5i4 



HISTORY OF THE VijGETABLE KINGDOM. 



Rhubarb acts as a mild purgative, and as a 

 tonic and astringent. It may be given in powder, 

 in doses of a tea-spoonful, or in infusion in 

 water, or as a tincture dissolved in spirits. It 

 is found to yield more of its purgative quality 

 to water than to alchohol. 



In habitual costiveness it is not an appropriate 

 medicine, as its astringency tends to keep up 

 this state of the bowels. In stomachic aifections, 

 and laxity of the intestines, it is, however, 

 highly useful; and on this account is a common 

 remedy in dian-hsea, or looseness of the bowels, 

 either alone or given with some absorbent sub- 

 stance, as magnesia or chalk. 



We have elsewhere alluded to rhubarb as fur- 

 nishing from its stalks a pleasant and salutary 

 acid substance, which is made into tarts. The 

 Persians have for a long period been in the habit 

 of using this substance for the same purpose. 



Gamboge. This substance is obtained from 

 the juice of a tree which grows in Siam and 

 Ceylon, belonging to the natural family «rzcoce(By 

 poli/gamia, moncecia, of Linnasus. This tree is 

 of a middling size; and the leaves and young 

 shoots when cut, yield a juice which soon con- 

 cretes into a yellow resin. 



A similar substance is also obtained from 

 various species of garcinia and hypericum. This 

 gum is brought fi-om India in large cakes or 

 rolls. The best sort has a deep yellow or orange 

 colour, shining fractui'e, and is free from irregu- 

 larities. It has no smell, and very little taste, 

 unless kept in the mouth for some time, when 

 it imparts a slight sense of acrimony. It is a 

 most active purgative, both upwards and down- 

 wards, in doses of from two to six grains. In 

 cases of tapeworm, it has been given in doses of 

 fifteen grains, combined with fifteen grains of 

 vegetable alkali. In general, it is exhibited in 

 small quantity, along with aloes or other pur- 

 gatives, in the form of pills. It requires to be 

 administered with caution. 



It forms an active ingredient in "Morrison's 

 pills." It is also an ingredient in most of the 

 nostrums for the cure of tapeworm. 



Ipecacuan. It is somewhat singular that the 

 real plant from which this well known emetic 

 powder is obtained, has not yet been accurately 

 ascertained. It has been referred to several 

 different genera, as euphorbia, lonicera, viola, and 

 physcotria. The annexed cut is a figure of the 

 true ipecacuan plant, but without the inflores- 

 cence; the original of which was sent to the 

 late Joseph Banks by governor Philip, from 

 Brazil. 



There are three sorts of ipecacuan root com- 

 monly brought to this country, chiefly distin- 

 guished by the colours of ash gray, brown, and 

 white. The ash coloured is brought from Peru, 

 and is a small wrinkled root, bent, and contorted 

 into a great variety of figures; brought over in 



short pieces fuU of wrinkles and deep circular 

 fissures, down to a small white^ woody fibre, 



Ipecacuan. 



that runs in the middle of each piece. The 

 bark is compact, brittle, looks smooth, and 

 resinous, upon breaking it has very little smell; 

 the taste is bitterish, a little acrid, and slightly 

 mucilaginous. 



The brown is small, somewhat more ^^Tinkled 

 than the foregoing, of a brown or blackish 

 colour without, and white within. This comes 

 from Brazil. The white sort is woody, has no 

 wrinkles, and no perceptible bitterness in taste. 

 The ash coloured is that generally preferred for 

 medical use. The brown has been sometimes 

 observed, even in a small dose, to produce violent 

 effects. The white is of a weak action. Accord- 

 ing to Dr Irving, the root contains a resin and 

 gum, the latter being more powerfully emetic 

 than the former, and also existing in greater 

 quantity. The bark is stronger than the woody 

 part, and the whole root is antiseptic and 

 astringent. Vinegar has the power of destroying 

 the emetic quality of the root; thirty grains of 

 the powder given in acetous acid, only produces 

 a laxative effect on the bowels. 



Piso gives the first account of ipecacuan in 

 1649; and about thirty years after this period it 

 was introduced into general practice in France, 

 by Kelvetius. In doses of fifteen to twenty- 

 five grains, it forms one of the safest and most 

 effectual of emetics; in smaller quantities, it is 

 employed as a sudorific; and in all those cases 

 where the increased action of the vessels of the 

 skin is deemed useful. Combined with opium, 

 it forms the celebrated sweating medicine called 

 Dover's powder. 



Squill (scilla maritima). Natural family 

 asphodelicej hexandria, monogynia, of Linnaeus. 

 This is a perennial, herbaceous plant, with a 

 large bulbous root, coated like the common 

 onion, of a reddish colour, and abounding in a 

 thick juice. The stem is round, smooth, suc- 

 culent, and is from two to three feet in height. 

 The leaves spring from the root, and are long, 

 sword-shaped, and pointed. The flowers are 

 produced in a long close spike, and have six 



