MATERIA MEDICA ANIMALIA. 



ACRITA. 



Zoophytes, or Radiated Animals. 



No. 1. 

 SPONGIA OFFICINALIS. 



SPONGE. 



The animal substance. A medicinal agent. 



Geog. Position. Mediterranean and Red Seas. 

 Quality. Soft, porous, elastic. 

 Power. Stimulant, resolvent. 



Use. Surgical operations, and for checking hemorrhage. 

 Scrofulous complaints and bronchocele. 



SCIENTIFIC ANALYSIS. 



Natural Classification. 

 1. DIVISION Acrita. CLASS Spongia. 



Ballard and Garrod, Mat. Med. 464. EC. Disp. U. S. 389. Jones's An. King. 12. 

 Pereira, Mat. Med. II. 767. Lond. Disp. 601. Syst. Nat. Gmelin, VI. 3817. Thom- 

 son, Mat. Med. 75*. U. S. Disp. 704. 



GENUS SPONGIA. 



Znoyy'ia (Gr.),eponge (Fr.), spugna (It), esponja (Sp.), spongea (Sax.), spons 

 (Dan.), Meerschwamm, Saugschwamm (O.), Spongie (Dutch), Bodiaga (Euss.), 

 Isfunj (Arab.), Mo-abadul (Hind.), Abeermoordele (Pers.), Uniwatta (Jap.). 



THE ESSENTIAL CHARACTERS. 



Nervous System none, the nervous matter diffused in a mo- 

 lecular condition through the body. 



Brain or central mass none ; organs of sense, or any circular 

 glandular organs, totally wanting. 



Body composed of a soft, gelatinous flesh, traversed inter- 

 nally with numerous ramose anastomosing canals, which 

 commence from superficial minute pores and terminate in 

 larger open vents. 



Mode of reproduction by mechanical divisions, and by germs 

 or gemmules. 



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