SOO NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



bark are extremclj^ irritant and iwisouoiis ; applied to the eyes tlioy 

 cause violent 'feplitlialmia. It was thought possible to utilise these 

 powerful properties in therapeutics. The leaves have been applied 

 topically to the skin to modify chronic cutaneous affections, erup- 

 tions, and warts, and an alcoholic tincture has been employed as an 

 eye-salve in cases of ophthalmia. These medicines have been given 

 inwardly for paralysis, gouty affections, and rheumatism.' The two 

 closely allied species contain a gummy resinous juice which quickly 

 solidifies, blackens, and stains the skin brown.- R. 3Ii'foj/ium,^ a 

 species from the Antilles, has an astringent bark, recommended for 

 diarrhcoic, hemorrhoidal, scrofulous, and venereal affections. It 

 yields by incision a gum-resin called Doctor-ffum, used internally as 

 an évacuant in syphilitic affections, diseases of the bladder and liver, 

 and externally for the treatment of sores. The leaves have been 

 prescribed tojiically for malignant pustule, and inwardly as astringent. 

 JÎ. cofituis* (fig. 310-313), or European Fustic,^ growing in the south, 

 from the west of Spain to the base of the Caucasus, has been recom- 

 mended as a febrifuge ; its bitter bark has been proposed as a sub- 

 stitute for chincona. The leaves are used to make gargles in cases of 

 buccal and pharyngial ulcerations, but it is especially an industrial 

 plant. The wood with a brownish and greenish heart is valued 

 in cabinet-work, and the tincture is used to dye stuffs and morocco 

 orange yellow; it is mixed with cochineal or Prussian blue 

 to obtain chamois or green tones. Its leaves are used also for 

 tanning skins. Many other Sumachs "^ .are employed in different 

 parts of the world. Several C'hinese and Japanese species, 



' MÉR. et Del. Diet. Mat. Med. vi. 78. gcnim Bl, which, in Java and Japan, yields 



^ They contain, besides the gum-resin, a wax ; the R. Cldnense, whose hemes furnish 



glycoside called coriamijrtine. Coliuisonia caua- oil ; the R. elcgans Ait. whose leaves are smoked 



densi.t and Verbena urtictefolia are pointed out with tobacco in Mexico, and whose souiish and 



a3 their antidotes. sharp berries are used as a condiment ; the R. 



^ 1j. Atmrii. T. 395. — Sloan. Mist, ii, t. 199, lariffatum Jj. and viiiiii/ale Y aul, from the Cape, 



fig. 5.— DC Prodi: n. 2. — Desc. FI. SJêd. des used for wheelwrights' work; R. striatum K. 



Ant, ii 49. — March. Anacard. 144. and Pav. from Peru, dyeing species (yellow) ; 



* L. Spec. 383. — Jacq. FL Auslr. t. 238. — • the R. ajri/ocantha Schousu. or DJrdari, from 

 Gren. et GoDK. Ft. de Fr. i. 340. — Gum. op. Morocco, used for dyeing silk stufl's black ; if. 

 ci7. iii. 488.^ — Cotants ciriaria Don. Ptmjit. ISO. albidum ScHOUSB. anà penliiphyllnm Desf. of 

 — T. Inst. 610, t. 380. — C. Coygi/(/ria Scop. FL northern Africa, whose friuts are edible, and 

 Ciirii. ed. 2, n. 368. — JIce.slh, Meth. 73. eaten as condiments; R. suaveolens Ait. used in 



•'' Fustic, Coqiiesigrue, Arbre à perrmjiics. t)ie United Stiites for dyeing orange yellow ; R. 



• Particularly R. scrratum and R. integri- Thunbcrgii UooK. a species from the Cape, 

 folium (sect. Stgpkouia), species from North yielding cabinet wood, etc. (See Eosentii. op. 

 Auieiica, yielding a stimulant resin; R. pupi- cit. 849, 1155). 



