SIMARUBACE^E. 199 



gynia, of the sexual system, it evidently is pentagynous ; for although the 

 styles are connected above, they are distinct below, are crowned with five 

 connected stigmas, and spring from a quinque-lobate germ. It flowers in 

 November and December, and prefers a sandy, arid soil. The bark was 

 long known and used in Europe before it was ascertained from what plant it 

 was procured. It was first sent from Guyana to Paris under the name of 

 Simarouba, as an almost infallible remedy in dysentery. The first to ascer- 

 tain its origin, was Aublet, but his account was overlooked until the publica- 

 tion of a paper by Dr. Wright, in the Transactions of the Royal Society of 

 Edinburgh, in which he gave a full account of it under the name of Quassia 

 simaruba, since which it has been described by many botanists, but unfortu- 

 nately under various names ; thus it is the simaruba Guyanensis of Richard, 

 the S. officinalis of De Candolle, and the Quassia simaruba of Linnaeus, 

 but the appellation bestowed upon it by Aublet, having priority, must be 

 adopted. The wood is used in Jamaica for a variety of purposes, but accord- 

 ing to Father Labat it is not fit for culinary purposes, as it imparts a bitter 

 taste to the food. It may here be noticed that Merat and De Lens, in their 

 Dictionary of Materia Medica, commit a great error in stating that this tree is 

 a native of Louisiana and Carolina, and is there used for cabinet work, 

 shingles, &c, but it has not been found within the limits of the United States. 



The Simaruba bark of commerce is in long pieces of various sizes, which 

 are much rolled or quilled. They are very fibrous, tough, light, of a grayish 

 colour externally, and of a yellow internally ; the surface is scaly, warty, and 

 marked with prominent ridges. They are inodorous, but excessively bitter. 

 This bark is obtained from the root only, that of the trunk and branches 

 being far inferior in its physical qualities. 



From an analysis of it by Morin, it was found to contain Quassin, a bitter 

 resin, a volatile oil, several salts, malic, and traces of gallic acid, a little iron, 

 and the usual vegetable constituents. PfafF states that it also contains a large 

 quantity of mucilage. Simaruba in small doses is a simple bitter tonic and 

 is extremely analogous to Quassia, but when administered freely it occasions 

 vomiting and purging, followed by copious perspiration and increase of the 

 urinary discharge. It was first introduced into practice as a valuable remedy 

 in dysentery ; during an epidemic of which in France, during 1718 to 1723, 

 it was highly beneficial, and was found to be successful when all other reme- 

 dies proved ineffectual. In consequence of this, it was very generally used 

 throughout Europe, not only for this complaint, but for every derangement of 

 the digestive organs, as well as those of the mucous membranes generally, 

 and the highest testimonials of its efficacy have been recorded by the most 

 eminent writers of the day. These writers all agree in stating, that in inter- 

 nal diseases it restores the normal powers of the bowels, allays their spasmo- 

 dic motions, promotes urine and perspiration, removes the mental depression 

 so constantly attending these complaints, disposes to sleep, relieves tormina 

 and tenesmus, and changes the character of the alvine evacuations. Not- 

 withstanding the high character awarded to it, it is now but little used. This 

 may have arisen from the discredit thrown on it by Cullen, who declares that 

 in his hands it proved inferior to Chamomile in its remedial powers. At pre- 

 sent those practitioners who are in the habit of using it, are of opinion that it 

 is appropriate only to those cases of bowel disease where there is no fever ; 

 or in other words, in the latter stages. In such a state of things, given in 

 conjunction with laudanum, it has proved highly beneficial. Like Ipecacu- 

 anha, it acts most favourably when it creates some nausea. With the other 

 tonics of its class, it may be given in dyspepsia, and where it is wished to 

 restore the strength. It is evident that it is too much neglected at present, and 

 its true powers should be carefully tested. It is given in infusion, made with 



