BEBBBBIBAGEM. 67 



matter, called oxyacanthine. It is no doubt to the presence of these 

 principles that the common Berberry 1 (Fr., Epine-Vinette) owes all 

 the virtues ascribed to it of old, which it shared with some other 

 species, especially the Lycium of Dioscorides. It served to arrest 

 " all kinds of flux," and to cure wounds ; it was even considered an 

 abortive. Its bitterness and stringency made it a tonic stomachic 

 and febrifuge. Its seeds, astringent and somewhat vinous in taste, 

 entered into the diascordium. The ruzot plant, now recognised as a 

 Berberis, B. Lycium? is also used as an astringent in the East, and 

 no doubt as being such is successfully prescribed in all cases of 

 ophthalmia. Ruzot is used as a tonic, either alone or combined with 

 alum and opium. Huziz is a sort of extract prepared from a 

 Berberis, which Royle has shown to be the Lycium of Dioscorides. 

 The Arab and Persian physicians have established " that the best 

 kind came from Nuggur-Kote, in the neighbourhood of Lahore." 

 According to the " information obtained from a Hindoo physician of 

 repute, ruzot is the inspissated extract made from a decoction of the 

 fresh wood of Dar-Kuld." This Sanscrit or Hindoo word signifies 

 " turmeric coloured wood." They add, in defining the word, that it 

 refers to an Indian tree with yellow wood from which ruzot is made. 

 Moreover, the druggists of the Indian bazaars assured Royle that 

 Dar-Kuld and ruzot are still imported in great quantities from 

 Nuggur-Kote. Continuing his researches on this matter, Royle 

 found on his journey to the Himalayas the tree called Dar-Kuld, 

 and assured himself that it was a Berberis. He found, too, that 

 the extract or ruzot was obtained from B. aristata, B. asiatica, 

 B. Lycium, and B. pinnata (Makonia nepalensis DC), indiffe- 

 rently. In fact, the wood of these plants cut into small pieces is 

 identical with Dar-Kuld, and the obtained extract with ruzot. Royle 

 adds some interesting particulars concerning these plants. " B. Ly- 

 cium is found as low as 3000 feet ; B. asiatica grows naturally in 

 30° of latitude, at elevations of from 5000 to 7000 feet; B. aristata 



1 B. vulgaris L., Spec, 472.— DC, Fl. Fr., Fl. Med., 63— Rosenth., Syn. PL Diaphor., 



iv. 627.— Reichb., Ic., f. 4486.— W., Arb., 34.— 621. 



Poit. & Turp., Arbr. Fruit., 59. — DC, Prodr., - Royle, III. Himal., 64; in Trans. Linn. 



i. 105, n. 1. — Meb. & Del., Diet. Mat. Med., i. Soc., xvii. 83 ; in Ann. So. Nat., ser. 2, ii. 



576. — Gttib., op. cit-, 725, fig. 771. — A.Rich., 181. — B. tinctoria Leschen. — B. Chitria 



Flem. Hist. Nat. Med., ed. 4, ii. 460. — Peeeira, Ham.— B. umbellata Lindl. 

 FAem. Mat. Med., ed. 4, ii. p. ii. 665. — Lindl., 



F 2 



