Q12 MEDICAL BOTANY. 



But the great consumption of the Betel-nut is for chewing in combination 

 with the leaf of the Chavica betle and lime. For this purpose they are di- 

 vided into quarters, one of which, rolled in the Pepper-leaf and sprinkled with 

 the lime, forms the quantity generally used. This mixture acts as a siala- 

 gogue, and tinges the saliva of a red colour. The natives of the East Indies 

 say that it strengthens the gums, fastens the teeth, and cools the mouth. It 

 also seems to have some narcotic power, but Dr. Lindley suggests that this 

 is owing rather to the Pepper-leaf than to the Areca. Lunan (Bbrt. Jam. 

 i. 86) states that it is used in the West Indies, and it is there supposed, 

 that when thus used in combination it strengthens the stomach, but if em- 

 ployed alone, it impoverishes the blood and causes jaundice. It is probable 

 that the nut he alludes to is the product of another species, the A. oleracea, 

 or Cabbage Palm. Loureiro, also, notices another species, A. sylvestris, 

 which is used in Cochin China. 



The Arenga saccharifera (Saguerus Rumphii) is another very impor- 

 tant species belonging to this tribe. It abounds in the islands of the Indian 

 Archipelago, and is very valuable on account of its saccharine juice. This 

 flows from the spadices in large quantities, if they are wounded; and if suf- 

 fered to ferment, forms an intoxicating liquor, and when boiled affords a kind 

 of sugar, which is much used for various purposes. The pith of the trunk 

 also furnishes Sago of good quality ; as much as one hundred and fifty to 

 two hundred pounds from a single tree. The wood is very hard, and is em- 

 ployed for building ; and the leaf-stalks afford a black, strong fibre, resem- 

 bling horse-hair, which is extensively manufactured into ropes, &c. The 

 fruit is excessively acrid, and causes severe inflammation of the mouth if it 

 be eaten ; and forms the basis of the " infernal water" used by the Moluc- 

 cans to pour over their enemies ; the albumen, however, is made by the Chi- 

 nese into a pleasant sweetmeat, by destroying the acridity by soaking it in 

 lime-water and then boiling it in sugar. 



According to Roxburgh, Caryota urens is equally valuable to the natives 

 of the places where it grows. It yields, during the hot season, great quan- 

 tities of juice, which, when fermented, forms what is called Toddy or Palm 

 Wine. It is said a good tree will afford one hundred pints in the twenty-four 

 hours. The pith furnishes a very superior Sago, which forms the principal 

 part of the food of the inhabitants; Roxburgh states that it is fully equal to 

 that from the Sagns. The fruit is extremely acrid. 



Tribe 2. Calame^e. 



Sagus. — Gartner. 



Flowers monoecious. Sterile : calyx 5-toothed. Petals 3. Stamens 6 — 12, with dis- 

 tinct, compressed filaments. Fertile : calyx 3-toothed. Corolla campanulate, 3-fid. Cup 

 of stamens 6-toothed, with abortive, sagittate anthers. Ovary 3-celled. Stigmas 3, subu- 

 late, connate. Fruit 1-seeded, coated with reversed scales. Albumen ruminated. Em- 

 bryo dorsal, on an umbilical pit. 



Several species of this genus are interesting from the large quantities of 

 Sago afforded from their pith, but there is some difference of opinion from 

 which of them the commercial article is obtained. Dr. Roxburgh states that 

 it is from S. inermis (Icevis, Jack.), and this is the species noticed by Lindley. 

 Blume says it is from this and S. gemina. The London and U. S. Pharma- 

 copoeias give S. Rumphii as the officinal species, but it is probable that it 

 is in part derived from each of them, and also from the Arenga saccharifera, 

 and several others of the Palmacea). 



