582 EUPHOEBIACE^. 



Croton Malamho yields a tonic bark. The oil procured from the seeds 

 of Euphorbia Lathyris, Oaper-spurge, has cathartic properties, and so 

 has that procured from the seeds of Jatropha Gurcas (Curcas purgans), 

 Physic or purging-nut, Jatropha muUifida, and Rurcf crepitans. The 

 fatty matter obtained from the seeds of Stillingia sehifera, the Tallow- 

 tree of China, is used for making candles ; the plant also yields a 

 bland oO. The roots of Eupliorhia pilosa and palustris are used as 

 purgatives, and are said to have been useful in hydrophobia. Bott- 

 lera tinctoria (Mallotus Philippinensis) is a small tree which grows in 

 Abyssinia, the Indian Peninsula, Philippines, and Australia. The 

 ruby-like glands on its tricoccous fruit are brushed off, and constitute 

 the powder known in Bengal as Kamale, which is administered for 

 tape-worm. 



Cascarilla is the bark of Croton Elmteria, and of other species of 

 Croton. It acts as a tonic and stimulant. When burned it gives 

 out a musky odour, and is often used in pastilles. The bark of an- 

 other species of Croton {G. Pseudo-china, or niveum), a native of the 

 West Indies and Mexico, is known by the name of Copalchi bark, 

 and used as a tonic. The bark of Buxus sempervirens, Box-tree, is 

 said to be alterative, and its leaves have bitter and purgative quali- 

 ties. Its wood is much used for wood-engraving. The tree is the 

 Hebrew ■i1B'"'n, Teashur. The hard wood called African Teak or 

 African Oak is the jproduce of Oldfieldia Africana. In the root of 

 Janipha Maiiihot {Manikot utilissima), a shrub about six feet high, 

 extensively cultivated in tropical countries, there is much starchy 

 matter deposited, usually along with a poisonous narcotic substance, 

 which is said to be hydrocyanic acid. The latter can be removed by 

 washing, or it can be driven off. by roasting, and then the starch is 

 used in the form of Cassava bread. There are two varieties of the 

 Cassava or Manioc plant ; one (called sometimes Janipha LceJUnffii) 

 having a. spindle-shaped root, brown externally, about six ounces in 

 weight, which contains amylaceous matter, without any bitterness, 

 and is used as food under the name of Sweet Cassava; another, 

 called Bitter Cassava, having a knotty root, black externally, and 

 sometimes 30 lbs. in weight, which is bitter and poisonous, and 

 requires to be rasped and washed thoroughly before the amylar 

 ceous matter can be used. From the starch of the bitter Cassava, 

 Tapioca is prepared by elutriation and granulating on hot plates. 

 Manihot starch is sometimes imported into Europe under the name 

 of Brazilian Arrow-root. The milky sap of Euphorbia phosphorea is 

 said to emit a peculiar phosphorescent light. That of Siphonia elas- 

 iica contains much caoutchouc, and supplies the bottle India-rubber. 

 Hmea brasilimsis is the Para rubber-tree. Ahurites laccifera fur- 

 nishes gum-lac in Ceylon. The seeds of Aleurites triloba, the candle- 

 nut tree, yield by expression an oil, which is purgative, and is also used 



