CUCURBITACE^E. 307 



Kings, iv. 39, 40) as poisonous. It was known to, and employed by Hippo- 

 crates, not as a purgative, but as a pessary to induce menstruation. Other 

 ancient writers allude to it, and Pliny speaks of it under the name it now 

 bears. There are two varieties mentioned by Ray, the major and minor, 

 which agree with the Spanish and Mogadore of the present day. It is im- 

 ported into this country from various ports in the Mediterranean, and all that 

 comes to this market is of the first variety, and is always deprived of its rind. 

 It is in the form of round, white, light balls, composed of a spongy, dried 

 pulp, containing numerous seeds. The pulp is tough, and intensely and dis- 

 agreeably bitter. The seeds, when perfectly freed from the pulp, are bland 

 and oleaginous, and are used in some parts of Africa as an important article 

 of food. 



Colocynth has been analyzed by several chemists, and found to contain : 

 bitter matter (colocynthin), extractive, resin, gum, &c. ,' the active principle 

 is the bitter matter, which forms about an eighth of the whole pulp ; it is a 

 yellowish-brown, translucent, brittle substance, soluble both in water and al- 

 cohol, but most readily so in the latter. The part used in medicine is exclu- 

 sively the pulp, which from its nature being powdered with great difficulty, is 

 seldom administered in substance, but is usually prescribed in the form of ex- 

 tract, either alone or variously compounded with other ingredients. 



Medical Properties. — In small doses, Colocynth is a safe and valuable 

 purgative of the hydragogue class ; in large doses it operates as a drastic, 

 and in over-quantities acts as an acrid poison. In its action it resembles gam- 

 boge, but acts more energetically on the colon. It is scarcely ever given 

 alone ; but there is no purgative more habitually prescribed than the com- 

 pound extract, either alone or in combination with calomel. The dose of 

 colocynth is from two to eight grains, mixed with bland powder ; of the ex- 

 tract from five grains to a scruple, which is also that of the compound ex- 

 tract. No preparation is better suited to cases of habitual constipation than 

 this, as it operates effectually, but at the same time mildly. Colocynth and 

 its preparations may be employed to fulfil every indication for which purga- 

 tives are administered ; and it would therefore be superfluous to notice its 

 powers in any individual disease. 



Some other species are possessed of the same properties as the C. hard- 

 wickii, a native of India. It has a very bitter pulp, and is similar in quality 

 to Colocynth. (Royle, Illus. 220.) Another Indian species, C. pseudo-colo- 

 cynthis (Royle, Illus. 220), is in common use- in Northern India as a purga- 

 tive; it is said to be fully equal to the officinal article. The Colocynth of the 

 Cape of Good Hope may also prove distinct, as it certainly bears a much 

 milder fruit, since this is used as a pickle, and is said to possess no bitterness. 

 Our native species, C. perennis, found west of the Mississippi, is probably 

 active, as the fruit is extremely bitter and fetid. 



Ecbalium. — Richard. 



Corolla 5 — 6-cleft ; anthers tridelphous, ovules in two rows in each cell. Stigmas 3, 

 2-horned. Fruit an elastically and irregularly-bursting peponida. 



This genus was established by Richard to contain certain species of Mo- 

 mordica, and appears to be a very natural one. 



E. elaterium, Linn. — Leaves cordate, sinuated or lobed, rough. Stem short without 

 tendrils. Fruit elliptical, hispid. 



Momordica elaterium, Linn., Sp. PL 1434; Woodville, ii. t. 71 ; Stokes, 

 Bat. Mat. Med. iv. 166; Stephenson and Churchill, i. 34; Lindley, Fl. 

 Med. 85; Ecbalium elaterium, Rich., E. officinale, Nees and Eberm. iii. 101. 



