158 



It is useful in cases of habitual constipation and gastric troubles, 

 when the irritating action of drastic purgatives has to be avoided 

 (Bull. Bot. Dept, Jamaica, 1898, p. 7-1). In Golungo Alto the 

 crushed rind is frequently applied to the sores of domestic 

 animals to keep off flies (Hiern, Cat. Welw. Afr. PI. i. p. 141). 

 According to Sargent hydrocyanic acid can be obtained from the 

 fruit (Woods of Unit. St. Jesup Coll. p. 11) ; the same property 

 has been observed by the French in the Gaboon, and confirmed 

 by Ernst of Caracas, near which place the plant abounds 

 (Fllickiger & Hanbury, Pharmacog. p. 250). No prussic acid can 

 be detected in the leaves (Dunstan, Col. Rep. Ann. No. 601, 1909, 

 p. 44). 



The kernels are edible — "eaten and taste like filberts" (Gamble) ; 

 "the soft nut-like kernel is eaten with the juicy pulp" (Schwein- 

 f urth) ; u the seeds of the fruit contain a very savoury kernel " 

 (Welwitsch). On the other hand we find it stated, " the kernel is 

 more strongly purgative than the fruit " (Ball. Bot. Dept. 

 Jamaica) ; " the seeds are purgative " (Sebire) ; " not edible, even 

 poisonous " (Pobeguin). The term edible would appear to require 

 some qualification, and " what is one man's food is another man's 

 poison " appears in this instance to be amply justified. 



The kernels can be used in the making of a kind of Maras- 

 quino ; they yield an oil which is employed by the natives of 

 Mossamedes at the time of their feasts, also for anointing their 

 bodies, and for daubing their hair (Hiern, Cat. Welw. Afr. PI. i. 

 p. 141) ; said to be suitable for soap-making (Moloney, For. W. Afr. 

 p. 298). " Citron of the Sea " oil or " Elozy-Z6gue " ; oil is 

 obtained from these kernels (Ann. Inst. Col. Marseille, " Graines, 

 Grasses," &c. v. 1898, p. 27). 



Heckel has obtained 69*3 per cent, of a yellow, rather thick and 

 viscous non-drying oil (I.e. p. 36). The oil does not separate from 

 the cake, and for commercial use would have to be extracted by 

 means of solvents. Its chemical constitution is such that it 

 would find a use for soap-making, especially in Europe, and in 

 the countries of production ; he suggests it might be used in the 

 fresh state for food, on account of its agreeable flavour, provided 

 it is extracted from such seeds as are not purgative, and this is 

 not easy to discover from the external characters of the seed. 

 The oil-cake made from the seed gives a fairly high percentage of 

 albuminoid matters, and it could therefore be used at least as 

 manure whether it be obtained from purgative or edible seeds 

 (I.e. p. 37). 



The wood is very heavy, tough, hard and close-grained. 

 According to Sargent (Woods of Unit. St. Jesup Coll. p. Ill) the 

 specific gravity of the dry wood is - 9196, and weight per cubic 

 foot 57*31 lbs. ; according to Gamble (Man. Ind. Timb. p. 163) the 

 weight per cubic foot is 67 lbs. ; this specimen, now in the 

 Museum, Kew, has a specific gravity of -915 = 57 lbs. per cubic 

 foot, and a specimen from Singapore in the Museum, Kew, has a 

 specific gravity of *8927 = 56 lbs. per cubic foot. It is used 

 according to Gamble (I.e.) as a substitute for sandal- wood by 

 Brahmins in their religious ceremonies. 



The bark of this tree has recently been examined at the 

 Imperial Institute in respect of its value as a tanning material. 



