NOTES ON THE ECONOMIC APPLICATION OF BARKS. 3G9 



substitute for cinchona. A paper on the Cascarilla Barks will be found 

 in the present volume of the Technologist, p. 270. 



Aralia spinosa, L. — Called in North America Angelica, or Tooth- 

 ache tree. It is an arborescent shrub, indigenous to the United 

 States ; growing in the Southern States to a height of 30 or 40 feet. 

 The properties of the bark are stimulant and diaphoretic ; an infusion 

 of the fresh bark is considered emetic and cathartic. It is employed in 

 cutaneous eruptions, chronic rheumatism, &c, and the tincture is con- 

 sidered efficacious in toothache, hence one of the popular names of the 

 tree. The bark as found in the shojss is in small fine quills, the ex- 

 terior surface of a greyish colour, with spines or prickles, or the remains 

 of them. It has not a place in the British Pharmacopoeia, but is in 

 repute amongst the Americans. 



JEsculus Hippocastaitum, L. — This tree, the Horse-Chesnut of our 

 gardens, is probably a native of the north of India or Persia. The 

 bark has been employed in Italy with success in intermittent fevers, 

 but has not been adopted as a medicinal agent in this country. In 

 decoction it has been recommended in gangrene. The date of the intro- 

 duction of the tree in England appears uncertain ; but it was not 

 common with us until about the beginning of the last century. 



Monnina polystachia. R. et P. — A shrub native of the Andes of 

 Peru, where it is found growing in thickets, and known by the name 

 of "Yalhoi." The fresh bark of the root, pounded and moulded into 

 balls, is used by the Peruvians in place of soap. The medicinal pro- 

 perty of this bark is anti-dysenteric, and it is successfully employed by 

 the natives in cases of dysentery and diarrhoea. 



Castanea pumila, Mill. — A tree or shrub indigenous to North 

 America, where it is known as Chinquapin. It sometimes grows to a 

 height of 30 or 40 feet. The bark is tonic and astringent, and has been 

 applied in America in the cure of intermittent fevers, but its virtues 

 seem to be hardly sufficient to give it even a place in the Pharmacopoeia 

 of that country. 



Schleicher a trijuga, WillcL — A tree growing about 20 feet high, 

 native of the East Indies, Ceylon, &c. The bark is said to have astrin- 

 gent properties, and is used by the Indians to cure the itch, for which 

 purpose it is pounded and rubbed up with oil . 



Swietenia Mahogani, L. — The mahogany tree grows in Cuba, Hon- 

 duras, St. Domingo, the West Indian Islands, &c, attaining a height of 

 80 or 90 feet. The bark is employed in the West Indies as a substitute 

 for cinchona, and is said to have been used with success in intermittent 

 fevers, &c, though its effects undoubtedly are not to be compared with 

 Peruvian bark. 



Soymida febrifuga, Juss.— This is a native of the East Indies, chiefly 



the central and southern provinces. It is a tree about sixty feet high. 



The bark has an astringent bitter taste, and is considered a good tonic 



in intermittent fevers. It is reputed to be of great efficacy in Jungle 



vol. hi. I I 



