CASE Spurge Order (EuphorMaceae). A large family, 

 ' 103^. consisting of about 3,000 species, exhibiting great variety 

 in floral structure, which is very imperfectly represented 

 by our British Spurges. The order is widely diffused^ 

 most abundant towards the Equator, especially in South 

 America. Many contain a milky juice, which is often 

 dangerously poisonous. Several species afford invaluable 

 medicines ; some, after the removal of their venomous 

 juice, yield excellent farina. 



Observe Queensland Asthma Herb (Euphorbia 

 pihilifera, L.), a common weed in the tropics, employed as 

 a remedy in asthma, bronchitis, and other diseases of the 

 respiratory organs. Near this note Katti-mandu, the 

 inspissated juice of Euphorbia trigona, Haw., employed 

 in India for fixing knives into handles, and for similar 

 purposes. 



On a lower shelf are wood and inspissated juice of 

 Eup)horbia antiquorum^ L. The fresh juice is employed 

 in medicine in India as a purgative and for the treatment 

 of rheumatism and toothache. 



In the next compartment of this Case note specimens 

 of iron coated with paint prepared from the gum of species 

 of Euphorbia. The paint so prepared is said to be durable,, 

 and a preservative against corrosion, and is used for ships' 

 bottoms. Gum Euphorbium, an occasional article of 

 import into this country, one of the ingredients used, is 

 furnished by Euphorbia resinifera, Berg., a fleshy 

 perennial plant of Morocco. It is obtained by making 

 incisions in the plant, when the milky juice flows, and 

 hardens on exposure to the air. It was formerly used as 

 an emetic and purgative, but owing to its violent and 

 dangerous action, it is now seldom employed, except in 

 veterinary practice, and as a rubefacient and vesicant. 



' Specimens are also shown of the inspissated juice of 

 EuphOi'bia TirucalU, L., a small tree, native of Africa, 

 Cultivated in India and Burma as a hedge plant. This is 

 probably the source of Almeidina, Potato Gum, or 

 Cassoneira Gum, of Angola and Loanda, a poisonous 

 gutta-like substance which Soon becomes brittle, but is* 

 however believed to be employed as a substitute for Gutta 

 iPercha in some industries. 



