228 



MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Description. — Roots long, spreading, of a blackish-red colour externally, red in- 

 ternally, styptic, bitter. Stem procumbent, suffruticose, divided into numerous 



spreading branches, which 

 F 'g- H6. are white and silky when 



young, but black and naked 

 when old. The leaves are 

 scattered, sessile, oblong- 

 ovate, and somewhat acute, 

 covered on both surfaces 

 with silky hairs. The flow- 

 ers are terminal, solitary, 

 and borne on short foot- 

 stalks. The calyx consists 

 of four red sepals, the infe- 

 rior largest, hairy exter- 

 nally, but smooth on the 

 inner surface. The co- 

 rolla is formed of four pe-" 

 tals, the two smaller being 

 sessile, and the larger and 

 superior unguiculate. The 

 stamens are 3, hypogynous, 

 with small, urceolate an- 

 thers, having two openings 

 at their apex. The ovary 

 is ovate, supporting a small 

 •red style, crowned with a 

 simple stigma. The fruit 

 is a dry, globose berry or 

 drupe, covered with stiff, 

 K. triandra. reddish hairs. 



This plant presents one of those anomalies so often met with, of one or 

 more species of a genus having a different number of sexual organs than the 

 others ; in Krameria, the usual number of stamens is four or five, whilst in 

 this species they are but three. It is a native of many parts of Peru, usually 

 growing in a dry sandy soil on the sides of mountains. It was discovered 

 by Ruiz in 1780, but had long been known to the natives as a powerful 

 astringent. It flowers throughout the year, but most freely in the autumn. 

 It is collected in large quantities, and the roots exported after being well 

 dried, or an extract prepared from them, which, as well as the root, is 

 exported to Portugal, where they are used to adulterate red wines. It was 

 first made known to the medical profession by Dr. Reece of London, who, 

 having learnt that it was employed in Spain and Portugal as above stated, 

 was induced in 1808, to institute some experiments with a parcel of the root, 

 sold in London as part of a prize cargo. In consequence of his eulogies of 

 it, it became a favourite remedy, and was admitted as officinal in all the 

 Pharmacopoeias. 



The root as found in commerce, consists of woody, cylindrical pieces, 

 from the thickness of a goose-quill to twice that size. It has a somewhat 

 fibrous, ferruginous-coloured bark, of an intensely astringent and slightly 

 bitter taste. The ligneous part is tough and fibrous, and is somewhat muci- 

 laginous on being chewed. It imparts its properties to both cold and boiling 

 water, but more fully to alcohol. 



Medical Properties, Src — Rhatany being a powerful astringent and tonic, 

 has been found useful in checking profuse discharges, and in giving tone to 

 the system. Dr. Perceval has spoken highly of a solution of the extract in a 

 camphorated mixture in the advanced stages of typhus fever, and it has been 



