794 



ARISTOLOCHIACE.E. 



[Epigtnous Exogens. 



pelled to swallow a few drops it perishes in convulsions. The root is also reputed to be 

 an antidote to serpent-bites. This plant is probably the celebrated Guaco of the Colom- 

 bians, concerning whose supposed efficacy as an alexipharmie, so much has been said by 

 Humboldt and others : at least a leaf of what is either this species, or one closely allied 

 to it, has been given me by Dr. Hancock as the genuine Guaco. It is not a little 

 remarkable that the power of stupifying snakes, ascribed in Carthagena to A. anguicida, 

 should be also attributed to A. pallida, longa, boetica, sempervirens, and rotunda, which 

 are said to be the plants with which the Egyptian jugglers stupify the snakes they play 

 with. In medicine these plants are slightly aromatic stimulating tonics, useful in the 

 latter stages of low fever ; the taste is bitter and acrid ; the odour strong and disagree- 

 able ; they are said to be sudorific, and have been employed as emmenagogues in 

 amenorrhcea. 



The stimulating qualities of Birth worts seem to reach their maximum in A. cymbifera, 

 labiosa, ringens, galeata, and macroura, Brazilian species, whose roots have a very 

 penetrating, disagreeable smell, like that of Rue, and a strong, bitter, aromatic tr te, 

 producing almost entirely the same effects as the Virginia snake-root (A. serpentaria). 

 They are very frequently used in Brazil against ulcers, paralytic affections of the extremi- 

 ties, dyspepsy, impotentia virilis, in nervous and intermittent fevers, especially those in 

 which a predominant disorder of the pituitous membrane, or the whole lymphatic system 

 has been observed. A. grandiflora, a foetid Jamaica species, is said by Swartz to be poi- 

 sonous to hogs. For the qualities of other species see Martins Mat. Med. Bras. 107. One 

 of the Asarabaccas, or Asarums, is analogous in its action, viz. A. canadense, which is a 

 warm aromatic stimulant and diaphoretic ; but A. europaeum is said to be purgative, 

 emetic, and diuretic ; it is called Cabaret in France, because, as it is said, the fre- 

 quenters of pot-houses use it to produce vomiting. Bragantia tomentosa, an intensely 

 bitter plant, is used hi Java as an emmenagogue, according to Horsfield. 



GENERA. 



Asarum, Tournef. 

 Ileterotropa, Decaisne. 

 Aristolochia, Tournef. 



Clemalitis, Endl. 



Glossula. Raf. 



Serpentaria, Raf. 



Pistolochia, Raf. 



Sipho, Endl. 

 Hocquartia, Dumort. 

 Siphisia, Raf. 

 Siphonolochia , Reich. 

 Cardiolochia, Raf. 

 Guaco, Liebm. 

 IHctyanthes, Raf. 



Einomenia, Raf. 

 Endodaca, Raf. 

 Isotrema, Raf. 

 Kiphns, Raf. 

 Bragantia, Lour. 

 Ceramium, Blum. 

 Vanhallia, Schult. f. 



Munickia, Reichenb. 



Apama, Lam. 

 Trimeriza, Lindl. 

 Asiphonia, Griff. 

 Thottea, Rottb. 

 Trichopodium, Lindl. 



Trichopus, Gartn. 



Numbers. Gen. 8. Sp. 130. 



Position. — Santalacese. 



N(penthacem ? ? 

 -A ristoloch i ace.e. — Loranthaoe*' 

 Dioscoreacea;. 



Lobhia. rianehon. 



ADDITIONAL GENERA. 



Strakrea, Presl. = Bragantia. 



