BIXACE2E. 307 



closely so by their properties. P. edide 1 (figs. 327-329), wild in 

 Java, is cultivated in the Moluccas, and all the Indian Archipelago. 

 According to Blume, 2 its juice contains an alkaloid analogous to 

 menispermine, and the plant contains an extractive and viscous sub- 

 stance. All its parts are considered in Java as anthelmintic. The 

 bark, leaves, fruit, and seeds are narcotic ; all its' parts produce in 

 man cephalalgia, somnolence, nausea, and a kind of intoxication and 

 insanity which may terminate in death. The plant is used to poison 

 fish, being thrown into water-courses for this purpose. Cattle which 

 eat its leaves generally die. The extracted juice of the leaves is 

 used in the treatment of chronic cutaneous affections. At Amboyna, 

 the seeds, cut or crushed, are prepared with cold water, or macerated 

 for a long time to extract their noxious qualities. The kernel may 

 then be eaten, and a large quantity of oil is extracted from it, which 

 is used in frying, and in preparing food. Even then it purges those 

 persons who are not accustomed to it. The other Panyiece have 

 analogous properties. Hydnocarpus venenata? has a very dangerous, 

 poisonous fruit, which is fatal to man, and is used in Ceylon to 

 poison rivers ; but the fish which are procured in this way cause 

 terrible accidents. Trichadenia zeyianica 4 is used in the treatment of 

 the cutaneous affections of children. Gynocardia odoratct is also 

 employed in India for chronic skin diseases. The seeds, stripped of 

 their coats, are crushed or ground with butter, and applied topically 

 three or four times a day to the sores. The oil extracted from the 

 seeds is emetic ; it is used in the treatment of herpetic, syphilitic, 

 and scrofulous affections. Some Bixacece furnish a useful wood : 

 in Chili, Azara microjjhylla* said to furnish the Chinchin wood ; in 

 Java, Pangium edule, the stems of which are very hard ; in America, 

 the Anatto, logs of which are used for firing, or by wheelwrights, as 

 those of Homalium are in Guiana and the Antilles. 



1 See p. 289, note 1. 323 ; Fl. Med., 109 (vulg. Chaulmoogra, 



s Rumphia, iv. 19. — Lindl., Yeg. Kingd., 323. PetarTcurd). 



— Rosenth., op. cit., 665 (vulg. Pangi). 6 Phil., ex Rosenth., op. cit., 664. According 



3 G^ertn., FrucL, i. 288, t. 60, fig. 3 (1788). to M. C. Gat (FL (Ml., i. 192), Chilian Azaras 



— Endl., Enchirid., 480. — Lindl., Yeg. Kingd., have perfumed flowers, whence the common 



323 ; Fl. Med., 109. — Rosenth., op. cit., 685. — name of Aronio. They are used for ornament. 



? H. inebrians Vahl, Symb., i'.i. (1791), 100. — Several species are cultivated in our greenhouses. 



DC, Prodr., i. 257. Most of them are still called Liben, and have a 



4 Thw., Enum. PI. Zeyl., 19. wood of rather a bad quality. 



See p. 325, note 2. — Lindl., Yeg. Kingd., 



5 



x 2 



