528 Medical Botany. 



pens in twelve daj'S, and is known by the darkness of their complexion, and 

 the rattling of the seeds. At this time they appear wrinkled, and are of a 

 very dark brown colour, in which state they are stowed in bags or casks for 

 market. Some planters kiindry them, and it seems the most eligible me- 

 thod, when, from abundance of the crop, despatch and security against the 

 rain are very essential. 



" The more odoriferous and smaller the berries are, the better are they 

 reckoned. The leaves and bark of the tree are full of aromatic inflammable 

 particles, on account of which the growers are extremely cautious not to 

 suffer any fire to be made near the walks, for, if it once catch the trees, they 

 consume with great rapidity. Nothing, it is said, can be more delicious 

 than the odour of the walks in which the trees are pUinted, particularly 

 when they are in blossom. The friction of the leaves and smaller branches, 

 even in a gentle breeze, diffuses a most fragrant scent through the air, which 

 is thought to render it very salubrious." 



The berries smell and taste like cloves, juniper berries, cinnamon, and 

 pepper, or rather a mixture of all of them, and hence they are named All- 

 spice. They are employed under the latter name as a condiment, and in 

 medicine as an adjunct to bitters in dyspepsia, and other affections — 

 iaurus nobilis. The leaves and berries are carminative and sedative, but 

 they are little used by modern practitioners. 



No. XXXII. for August, contains 

 126 to 129. — iaurus Sassafras. The bark and wood were formerly 

 much celebrated in the cure of rheumatism and dropsy, but they are now 

 only prized as stimulant and diaphoretic in the " compound decoction of 

 sarsaparilla," formerly called the " Lisbon diet drink." — iaurus Cinnamo- 

 mum (for details of its culture and uses see p. 74.). '■' The cassia bud of 

 commerce is the fleshy hexangular receptacle of the seed of the L. Cinna- 

 momum. When gathered young, the receptacle completely envelopes the 

 embryo seed, which progressively protrudes, but is continually embraced by 

 the receptacle. The buds have the appearance of nails, with roundish heads 

 of various sizes. If carefully dried, the receptacle becomes nearly black, 

 and the point of the berry light brown. The seeds contract by drying, and 

 often fall out: the receptacle is then cup-shaped. When kept long, they 

 have a dirty brown colour, and possess very little of the flavour of cinna- 

 mon. By distillation, they yield an essential oil, not inferior to that of 

 cinnamon bark." — iaurus Cdmphora. The Japanese camphor is obtained 

 by distillation from this tree, but the greater part of what is brought to 

 Europe from Sumatra and Borneo is now fully ascertained to be the produce 

 of the Dryobalanops Cdmphora, a tree belonging to a distinct genus from 

 the laurel." — Centaurea benedicta. " This plant was formerly in such 

 high repute, that it obtained the name of the ' blessed thistle,' and was given 

 for the plague, worms, and numerous other diseases. If we are to believe 

 Simon Pauli, it has no equal in healing obstinate ulcers, and even cancers; 

 and Arnoldus de Villa-nova lauds it in the same extravagant manner. Not- 

 withstanding that it is now little employed, it is a useful medicine; the 

 strong decoction, or infusion, being capable, like the chamomile, of inducing 

 vomiting. The infusion, less strong, taken while warm, produces a copious 

 determination to the skin ; while 6 drachms of the leaves, to a pint of cold 

 water, forms an elegant bitter infusion, which is very efficacious in loss of 

 appetite and dyspepsia. The dose in powder is from 10 to 40 grains; of 

 the infusion, a wine-glassful every four hours." — Pistacia T'erebinthus. This 

 tree affords the Ghian or Cyprus turpentine, by wounding " the bark of the 

 trunk in several places during the month of July, leaving a space of about 

 oin. between the wounds; from these the turpentine exudes, and is re- 

 ceived on stones, upon which it becomes condensed by the coldness of the 

 night, so as to admit of being scraped off before sunrise. To free it from 



