GAECINIA MAXGOSTANA 36 



GUTTIFER^. 



Gamboge Family. 

 Garcinia mangostana, L. 



NoM. VuLG. — Mangostdn, Sp.; Mangosteen, Eng. 



Uses. — The seed of the fruit is astringent and is given inter- 

 nally as an infusion in dysentery and chronic diarrhoea. The 

 decoction is very useful as an injection in leucorrhoea. 



The following potion has given excellent results to Dr. Ed. 

 J. Waring in chronic dysentery and the diarrhoeas of tropical 

 countries : 



Dried peel of mangosteen 60 grams. 



Cumin seed 5 " 



Coriander 5 " 



Water 1,200 " 



Boil till reduced to 600 grams. Take 120 grams twice a 

 day. Tincture of opium may be added. 



An aiialysis of mangosteen peel by W. Schmidt demonstrated 

 a large quantity of tannin, a resin and a crystallizable principle 

 named mangostin (C^gH^jOj) which exists in the form of fine, 

 golden yellow laminae, tasteless, soluble in alcohol, ether and 

 the alkalies, insoluble in water. With the perchloride of iron 

 it gives a blackish-green color, and sulphuric acid colors it red. 



Botanical Description. — The mangosteen 'gro'ws only in 

 tlie southern islands of the Archipelago and its delicious fruit 

 is the part of the plant known in Manila. The peel is at the 

 present time almost universally employed in medicine. The 

 fruit is about the size of a small Manila orange, the pericarp a 

 dark red or chocolate color, tough and thick, crowned with the 

 remains of the calyx. On breaking it open the edible portion 

 of the fruit is seen, consisting of 6-18 seeds covered by a white, 

 sweet pulp, cottony in appearance, of a delicious slightly acrid 

 flavor. 



