CUCURBITACEjE. 131 



and that the patient gets into a dropsy." As, in a full dose, 

 vomiting and purging are produced, it may be from this 

 quality that it has acquired its reputation as an alexi- 

 pharmic. 



In some families it is kept infused in spirit, with orange 

 peel and wild cinnamon, and a portion of this tincture 

 diluted with wine is not unfrequently offered to the guests 

 previous to dinner. This is a most abominable potion, to 

 be relished only by the most devoted dram-drinker, and 

 calculated to bring on nausea and loss of appetite ; a most 

 serious occurrence at such a time. It reminds one of the 

 liqueur known by the name absinthe, but surpasses it in 

 every unpalatable quality. 



The seeds abounding in oil, burn freely when ignited, 

 and serve as a substitute for candles. The expressed oil 

 gives a clear light when burnt in lamps, and has been 

 manufactured into candles. 



In cases of poisoned wound, such as that by a dog sus- 

 pected of rabies, the pounded kernel of the seed, mixed 

 with laudanum, is applied to the wound, and the appli- 

 cation is regarded, by the simple natives, as the " so- 

 vereign's! thing on earth ;" whereas the only effect that 

 can be produced is that of irritating the wound. 



II. Lagenaria. 



Calyx campanulate ; lobes subulate or some- 

 what broad, shorter than the tube. Corolla 

 white : petals obovate, arising within the margin 

 of the calyx. £ Stamens 5, tri-adelphous with the 

 fifth free. 9 Style generally O: stigmata 3, 

 thick, bilobed, granulose. Fruit 3-5 ?-celIed : 

 seeds obovate, compressed, tumid at the edge, 

 bilobed at the apex. 



Name from lagena a bottle. 



1. Lagenaria vulgaris. Bottle- Gourd, 



Softly pubescent musky, stem scandent, cirrhi 

 3-4-cleft, leaves cordate subentire piloso-subglau- 

 cescent biglandulose at the base, flowers monoe- 

 cious stellated very patent fasciculed, connective 



