384 SAPINDACEjE. [Hypogynous Exogens. 



cases, appear to be parts in which the deadly juices of the branches and leaves are too 

 much diffused among watery matter to be dangerous. For example, although the fruit 

 of Sapindus senegalensis is eaten, its seeds are known to be poisonous ; those of the 

 eatable Nephelia are so bitter as to excite suspicion as to their nature; and it is asserted 

 that both the fruit and leaves of the Buck-eye, or American Horse Chesnut, ^Esculus 

 ohiotensis, are a mortal poison, both to man and animals. In no part of this Order is 

 the narcotic quality more developed than in the genus Paullinia. Of all the species, 

 P. pinnata is supposed to be the worst ; bark, leaves, and fruit abound in an acrid 

 principle, and the Brazilian blacks prepare from them an insidious poison, which slowly 

 but certainly destroys life. Martius suggests that the nature of this poison should be 

 inquired into, and experiments made as to whether it may not be advantageously 

 administered in hydrophobia aud insanity. A venom for their arrows is prepared by 

 the savages of Guiana from Paullinia Cururu ; P. australis and Serjania lethalis are 

 together supposed to furnish the Lecheguana honey, which has been found a most dan- 

 gerous food. (See Edinb. Ph. Jouvn. 14. 269, and Plantes Rimarquables, p. 192.) From P. 

 Cupana an inebriating drink is prepared on the banks of the Oronoco. The leaves of 

 Magonia pubescens and glabrata, called Tinguy in Brazil, are used for stupefying fishes ; 

 their bark is employed for healing sores in horses, caused by the stings of insects. 

 Serjania tritemata is also employed as a fish poison. The roots of the American 

 Horse Chesnut are held to be poisonous. 



Some are used in medicine as astringents. The root of Schmidelia serrata is 

 employed in India to stop diarrhcea. The bark of Schleichera trijuga is rubbed up with 

 oil in the same country to cure the itch. The bark of the Horse Chesnut, ^Esculus 

 Hippocastanum, has been recommended as a valuable febrifuge in intermittent and 

 other fevers ; a decoction has been recommended in gangrene, and its powder as an 

 errhine. Its young leaves are aromatic, and have been used instead of Hops in brewing 

 beer, according to Endlicher. The fruits of Blighia (or Cupania) sapida, boiled down 

 with sugar and cinnamon, are used in diarrhcea. 



A saponaceous principle exists in a remarkable degree in certain species. The seeds 

 of the common Horse Chesnut are not free from it. The acrid fruits of Sapindus 

 saponaria, unequalis, and others, lather freely in water, and are used in the West Indies 

 instead of soap ; "a few of them will cleanse more linen than 60 times their weight of 

 soap." Pounded and thrown into water, they intoxicate fish. A tincture of the berries 

 has been recommended in chlorosis. The distilled water of the flowers of Blighia 

 sapida is regarded by negro women as a cosmetic, probably owing to the presence of 

 the saponaceous matter just alluded to. 



Notwithstanding these qualities, a food called Guarana bread is prepared by the 

 Brazilian savages from the seeds of Paullinia sorbilis. Martius, who has investigated 

 the nature of this substance, says that oblong or round cakes of it are sold all over 

 Brazil as an indispensable requisite for travellers, and a cure for many disorders. His 

 brother Theodore found them to be composed chemically of an astringent matter, forming 

 a green precipitate with iron, resin, fat oil of a green colour, gum, starch, vegetable fibre, 

 and a white crystalline bitter substance, which he called Guaranene, and which appears 

 to be identical with Theine and Caffeine. The Brazilians pound this bread in water, 

 sweeten it, and esteem it as a stomachic, febrifuge, and aphrodisiac. Martius regards 

 it as a substance of considerable activity ("nobile remedium"), and adds, " Appetitum 

 venereum movet, spermatis vero fcecunditatem diminuere dicitur." 



In addition to the uses already indicated, Soapworts present occasionally other qualities. 

 The root of Cardiospermum Halieacabum is diaphoretic, diuretic, and aperient. Its 

 leaves are cooked as a vegetable in the Moluccas. The seeds of the Horse Chesnut are 

 an excellent sheep-food,* and have been recommended as a good substitute for Coffee. 

 The Dodonseas are somewhat aromatic ; the leaves of D. viscosa are used in baths and 

 fomentations ; the wood of D. dioica is carminative ; D. Thunbergiana is said to be 

 slightly purgative and febrifugal. The branches of Plosslea floribunda, a Cape plant, 

 are covered°\vith a gummy exudation. The timber of some of the South African trees 

 of the Order appears to be valuable. That of Pteroxylon utile is said to be as hard and 

 handsome as Mahogany ; its sawdust makes the workmen sneeze, wherefore they call 



• Whilst I was at Geneva in the autumn of 1837, I observed every one collecting carefully the fruit of 

 the Horse Chesnut, and on inquiry I learnt that the butchers and holders of grazing-stock bought it 

 readily at a certain price per bushel. I inquired of my butcher, who himself kept a very extensive graz- 

 ing farm, and he told me it was given to those sheep in particular that were fattening. The Horse Ches- 

 nuts were well crushed ; something in the way, so I understood, that Apples are, previous to cider being 

 made. They are crushed or cut up in a machine kept solely, in Switzerland, for that purpose ; then 

 about two pounds' weight is given to each sheep morning and evening. Sheep eat the food greedily ; it must 

 be portioned out to them, as too much would disagree with them, it being of a very heating nature. 1 he 

 butcher told me that it gave an excel'ent rich flavour to the meat. The Geneva mutton is noted for being 

 as highly flavoured as any in England or Wales. — Gardener? Chronicle, 1843, p. 737. 



