EUPHORBIACEiE. 601 



The oil from them is used in Tahiti for burning. A. laccifera furnishes 

 Gum-lac in Ceylon. The seeds of Elcecocca verrucosa of Japan, and E. ver- 

 nilia of China, afford oil too acrid to be used for food ; but that from the 

 first is good for burning, and of the latter for painter's work. 



The different species of Jatropha and C 'ureas all produce seeds abound- 

 ing in an acrid and purgative oil ; that from J. glauca, is stated, by Ainslie, 

 to be much esteemed by Hindoo practitioners as an external application in 

 chronic rheumatism and paralysis. The seeds of C. purgans are very 

 active, and have been called Purging nuts ; their oil is sometimes sold as 

 Croton oil, and has been beneficially used as an external irritant. Those of 

 C. multijida act as an emeto-cathartic, and it is said that their operation is 

 brisk, but without inconvenience; any inordinate 

 action being checked by the administration of a' 

 glass of wine. Among the most important 

 plants of this tribe is the Janipha manihot, 

 or Mandioc, so extensively cultivated in all tro- 

 pical countries for the sake of its roots ; these 

 sometimes attain an enormous size, and in a 

 recent state are poisonous, being filled with a 

 deleterious juice; this is removed by crushing 

 or grating the roots, and pressing the pulp." As 

 the poisonous principle is volatile, any that 

 remains is driven off in cooking the commi- 

 nuted mass. This juice is,- however, used as a 

 condiment, under the name of Cabion. Ac- 

 cording to Martius, an acre of Manioc yields as janipha maninot. 

 much food as six acres of wheat. The flour 



obtained from these roots is toasted on iron plates, and in this state is called 

 Cassava, and forms a healthy and nutritious food. The fecula is what is 

 called Tapioca. Another species or variety, Janipha aipi, is said, by Pohl, 

 to have a harmless root, and is probably the sweet Cassava of Lunan, 

 (Hort. Jam.) 



Tribe 6. Phyllanthe^e. — Ovules in pairs. Stamens in the centre of the flower. 



The bark of the Briedelias is astringent, especially that of B. spinosa, 

 which, besides its tonic powe'r, is reputed to be anthelmintic (Roxburgh). 

 In Cluytia collina of India, according to the same authority, the rind of the 

 capsule is exceedingly poisonous. The Andrachne cadishaiv is very delete- 

 rious, but its leaves are employed as a caustic to ill-conditioned ulcers, 

 (Ainslie, ii. 487.) Several species of Phyllanthus are likewise made use of 

 in India : P. niruri has a bitter and astringent root, successfully prescribed 

 in jaundice ; half an ounce rubbed in milk, given twice a day, is said to 

 effect a cure in a few days ; and both it and the young shoots are said to be 

 diuretic ; the leaves are very bitter, and are a good stomachic, (Ainslie.) 

 Martius states that they are employed in Brazil as a specific in diabetes. A 

 still more powerful diuretic action is produced by P. urinaria. The leaves, 

 flowers, and fruit of P. simplex, made into an electuary, with sugar and 

 cummin seeds, is thought, in India, to be efficacious in gonorrhoea, in doses 

 of a teaspoonful a day. The fresh leaves, bruised with buttermilk, make a 

 wash that will cure itch. The bark of P. virosus is a powerful astringent, 

 and will stupefy fish. 



The fruit of Emblica officinalis, formed one of the kinds of Myrobolans 

 of the older Physicians; when fresh, they are acid and astringent, and 

 when dry, act on the bowels. They are much employed in India, made into 



