36G MEDICAL BOTAJNY. 



segments are thus enlarged, they vary much in size. Corolla tubular ; tube of an obscure 

 green colour, tomentose ; limb 5-parted, segments oval, obtuse, purple. Stamens inserted 

 into the base of the corolla, longer than the tube, with incumbent, 2-celIed anthers. Ova- 

 ry turbinate, with a short style, having an obtuse stigma. Capsule nearly globose, open- 

 ing at the summit, loculicidal. Seeds flat, orbicular, with a membranaceous wing. 



This shrub is a native of Georgia and Florida, growing in wet soils along 

 the sea-coasts ; its western limits have not been fully ascertained. It was 

 first discovered by Bartram, who considered it a species of Mussenda, but 

 was erected into a separate genus by Michaux, and named by him in honour 

 of Gen. Pinckney. It flowers in June and July. It is closely allied to 

 Cinchona, and like that genus, it is possessed of bitter and tonic properties. 

 The part used is the bark ; this closely resembles some of the varieties of 

 the Cinchona, both in appearance and physical characters. No accurate 

 analysis has been made of it, but Dr. Coxe (Am. Dispen. 1830), states that 

 Mr. Farr detected a considerable amount of Cinchonine in it, but from some 

 accident, was prevented from completing the examination. 



Medical Properties. — From its resemblance and alliance to the Peruvian 

 barks, as might be supposed, it partakes of their medicinal properties. It has 

 been used for a long time in domestic practice in the parts of the country 

 where it grows, in intermittent fever, with much success. Dr. Law (Am. 

 Dispen. 499), stales that in severe cases in which he used it, it was perfectly 

 efficient in six. It did not distress the stomach, although an ounce was given 

 at a dose, in two of the cases. The usual dose is a drachm in substance. It 

 may also be given in decoction, made and administered in the same manner as 

 directed for the Cinchona. From all that can be gathered on the subject, it 

 would appear that this bark is very like the pale Cinchona in its composition 

 and action on the system, and is an excellent substitute for that article, but it 

 requires further experiments to determine its exact value. 



Exostemma. — Linn. 



Calyx obovate, 5-toothed^ Corolla with the tube terete, and the limb 5-parted. Seg- 

 ments linear. Anthers linear, exserted. Capsule crowned by the persistent calyx, de- 

 hiscing from the apex through the dissepiments, into two half-fruits. Seeds with a mem- 

 branous, entire border. A genus of trees and shrubs, with oval or lanceolate, short-stalked 

 leaves, having solitary stipules on each side of the petiole. The flowers are white or pink, 

 in axillary or terminal panicles. 



Several of the species have bitter and febrifuge barks, which contain nei- 

 ther quinia nor cinchonia. The E. floribundum, a native of the West 

 India Islands, furnishes the St. Lucia Bark, or Quinquina piton. This 

 is in cylindrical pieces, thin, light, very fibrous. Its external appearance is 

 variable; internally it is dark-coloured, with longitudinal, white fibres; its 

 fracture is of a yellowish-gray. Its odour is feeble, but nauseous, and its 

 taste bitter and disagreeable. It acts as a tonic and febrifuge, but is apt to 

 affect the bowels, and to cause griping pains. E. caribceum is a branched 

 shrub, found in the West India Islands and Mexico. Its capsules, before 

 they are quite ripe, are very bitter, and their juice causes a burning itching 

 in the lips (Jacquin. Amer.) The bark is febrifugal, and often causes 

 vomiting, especially if it be fresh. It is in convex fragments, composed of a 

 yellowish, spongy, and friable epidermis, and a hard, fibrous, greenish-brown 

 liber. The taste of it is at first sweetish and mucilaginous, afterwards bitter 

 and disagreeable. It is known under the name of Ja?naica bark, or Quin- 



