42 
bitter taste. Although itis used as a medicine in cases of weak diges- 
tion, it acts as a narcotic poison on some animals, and the tincture is 
used as fly poison. Cups made of this wood, when filled with water 
and allowed to remain for some time, will impart tonic properties to the 
water. 
PINCKNEYA PUBENS.—This cinchonaceous plant is a native of the 
Southern States, and has a reputation as an antiperiodic. It is stated 
that incomplete examinations have detected cinchonine in the bark. It 
has been used successfully as a substitute for quinine. A thorough ex- 
amination of this plant seems desirable, so that its exact medical value 
may be ascertained. 
PIPER BETEL.—This plant belongs to the Piperacew. Immense quan- 
tities of the leaves of this plant are chewed by the Malays. It tinges 
the saliva a bright red, and acts as a powerful stimulant to the digestive 
organs and salivary glands; when swallowed it causes giddiness and 
other unpleasant symptoms in persons unaccustomed to its use. 
PIPER NIGRUM.—This twining shrub yields the pepper of commerce. 
It is cultivated in the Hast and West Indies, Java, &e., the Malabar 
being held in the highest esteem. The fruit when ripe is of a red color, 
but it is gathered before being fully ripe and dried in the sun, when it 
becomes black and shriveled. White pepper is the same fruit with the 
Skin removed. When analyzed, pepper is found to contain a hot, acrid 
resin and a volatile oil, as well as a crystalline substance called piperin, 
which has been recommended as a substitute for quinine. 
PISCIDIA ERYTHRINA.—The pounded leaves and young branches of 
this tree are used in the West Indies for poisoning fish. 
PISTACIA LENTIScUS.—The’ Mastic tree;.is a native of Southern 
Kurope, Northern Africa, and Western Asia. Mastic is the resin of the 
tree, and is obtained by making transverse incisions in the bark, from 
which it exudes in drops and hardens into small semi-transparent tears. 
It is consumed in large quantities by the Turks for chewing, to 
strengthen the gums and sweeten the breath. It is also used for 
varnishing. 
PISTACIA TEREBINTHUS.—The Cyprus Turpentine tree. The tur- 
pentine flows from incisions made in the trunk, and soon becomes thick 
and tenacious, and ultimately hardens. Galls gathered from this tree 
are used for tanning purposes, one of the varieties of morocco leather 
being tanned with them. 
PISTACIA VERA.—The Pistacia tree, which yields the eatable Pistachio 
nuts, is a native of Western Asia. These nuts are greatly eaten by the 
Turks and Greeks, as well as in the south of Europe, either simply 
dried like almonds or made into articles of confectionery. 
PITHECOLOBIUM SAMAN.—This leguminous plant yields eatable pods, 
which are fed to cattle in Brazil. Some Mexican species produce pods 
that are boiled and eaten, and certain portions contain saponaceous 
properties. The pods are sometimes called Manila tamarinds. 
PITTOSPORUM UNDULATUM.—A plant from New Zealand, which 
reaches a considerable size, and furnishes a wood similar to box-wood. 
The flowers are very fragrant. 
PLAGIANTHUS BETULINUS.—The inner bark of the young branches 
of this plant yields a very fine, tough fiber, sometimes called New 
Zealand cotton, though more like flax than cotton; it is the Akaroa of 
the New Zealanders. In Tasmania it bears the name of Currajong; 
good cordage and twine for fishing-nets are made from this fiber. 
PLUMBAGO SCANDENS.—The root of this plant is called Herbe du 
