NEW DEUGS. 105 



medical profession being drawn to this new and important 

 drug, and consequently there arose a very great demand for 

 it — a demand, indeed, far exceeding the supply. Immature 

 fruits containing unripened seeds, and consequently less 

 powerful action, arrived in the market together with the 

 seeds of other species than S. hispidus, so that the tincture 

 prepared from them could not be relied upon. Of late, 

 however, a better system of collecting seems to have been 

 established, and tincture and tabloids of Slrophanthus are 

 now advertised as regular articles of trade. Though it 

 was to Strophanthus hispidus that the credit was first 

 given as possessing the valuable cardiac properties, a second 

 species was described as S. kombe, which has since shared 

 its reputation. These two are now included under the one 

 species, S. hispidus. In Central Africa, the seeds when 

 ground, mixed with water, and made into a paste, are used for 

 poisoning arrows, both for purposes of the chase and in war. 



Strychnos toxifera. — This plant is well known as 

 furnishing the Curare or Wourali poison of British 

 Guiana, which is prepared by scraping the bark, steeping 

 it in water, and concentrating the fluid by evaporation. 

 The natives use it for tipping their arrows in hunting as 

 well as in war. It was brought to notice in this country 

 in 1878 as a remedy in epilepsy, chorea, and hydrophobia, 

 and is still included in our druggists' price lists. 



Turnera diffusa, var. aphrodisiaca. — This plant belongs 

 to a small order, Tumeracese. A fluid extract of the plant 

 was introduced to English pharmacy in 1874, ixnder the 

 name of Damiana, and recommended in renal and vesical 

 diseases and in nephritic albumina. In some reports of its 

 effects it is described as being " one of the best remedies in 

 inflammatory diseases of the kidneys ; " and taken as an 

 infusion in the form of tea, prepared by pouring a cupful 

 of hot water upon a teaspoonful of the dried leaves, it is 

 said to have a marked effect upon sick headache. 



