38 



CASE The root-bark of this and probably of *S'. glauca, DC, 



20. comes to this country packed in bales, usually direct from 

 Jamaica. Used as a bitter tonic and in the treatment of 

 dysentery. 



Observe mounted specimens of silkworms and samples 

 of silk of the Ailanthus silkworm of China (Attacus 

 Cynthia, Drury), now introduced extensively into Western 

 Europe and Algeria ; it feeds on Ailanthus glandulosa, 

 Desf., which is perhaps the most successful tree for the 

 experimental rearing of different species of silkworms. 



Note also Mattipal, the fragrant resin of Ailanthus 

 malabartcaf DC, used in India medicinally, especially 

 in dysentery, and sometimes burnt as incense in Hindu 

 temples. 



CASE No. 113. Quassia Wood {Plcraena evcelsa, Ldl.). 



21. A large tree, native of Jamaica and other West Indian 

 Islands. This tree furnishes the Quassia or Bitter Wood 

 of chemists and is imported into this country in logs 

 of varying length ; it has an intensely bitter taste and is 

 made into* cups for holding water to produce a tonic 

 draught. Quassia is also used by brewers as a substitute 

 for hops in the manufacture of beer and ale, and in 

 horticulture as an insecticide. 



Note root of Pbnawar Pait or Bedara Plum 

 (Eurycoma longifolia, Jack), used by the natives at 

 Singapore as a febrifuge. 



No. 114. DiKA Bread. Made from the seeds of 

 the Wild Mango of Sierra Leone {Irvingia Barteri, 

 Hook. f.). The tree is a native of West Tropical Africa 

 and attains a height of :^0 to 40 feet. The seeds contain a 

 quantity of oil or fat similar to cocoa butter which is used 

 by the natives in cooking. The oily seeds of the Owala 

 {Pentaclethra macrophylla, Benth. : see Case 43) are some- 

 times used for mixing with those of Irvingia. Note fruits 

 of the Cay Cay (/. Oliveri, Pierre), from Cochin China, 

 where the fat from the seeds is also used as food. Note 

 fruits, wood and bark of Balanites Ro.rbifrghii, Planch., 

 a small thorny Indian tree. Nearly all parts of this tree 

 are used in native medicine in India and the nut is 

 employed for fireworks ; a small hole is drilled through 

 which the kernel is extracted ; the nut is then filled with 



