366 SOME REPUTED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF NEW SOUTH WALES, 



The bark contains an agreeable aromatic bitter. 

 This plant extends to Queensland. 



18. Cryptocarya australis, Benth., N.O. Lauriue?e, B.Fl., 



v., 299. 

 "Laurel" or " Moreton Bay Laurel " and " Grey Sassafras." 

 The bark has a persistently bitter taste, due to the presence of 

 an alkaloid which crystallises from its solution in stellate masses of 

 acicular crystals. When administered to warm-blooded animals 

 the alkaloid produced difficulty of respiration, ending in asphyxial 

 difficulty and death. It also had a poisonous action on cold- 

 blooded animals belonging to the reptilia. (Bancroft, in Aiostralian 

 Journ. of Pharm. 1887). 



This tree is also found in Queensland. 



19. CucuMis trigonus, Roxh., N.O. Cucurbitaceje, B.Fl., iii., 

 317. 



This is an aboriginal food, but I am unaware of its use in the 

 colonies as a medicine. In India it is put to very interesting use. 

 The fruit is very bitter, and at the feast of the Diwali, or New 

 Year of the Hindus, is brought to market for sale. The Hindus 

 of Bombay have a custom at this season of breaking the fruit 

 under the foot, and then touching the tongue and forehead with it, 

 with the idea that having tasted bitter of their own accord, they 

 may hope for preservation from misfortune during the year. It is 

 not eaten, but is used medicinally as a purgative. 



This plant extends from this colony to Northern Australia. 



20. Cymbonotus Lawsonianus, Gaud., N.O. Compositse, 



B.FL, iii., 674). 



In the southern parts of New South Wales the country people 

 prepare a salve used for wounds, by extracting the medicmal 

 properties of this plant by means of melted lard. Alternate 

 layers of lard and leaves are made, the mass is allowed to cool 

 slowly and afterwards the lai-d is run out and is ready for use. 



