majoris ; it is found that the albumen of this plant has little activity, 

 but that the virulence resides mainly in the embryo and seed-coats ; so that the 

 activity of the oil will depend upon the amount of pressure, &c. to which the seeds may 

 have been subjected ; when long boiled their oil is found poisonous. In like manner 

 the seeds of Omphalea are said to be eatable if the embryo is extracted, but if tins is 

 not done, to be too cathartic for food. Mr. W. Macleay calls this nut "most delicious 

 and wholesome," and speaks of it as the Cobnut or Hognut of Jamaica Similar qua- 

 lities reside in the seeds of Hura crepitans, the Sand Box tree, and Curcas purgans 

 (Jatropha purgans, L.) ; the latter plant is remarkable for the fierce acridity of its seeds, 

 which are commonly called Purging-nuts. An expressed oil is obtained from them, 

 which is reckoned a valuable external application in itch and herpes ; it is also used, a 

 little diluted, in chronic rheumatism. The varnish used by the Chinese for covering 

 boxes is made by boiling this oil with oxide of iron. The leaves are considered as rube- 

 facient and discutient ; the milky juice is supposed to have a detergent and hea hng 

 quality, and dyes linen black. In like manner Curcas multifidus produces a purgative 

 oil called Pinhoen, under which name it reaches Europe from South America trom 

 the seeds of Jatropha glauca the Hindoos prepare, by careful expression, an oil which 

 from its stimulating quality, they recommend as an external application in cases ol 

 chronic rheumatism and paralytic affections. Euphorbia Lathyns, called in English 

 wardens the Caper-bush, to which it has no resemblance, was one of the plants which 

 Charlemagne in his Capitularies commanded to be cultivated in all monastic gardens, tor 

 the sake of its purgative seeds, which were called Semina Cataputite minons ; they are 

 acrid like Tiglium, and not mild like those of Ricinus. The capsules of this plant are 

 reported to intoxicate fish . Euphorbia hibernica is extensively used by the peasantry ot 

 Kerry for poisoning, or rather stupefying fish, in the same manner as the exotic E. pis- 

 catoria. So powerful are its qualities that a small creel or basket, filled with the bruised 

 plant, suffices to poison the fish for several miles down a river.— Hooker, Brit. Fl. ed. 4. p. 

 326. The Anda of Brazil is famous for the purgative qualities of its seeds, which are called 

 Purga da Paulistas, and are fully as powerful as those of the Palma Christi. The Bra- 

 zilians make use of them in cases of indigestion, in liver complaints, the jaundice, and 

 dropsy. The hark, roasted on the fire, passes as a certain remedy for diarrhoea brought 

 on by cold. According to Marcgraaf, the fresh bark steeped in water communicates to 

 it a narcotic property which is sufficient to stupefy fish. The seeds are either eaten raw, 

 or are prepared as an electuary ; they yield an oil, which is said by M. Auguste de 

 St. Hilaire to be drying and excellent for painting ; in short, much better than nut oil. 

 The Cape colonists collect the fruit of Hy£enanche globosa, an anomalous plant of this 

 Order, and kill liysenas with mutton nibbed with the powder. The seeds of Stilhngia 

 sebifera, a Chinese tree, common in most tropical countries, are enveloped in a fatty 

 matter, from which candles are prepared ; a mild oil is also furnished by them. Two 

 species of Elceococca, the one E. verrucosa from Japan, the other E. vermcia from 

 China, furnish oil by pressure of their seeds ; the former for burning, the latter lor 

 painters' work ; both too acrid to be used as food. 



Nevertheless, some have an eatable fruit ; that of Anda and Omphalea has been already 

 mentioned. Aleurites triloba, a Molucca tree, has much reputation for its nuts, which 

 are reported to be aphrodisiac ; and the seeds of Conceveiba guianensis are said to be 

 delicious The succulent fruit of Cicca disticha and racemosa is sub-acid, cooling, and 

 wholesome ; its leaves are sudorific, and its seeds cathartic. The capsules of Chiytia 

 collina are poisonous, according to Roxburgh. Emblica officinalis also, has an acrid fruit, 

 which in India is made into a pickle ; when ripe and dry it is astringent, and has been 

 employed, under the name of Myrobalani Emblici, against diarrhoea, dysentery, and 



cholera. , , , c , . 



It is not a little remarkable, that here, as in so many other cases, we should nnd in 

 a very dangerous Natural Order such an abundant secretion of starch as renders certam 

 species usefiil for food when the acrid matter is removed. This is most especially the 

 case with the Mandioc plant, Manihot utilissima, Pohl, (Jatropha manihot, L ,) a shrub 

 about 8 feet high, extensively cultivated for food all over the tropical parts ol the world. 

 Of this plant the large rooi>, weighing as much as 301bs., is full of venomous juice, which 

 if taken internally produces death. The roots are rasped, the pulp well bruised, and 

 then thoroughly washed, after which the mark is placed on iron plates to be heated. 

 In this way the venom is washed out or driven off, and the residue becomes Cassava. 



