21 



192. Eucalyptus globulus.— The bine gum, a rapid-growing tree, attaining to 



a large size. Recently it lias attracted attention and gained some repute in 

 medicine as an antiperiodic. The leaves have also been applied to wounds 

 with some success. It produces a strong camphor-smelling oil, which has a 

 mint-like taste, not at all disagreeable. 



193. EUGENIA acris. — The wild clove or bayberry tree of the West Indies. In 

 Jamaica it is sometimes called the black cinnamon. The refreshing per- 

 fume known as bay rum is prepared by distilling the leaves of this tree 

 with rum. It is stated that the leaves of the allspice are also used in 

 this preparation. 



194. Eugenia jambosa. — A tropical plant, belonging to the myrtle family, which 

 produces a pleasant rose-flavored fruit, known as the Roseapple, or Jamro- 

 sade. 



195. Eugenia pimento. — The fruits of this West Indian tree are known in com- 

 merce as allspice; the berries have a peculiarly grateful odor and flavor, 

 resembling a combination of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon: hence the 

 name of allspice. The leaves when bruised emit a fine aromatic odor, and 

 a delicate odoriferous oil is distilled from them, which is said to be used as 

 oil of cloves. The berries, bruised and distilled w T ith water, yield the 

 pimento oil of commerce. 



196. Eugenia ugni. — This small-foliaged myrtaceous plant is a native of Chili. It 

 bears a glossy black fruit, which has an agreeable flavor and perfume, and 

 is highly esteemed in its native country. The plant is hardy in the South- 

 ern .States. 



197. Euphorbia canariensis.— This plant grows in abundance in the Canary 

 Islands and Teneriffe, in dry, rocky districts, where little else can grow, 

 and where it attains a height of 10 feet, w T ith the branches spreading 15 or 

 20 feet. It is one of the kinds that furnish the drug known as Euphorbium. 

 The milky juice exudes from incisions made in the branches, and is so 

 acrid that it excoriates the hand when applied to it. As it hardens it falls 

 down in small lumps, and those who collect it are obliged to tie cloths over 

 their mouths and nostrils to exclude the small, dusty particles, as they pro- 

 duce incessant sneezing. As a medicine its action is violent, and it is now 

 rarely employed. There are a vast number of species of Euphorbia, vary- 

 ing exceedingly in their general appearance, but all of them having a milky 

 juice which contains active properties. Many of them can scarcely be dis- 

 tinguished from cactuses so far as relates to external appearances, but the 

 milky exudation following a puncture determines their true character. E. 

 grawdidens is a tall-growing, branching species, and attains a height of 30 

 feet. The natives of India use the juice of E. antiquoriim, when diluted, 

 as a purgative. The juice of E. heptagona and other African species is em- 

 ployed to poison arrows; the juice of E. cotinifolia is used for the same 

 purpose in Brazil. The roots of E. gerardiana and E.pithyusa are emetic, 

 while E. thymifolia and E. hy per ici folia possess astringent and aromatic 

 properties. The poisonous principle which pervades these plants is more 

 or less dissipated by heat. The juice of E. cattimavdoo furnishes caout- 

 chouc of a very good quality, which, however, becomes brittle, although 

 soaking in hot water renders it again pliable. E. phosphorea derives the 

 name from the fact of its sap emitting a phosphorescent light, oir warm 

 nights, in the Brazilian forests. 



198. Euterpe edulis. — Theassai palm of Para. Itgrows in swampy lands, and pro- 

 duces a small fruit thinly coated with clotted flesh of which the inhabitants 

 of Para manufacture a beverage called assai. The ripe fruits are soaked 

 in warm water and kneaded until the fleshy pulp is detached. Tin's, when 

 strained, is of a thick, creamy consistence, and. when thickened with 

 cassava farina and sweetened with sugar, forms a. nutritions diet, and is 

 the daily food of a large number of the people. 



199. Euterpe Montana. — The center portion of the upper part of the stem of this 



West Indian palm, including the leaf bud. IS eaten either when cooked as 



a vegetable or pickled, but the tree must be destroyed in order to obtain it. 



200. Exccecabia sebefera.— ThisEuphorbiaceous plant is the tallow tree of China. 

 The fruits, are about half an inch in diameter, and each contains three 

 seeds, thickly coated with a fatty substance which yields the tallow. This 



is obtained by first steaming the seeds, then bruising them to loosen the fat 

 without breaking the seeds, which are removed by sifting. The fat is 

 then made into flat circular cakes and pressed, when the pure tallow ex- 



