43''' ErpHORniACE.T; 



or an iiivnlih-rr. In tlie large genus 'JZuphorbia there is a cup- 

 shaped involucre, with yellow crescent-shaped glands round its 

 margin, enclosing several staminate flowers, each consisting of 

 one stamen on a pedicel, surrounding oiie longer stalked carpellate 

 flower of ;; united caipi'L^, wUli as many styles, sligjiias, chambers 

 to the fruil, and seeds. The jrii/t often separates elastically into 

 its constituent car])els. Among so n|ijiierous an assemblage of 

 plants, we should expect to find a considerable variety of proper- 

 ties, which, indeed, exists, though nearly all the Order agree in 

 the acrid, narcotic, or corrosive character of the juice. A small 

 quantity of the rnilky juice of one of our herbaceous British 

 species of Spurge (Euphorbia) placed upon the tongue produces a 

 burning heat in the mouth and throat, Hvhich contumes for many 

 hours, but may be allayed by frequent draughts of milk. I'he 

 roots of several of tlie common kinds enter into the comjiosition 

 ;)f some of the c}uack fever medicines ; but they are too violent 

 in their action to be used with safety. The Irish Spurge (E. 

 hihi'nia) is extensively used b)' the peasants of Kerry for poisoning, 

 t>r rather stupefying, fish. So powerful'are its efi'ects, that a small 

 creel, or basket, filled with the bruised plant, sultices to poison 

 the iish for se\"eral miles down a river. The (_"aper-Spurge (E. 

 Ldthyris), a common weed in gardens, is a dangerous substitute 

 for genuine capers, its uniipe fruits su|)erfi(:ially resembling the 

 unopened flower-buds of Cap pan's spnnha, an entirely distinct 

 shrubby plant, indigenous to the south'of Europe, fium Euphor- 

 bium is a gum-resin obtained from Euphorbia resioijera, a native 

 of the lower slopes of the Atlas Mc^mtains, by wounding the 

 stems, and collecting tlie sap which (^xudes. Pliny relates that 

 the plant was discovered by Juba, King of Mauretania, and named 

 by him after his physician, Eiiphorbus., It is an acrid poison, so 

 violent in its effects as to produce .s'e,vere inflammatiun of the 

 nostrils if those who are employed in powdering it do not guard 

 themselves from its dust. It was formerly employed for raising 

 blisters, but is now only used in veterinary medicine, or for 

 mixing with rubber. Tlie Australian Asthma Herb (E. pilulifna) 

 is iKiw imported in considerable ([uantities. The Manchineel tree 

 (Hippniihiiii' Maiinm'lla) of South America lias an intensely acrid 

 white juice, the least drop of which, or 'even the smoke from the 

 wood when burnt, causes temporary bfindness ; but other alleged 

 actions have been much exaggerated. Its fruit, which is beautiful 

 and looks like an apple, contains a similar juice, which so burns 

 the lips of those who bite it as to griard the careless Irom any 

 danger of eating it. Manioc (Manlliol iiliUssima) is a shrub 

 al)iiiit 6 feet higfi, Indigenous to the \\est Indies and South 



