274 ON THE CASCARILLA BARK, ETC. 



In the late and previous editions of Pereira's ' Materia Medica,' this 

 species has heen denominated the sea-side Balsam, a name hy which the 

 C. basami-ferum, Linn., is recognised in the West Indian and Bahama 

 islands. This title was conferred by Browne on a plant he considered to 

 be identical with the Croton Eluteria of Swartz. The latter botanist how- 

 ever had apparently his donbts whether it was the same product, as he 

 has not adduced it as a synonym in his descriptive account. From the 

 circumstance of a thick balsamic liquor exuding from the younger 

 branches, whenever wounded or broken, with other structural pecu- 

 liarities, it is probable that the Crotons of Browne and Linnaeus may be 

 nearly allied, if indeed they are not synonymous. The Croton Sloanei, 

 Benn. (C Eluteria, Swartz), however, clearly differs from both. 



Woodville quotes a German author, who states that the bark com- 

 prised one of the principal exports of the Bahamas, and could be pur- 

 chased at the low rate of 10s. 6d. per cwt. He may therefore be pre- 

 sumed to have visited these islands"towards the end of the last century. 

 During my residence in New Providence in 1857-8, the prices ranged 

 from nine to twelve shillings per cwt. ; but at some periods, owing to the 

 cessation of any demand, were almost nominal. The subjoined table, 

 from official sources, will indicate the quantity exported from these 

 islands from 1850-58, at the estimated value of 10Z. 10s. per ton. 





Tons. 



Cwt. 





Tons. 



Cwt. 



1850 



46 



3 



1855 



16 



1 



1851 



50 



4 



1856 



16 



2 



1852 



10 



13 



1857 



68 



8 



1853 



24 



13 



1858 



21 



14 



1854 



25 



15 









The parts of the plant employed for remedial purposes by the inhabi- 

 tants of the Bahamas, are chiefly the cortex and tender shoots, which are 

 administered in the form of a decoction or infusion, in cases of dyspepsia, 

 loss of appetite, and other visceral derangements occurring as the sequel 

 of acute endemic diseases. The leaves are selected chiefly to medicate 

 their warm baths. Doubtless from being viewed more in the light of a 

 mercantile product, than as a medicinal agent, it has of recent years 

 fallen somewhat into disrepute, and is less frequently resorted to in the 

 treatment of these maladies. It would not come within the scope of 

 this paper to enter into the comprehensive details connected with the 

 appliances of this drug in Europe. I may, however remark, in addition 

 to other uses, that I have found an infusion of the fresh bark, combined 

 with ammonia or other stimulants, to prove of benefit in the latter stages 

 of yellow fever, where, from the results of previous febrile excitement, 

 the stomach has assumed an atonic or depraved condition, rendering it 

 barely capable of exercising its ordinary functions. 



