246 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



Piscidia. — Linn. 



Calyx campanulate, 5-cleft. Carina obtuse. Stamens monadelphous, with the tenth 

 free at base. Style glabrous. Legume linear, with 4 membranous wings. Seeds oval, 

 compressed. 



A genus of West Indian trees, with unequally pinnate leaves. It derives 

 its name from the bark, especially that of the root, being used to poison fish. 



P. erythrina, Swartz. — Leaflets oblong, or obovate-elliptic ; racemes axillary ; pedun- 

 cle of the legume, three times longer than the calyx; wings interrupted. 



Linn., Sp. PI. 993 ; Sloane, Jam. 2, t. 176, f. 45 ; Macfadyen, Fl. Jam. 

 i. 258 ; Lindley, Fl. Med. 246. 



Common Names. — Jamaica Dogwood ; Common Dogwood. 



Foreign Name. — Bois ivrant, Fr. 



This tree is very common in Jamaica, and many of the other West Indian 

 islands; flowering in the spring, before the appearance of the leaves. 

 The wood is much esteemed, being heavy, firm, and durable. The bark is 

 used to intoxicate fish ; for which purpose it is coarsely powdered, and thrown 

 into the deep, still water of some stream ; or, being previously macerated with 

 the lees of a still-house and quick-lime, and put into baskets, these are held 

 over the side of a boat until their contents are washed out, when, in a short 

 time, the fish are affected, and float on the surface. 



Medical Uses, $-c. — From the experiments of Dr. Hamilton, (Lond. Med. 

 fy Phys. Journ., and Journ. Phil. Coll. Pharm., v. 159,) it would appear 

 that this bark is likely to prove a valuable addition to the Materia Medica. 

 He found that the active ingredient in it, was of a resinous nature, and hence 

 that a tincture was the best mode of exhibition. He used one ounce of pow- 

 dered bark to twelve ounces of alcohol; the tincture obtained, was of a honey- 

 yellow colour, with no offensive taste or smell. A drachm of this taken 

 whilst suffering from a severe toothache, caused a burning sensation in the 

 epigastric region, spreading to the surface, and a copious perspiration, fol- 

 lowed by a deep sleep, with no unpleasant sensations on waking, as is the 

 case with the preparations of opium. He also tried its effect as a topical 

 application in cases of toothache from carious teeth, and found it successful 

 in every instance, with no return of the pain. He states that the bark should 

 be gathered in April, when the plant is in full flower. Should further expe- 

 riments show that this bark has the efficient properties ascribed to it by Dr. 

 Hamilton, it will supply a great desideratum in our curative agents. 



Another species, the P. carthagiensis, also a native of Jamaica, and said 

 by Lunan to be called Bitch-wood, has the same properties as the Dogwood. 

 They both probably derive their name from the decoction of the bark being 

 used to cure the mange in dogs. 



Andira. — lioureiro. 



Calyx urceolate, 5-toothed, or entire. Corolla papilionaceous. Stamens diadelphous. 

 Legume drupaceous, 1-celled, 1-seeded. 



This genus was first noticed by Piso, under the name of Andira, but was 

 included in that of Geoffroya, of Linnaeus, from which it has again been sepa- 

 rated on account of the character of its fruit. At the same time, as is justly 

 observed by De Candolle, these two genera are very closely allied ; and 

 neither of them can, with strictness, be considered as appertaining to the 

 Fabaceae, as their fruit is analogous to that of the Amygdalese. All the 

 species are large trees, and possessed of medicinal properties. 



