NOTES ON THE ECONOMIC APPLICATION OF BARKS. 365 



colour, intensely bitter and aromatic, having tonic and stimulant pro- 

 perties. According to Humboldt and Bonpland, the Angostura bark of 

 commerce is furnished by this tree, but Dr. Hancock, who was resi- 

 dent in the district for some months, considers it to be the produce of a 

 distinct sjjecies, that of G. officinalis, Han. This is a smaller tree than 

 the former, seldom found attaining a greater height than 20 feet, with 

 a bark much resembling that of the former species. It grows in the 

 neighbourhood of the Orinoco, Alta Gracia, &c, and is known to the 

 natives as the " Orayura." It is considered by Dr. Hancock as one of 

 the most valuable febrifuges produced in that country, being adapted to 

 the worst and most malignant bilious fevers. The natives use the bark 

 when bruised for the purpose of intoxicating fish. Its use in this 

 country is not very extensive, but an infusion of it is sometimes prescribed 

 in bilious diarrhoea, dysentery, dj'spepsia &c. It arrives here either 

 direct from South America or indirect by the West Indies, the largest 

 quantity being imported from those i slands, where it is packed in cases 

 for transmission to England. The bark occurs in pieces of various 

 sizes, some nearly flat, others more or less quilled. When fractured, it 

 is brittle and resinous, and has a strong odour. Its introduction into 

 England dates from about 1788. 



Evodia febrifuga, St. Hil. — A tree about 40 feet high, native of Brazil, 

 where the bark is used with great success for the same purposes as 

 cinchona. 



Ticorea febrifuga, St. Hil. — This is a small tree about 20 feet high, 

 growing in the province of Minas Geraes, Brazil. The bark is very 

 bitter, astringent, and febrifugal, as its specific name indicates. 



Xantlioxylon fraxineum, Willd. — Known as the American Prickly 

 Ash — though no ash at all — is a small tree about 10 or 15 feet high, 

 growing in the woods and shady parts .near rivers of South America. 

 The bark is in great repute in the United States. As a remedy in 

 chronic rheumatism, and reduced to powder it is occasionally employed 

 as a topical irritant. It is likewise chewed as a cure for toothache, for 

 which it is a popular remedy. It is somewhat aromatic and very 

 pungent. The bark as found in commerce is in small quills, not very 

 thick, in colour of a darkish grey, with occasional lightish patches. 



X. Clava Hercules, L. — A tree growing from 20 to 50 feet high, native 

 of the West Indies, where its bark is extensively employed, both ex- 

 ternally and internally as a remedy in malignant ulcers. The tincture 

 is reputed to be a valuable febrifuge, and an infusion antispasmodic. 

 The bark is of a dusky brown, with nipple-like protuberances, the 

 remains of the spines. 



Cerasus serotiua, Dec. — This is a tree about 20 feet high, native of 

 North America, where the bark is considered one of the most valuable 

 indigenous remedies for calming irritation, and diminishing nervous 

 excitement ; it is also efficacious in dyspepsia, intermittent fever, &c. 

 It is known as wild cherry bark, and is obtained alike from the trunk 



