154 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



rich in tannin, and, as we shall see, valued for dyeing and tanning, 

 have marked astringent properties. The wood of the East Indian 

 "Sappan Tree" (C. Sappan), 1 is used as a powerful emmenagogue 

 in Malabar and Cochin China, while C. JV/tc/a 2 serves the same 

 purposes in India. C. pulcherrima Svv. 3 is also used as a tonic, 

 excitant, and emmenagogue. The infusion of its leaves may even 

 produce abortion, and they are said to be purgative and to be some- 

 times employed instead of Senna. 4 Severe fevers have been cured by 

 its leaves and flowers. The root is acrid and even venomous. 5 The 

 Guilandinas (Fr., Cniquiers, Bonducif also enjoy a pretty extended 

 reputation as febrifuges and tonics. The seeds of C. Bonduc 1 majus 9 

 and minus 9 are used in India and Gruiana, both locally and internally, 

 especially for tumours and hydrocele ; and the roots are supposed to 

 cure snake-bites. 10 



The Kentucky Coffee-tree 11 {Chicot de Canada) and several species 

 of Gleditsckia are considered slightly astringent. From the seeds of 

 the former is extracted an oil said to be purgative. It owes its name 

 to the fact that in the United States its roasted seeds may really be 

 used as real coffee-beans. The pulp of the Gleditsckia fruits, and 

 especially of the Honey Locust (G. triacanthos L.) 12 has at first a 

 sweetish taste, which then becomes horribly astringent, bitter, and 

 even acrid. From the mesocarp, however, containing as it does a 

 certain amount of sweetish matter, is prepared an alcoholic drink 

 used in North America. Several other species of this genus from 

 Eastern Asia are said to have saponaceous fruits. 



The so-called Copaiva- or Copaiba-balsam (baume de Copahii) is 

 undoubtedly most in request of the drugs obtained from the sub- 

 order Casalpiniea. This was at first supposed to be produced by a 

 single species of Copaiva-tree, namely C. officinalis L., u from the 



1 L., Spec, 544.— Rheed., Sort. Malab., vi. 8 Guilandina Bonduc L., Spec., 545 (yellow 

 t. 2.— Ainsl., Mat. Med. Ind., ii. 450.— DC, seeds). 



Prodr., \\. 482.— Rosenth., op. cit., 1033. 9 Guiland. Bonducella L., loc. cit. (grey 



2 Ait., Sort. Kew., iii. 32.— DC, Prodr., ii. seeds). 



481.— Guilandina Nuga L., Spec, 146 (nee 10 See II. I5n., in Diet. Enci/cl. des Sc. Med., 



BtiEM.). Rumphius says, moreover, that the x. 64. An emulsion of the seeds cures certain 



decoction of its root cures calculous and nephri- chronic discharges. 



tic affections (see Lindl., Fl. Med., 262.— " Gymnocladus dioica (see above, p. 83, note 



Rosenth., op. cit., 1031). 1, figg. 52, 53).— Rosenth., op. cit , 1032. 



3 See above, p. 150, note 7. J* L., Spec, 1509.— Dm am., Arbr., ed. 2, iv. 



4 Lindl., Fl. Med., 263. t. 25.— Michx. F., Arbr., ii. 164, t. 10.— D( .. 



5 Schomb., in Linncea, ix. 512. Prodr. ii. 479 11. 1. 



6 Sect. Guilandina (see p. 74). 13 l.', Spec/557.— W., Spec, ii. 630.— Jacq., 



7 Ait., Sort. Kew., ii\.32.— DC,,Prodr.,u.4SQ. Amer., 133, t. 86— Lamk., Diet., ii. 97; 11 .. 



