EUPHORBIA TIRUCALLI 213 



ister it with other drugs of the same action to increase its effect. 

 Ainslie states that the native herb-doctors of India give the 

 juice in intestinal obstruction and in the oedema of malarial 

 cachexia. The dose is 1.25 grams in 24 hours given in 300 

 cc. of sweetened water in divided doses. This dose is, in 

 my opinion, dangerous ; 4060 centigrams a day is more 

 prudent. 



BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. A small tree, from 5 to 6 high. 

 Trunk erect, jointed, 5-sided, at the angles 2 rows of thorns. 

 Leaves spatulate, fleshy. Flowers yellowish. Calyx bell- 

 shaped, 5-lobed. Corolla, numerous imbricated, spatulate 

 petals with ravelled or fringed ends. Stamens in groups. 

 Styles 3. Stigma coarse. Seed vessel, 3 carpels on a stalk. 



HABITAT. In all parts of Luzon. 



Euphorbia Tirucalli, L. 



NOM. VULG. GmsuMa, Sp.-Fil.; Katwit, Suelda, Tag. 



USES. The milky juice of this species is very caustic. It 

 is used chiefly in India mixed with oil as an embrocation for 

 rheumatism ; given internally it is regarded as an antisyphilitic. 

 Dr. J. Shortt states that it is an excellent alterant in syphilis 

 in dose of 30 centigrams, morning and evening. It is further 

 employed in malarial hypertrophy of the spleen, in asthma and 

 as a purgative ; in a word the same virtues are attributed to it 

 as to the foregoing species. 



BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION. Small trees, 9-12 high. Trunk 

 erect. Branches cylindrical, stumpy (not tapering), several 

 very small leaves at the ends. Flowers yellowish, in umbels. 

 Calyx, 5 rounded, fleshy sepals. Corolla, 5 groups of woolly 

 hairs on the divisions of the calyx. Stamens 5, inserted on the 

 sepals, with double or irregular anthers. Seed vessel, 3 carpels 

 each with one seed. 



HABITAT. Very common, especially in the suburbs of Ma- 

 nila where they serve as hedges. 



