50 NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



employed topically. Hence perhaps the effects obtained in the 

 treatment of itch and intestinal worms with P. decandra. The root 

 and the fruit of P. abyssinica 1 are considered a powerful tenifuge in 

 the native country of this species. The Petiverias are equally acrid 

 and irritant. The leaves of P. alliaced; (figs. 51, 5.2) are employed in 

 tropical America as depurative sudorifics ; fumigations are made of 

 it in the treatment of paralysis. In the Antilles the root is applied 

 to decayed teeth ; it has the reputation of being a powerful abortive. 

 The root of Pipi, attributed to P. tetrandra 3 of Brazil, is used in the 

 preparation of baths and lotions for the treatment of paralysis 

 attributed to cold and weakness of muscular contractility. The 

 strong alliaceous odour of these plants is found in Seyuiera, which 

 in Brazil enters also into the composition of baths administered in 

 cases of dropsy and of rheumatic and hsemorrhoidal affections. A 

 decoction of the leaves and young branches is used topically in the 

 treatment of affections of the urinary channels. 4 



The Phytolaccacece have several industrial uses. The berries of 

 the Rivinas furnish a rich red d}^e. The colouring matter of the 

 fruit of Phytolacca dioica can be used in the same way. It is said 

 that these berries are employed in the South of Europe to colour 

 wines, especially those of Oporto, and some other drinks. Their 

 juice is used to colour sweetmeats, papers, and several silk, woollen, 

 and cotton stuffs. The Indian women use it with safety in painting 

 their faces. The leaves enter into the composition of a rose lake, 

 and of red ink. Thelygonum Cynocrambe (figs. 63-65) is rich in 

 alkaline salts, as the Glass-worts and the Chenopods (Goosefoot 

 family). The wood of Seyuiera contains much potassium, and the 

 cinders for this reason are used in America in the clarification of 

 sugar and in the manufacture of soap. The flexible branches of 



1 Hoffm., in Comm. Gcett., xii. 28, t. 2.— — Guib., Drog. Simpl., e'd. 6, ii. 445 — P 



P. dodecandra Lh£e., Stirp., i. 143, t. 69.— 'octandra L., Spec., n. 2 (vulg. Guine, Raiz d'e 



Pircuma ahysswica Moq., Prodr., 30, n. 4.— GuinS, Serbe aux ponies de Guinee, Pipi). 

 Iotjen., Tanifuges employed in Abyssinia 3 Gom., Obs. Med. Pot. PI. Bras. (1803) 13 



(1861) 60 (yulg. SchebU). It has been thought -Moq.,Prodr., 10, n. 4.—? P. hexaglochin Fisch. 



that tins plant may be the arboresecnt Se'neve et Met., Lid. Sem. Sort. Petrop (1835), 35 

 spoken of ,n Scripture [see Feost, in Joum. Sc. « S. floribunda, commonly named the Cipo 



Imt. Roy. (182a), 69], which, according to some d'Alho, is principally employed. (Benth., in 



others, is a Salvadora, Trans . Linn _ ^ xviiL 235; Q ^ fc> 19 ._ MoQ 



L, 6pec, 486, n. 1.— Moq. Prodr., 9, n. 1. Prodr., 7, n. 6;— Rosenth. op. cit., 702). 



