MELIACE^E. 181 



state that a decoction of them is purgative; but they appear rather to be 

 analogous to those of the other species in their properties, tonic and astrin- 

 gent. They are eaten by cattle with perfect impunity. 



The berries, which have a sweetish pulp, are also said to be anthelmintic, 

 but only in large doses. Sometimes, however, they cause unpleasant effects ; 

 thus M. Tournon gives a case in which convulsions, and the most copious 

 vomiting and purging were induced by the ingestion of a few of them {Jour. 

 Gen. de Med.) The nuts furnish much oil on expression, which is used as 

 a vermifuge by the Javanese, and is also esteemed as an application to foul 

 ulcers, and as a liniment in rheumatic and spasmodic disorders. Michaux 

 states, that an ointment prepared from the pulp, is employed in Persia, in 

 cases of tinea capitis and other obstinate cutaneous affections. 



All the other species of Melia are possessed of active qualities ; but the 

 most important is the M. azederachta, which differs from the last-mentioned 

 species mainly in having simple pinnate leaves. The medical properties of 

 this are, however, very different; as Ainslie states that the bark is bitter and 

 astringent, and is considered by the Hindoo practitioners as amongst their 

 most valuable tonics, and they employ it for every purpose to which cinchona 

 is applicable, and with fully equal success. He is also of opinion that it con- 

 tains a principle analogous to quinine. A sort of toddy is also obtained 

 from this tree, and the M. sempervirens, which is prescribed in India as a 

 stomachic. 



Canella. — Swartz. 



Sepals 5. Petals 5, somewhat coriaceous, aestivation contorted. Stamens 15, con- 

 nected, with 15 furrowed anthers. Stigmas 3. Berry 3-celled (or by abortion 1) ; cells 

 1 — 2-seeded. 



A genus of a single species, respecting which much confusion formerly 

 existed among botanists, from its being confounded with the Drymis winteri. 

 This latter, as mentioned when treating of it, was discovered by Captain 

 Winter, in 1579; and, in honour of him, was called Cortex winterana by 

 Clusius. In the beginning of the seventeenth century the present bark wasr 

 introduced, and noticed by the same writer under the name of Canella ; this, 

 Parkinson, in his Theatrum, has mistaken for the Winter's bark ; but Bauhin 

 was the first who confounded the names, by styling the Cortex winteranus, 

 Canella alba ; and although Sir Hans Sloane gave separate descriptions of 

 them in the Transactions of the Royal Society, these were so- little attended 

 to, that not only Lemery, Pomet, and other writers on the Materia Medica, 

 considered them as identical, but even Linnceus included them both under the 

 name of Laurus winterana, but afterwards established the Canella as a dis- 

 tinct genus, calling it Wintera, thinking that it was the tree furnishing the 

 bark discovered by Captain Winter. Of late years this having been again 

 found, and the tree described, no further mistake can arise. The two plants 

 grow in different parts, and belong to very different natural orders. 



C. alba, Murray. — Flowers in terminal corymbs ; leaves coriaceous, spathulate, and 

 obtuse. 



Common Names. — White canella, Wild cinnamon. 



Foreign Names. — Canelle blanche, Fr. ; Canella bianca, It. ; Wiesser 

 zimmet, Ger. 



Swartz, Trans. Lin. Soc., i. 96; Woodville, ii. 318; Stokes, Med. Bot. % 

 iii. 12; Stephenson & Churchill, ii. 66; Winterana canella, Linn.; Sp. 

 PI., 636. 



