372 THE CORAL FISHERY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. 



sweetish, mucilaginous taste, but a disagreeable smell, and is adminis- 

 tered in the form either of decoction, extract, syrup, or in powder. Its 

 properties are extracted by boiling water. It is found in long, thick, 

 fibrous pieces, the outer surface of an ashy brown colour, frequently 

 covered with small lichens, the under surface is of a yellowish colour, 

 and has a short brittle resinous fracture. 



Simaruba amara, Aubl. — A large tree, 60 feet high, native of Guiana, 

 and other parts of South America, also in some of the "West Indian 

 Islands. In Jamaica it is called the Mountain Damson. It is the root 

 bark that is employed medicinally, and has a place in our Materia 

 Medica. Its properties were first made known in Europe in the year 

 1713, some of the bark being sent from Guiana to Paris with the infor- 

 mation that it was successfully employed by the natives in dysentery. 

 Dr. Wright afterwards published a botanical description of the tree pro- 

 ducing it. Its chief use is as a tonic, but in large doses it is said to 

 cause purging and vomiting. It is usually administered in infusion, its 

 virtues being easily taken in water and alcohol. It arrives in this country 

 in bales from Jamaica, and occurs in pieces several feet long, rather 

 broad and somewhat flexible and fibrous. The exterior is rough and 

 marked with transverse ridges, internally it is of a pale yellow. It has 

 a bitterish taste ; but is without smell. An article on the "Commercial 

 Quassia," by Dr. Bowerbank of Jamaica, vol. ii., p. 250, Technologist, 

 describes this bark fully. 



Toddalia aculeata, Pers. — A common hedge bush in many parts of 

 India. The bark of the roots when fresh is employed by the Telinga 

 physicians as a cure for the remittent fever, known as jungle fever. 

 The whole of the plant is considered to possess powerful stimulating 

 properties. 



(To be continued.) 



THE COEAL FISHERY OF THE MEDITERRANEAN. 



BY THE EDITOR. 



In the second volume of the Technologist, at page 20, we drew 

 attention generally to the " Coral of Commerce," and we now proceed 

 to furnish some more special, descriptive, and recent details respecting 

 the fishery off the Algerian and Italian shores. 



Coral is one of the handsomest and most valuable productions ob- 

 tained from the sea. Naturalists range it in the animal kingdom at the 

 head of zoophytes, or animal plants. It presents to the fishermen the 

 appearance of a branching shrub without leaves, of a red or rose colour 



