360 SOME REPUTED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF NEW SOUTH WALES, 



This tree is found in all the colonies except South and Western 

 Australia. 



5. Acacia salicina var. varians, Lindl. {A. varians, Benth.), 



N.O. Leguminosae, B.Fl. ii, 367. 



The " Goobang " of the natives of the western interior. 



Sir Thomas Mitchell speaks of the natives using a bough of 

 this tree to poison the fish in water-holes. 



This tree is found in the interior of the sub-tropical portion of 

 Australia. 



6. AcHRAS LAURIFOLIA, F.v.M. ( Sideroxylon Richardi, F.v.M. 



in Muell. Gens. p. 92), K.O. Sapotace^, B.Fl., iv., 282. 



The bark has a remarkably sweet taste, but is at the same time 

 astringent. Dr. Bancroft suggests that lozenges made of an 

 extract of it might pi'ove useful in throat diseases. Following is 

 Mr. Staiger's analysis of the bark : — 



Extract (containing glycyrrhizin) ... ... 30 



Tannin 12 



A substance intermediate between india-nibber 



and gutta-percha ... ... ... ... 0'25 



Woody fibi-e ... ... ... ... ... 50 



Moisture 7-75 



100-0 

 This tree extends to Queensland. 



7. AcHRYANTHES ASPERA, Linn., N.O. Amarantacese, B.Fl., v. 

 246. 



I cannot find that this plant has yet entered into Australian 

 domestic medicine, but in India it is extensively and variously 

 used, although some of the uses may appear ludicrous to us. 

 Tt is administered in cases of dropsy. The seeds are given in 

 hydrophobia, and in cases of snake-bite, as well as in ophthalmia 

 and cutaneous diseases. The flowering-spikes rubbed with a 

 little sugar are made into pills and given internally to people 

 bitten by mad dogs. The leaves taken fresh and reduced to a 



