a 
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Recently it has obtained a reputation as a febrifuge, but its value as an 
antidote to the bites of snakes and scorpions is universally believed, and 
the inhabitants carry a seed with them in all their journeyings; if they 
happen to be bitten by any venomous reptile, they scrape about two 
erains of the seed in brandy or water, and apply it to the wound, and 
at the same time taking a like dose internally. This neutralizes the 
most dangerous poisons. 
SIMARUBA OFFICINALIS.—This tree yields the drug known as sima- 
ruba bark, which is, strictly speaking, the rind of the root. Itisa 
bitter tonic. It is know nin the West Indies as the Mountain Damson. 
SIMMONDSIA CALIFORNICA.—This plant belongs to the Huphorbia- 
ceous family, and produces a nut resembling an acornin size and shape. 
They have a flavor like filberts, but have a nauseous after-taste, and 
cause purging. 
SIPHONIA ELASTICA.—The South American India rubber plant, from 
which a great portion of the caoutchouc of commerce is obtained. There 
are several species of Siphonia which, equally with the above, furnish 
the India-rubber exported from Para. The caoutchouc exists in the 
tree in the form of a thin white milk, which exudes from incisions made 
in the trunk, and is poured over molds, which were formerly shaped 
like jars, bottles, or shoes, hence often called bottle-rubber. As it 
dries, the coatings of milky juice are repeated, until the required thick- 
ness is obtained, and the clay mold is removed. It belongs to the 
extensive family Huphorbiacee. 
SMILAX MEDICA.—This plant yields Mexican Sarsaparilla, to dis- 
tinguish it from the many other kinds of this drug. The ee is a 
climber, similar to the Smilax of our woods. 
SOYMIDA FEBRIFUGA.—On the Coromandel coast this plant is known 
as the Redwood tree, and in Hindostan as the Rohuna. The bitter, 
astringent bark is found to be a useful tonic. It has been employed 
successfully in bad cases of gangrene; and in typhus fever; if given in 
over-doses, if occasions vertigo and stupor. 
SPONDIAS MomBiIn.—This yields an eatable fruit called Hog plum 
in the West Indies. The taste is said to be peculiar, and not very 
agreeable to strangers. They are chiefly used to fatten swine. The 
fruit is laxative, the leaves astringent, and the seeds possess poisonous 
qualities. The flower-buds are used as a sweetmeat with sugar. 
STRELITZIA REGINA.—A plant of the Musa or Banana family. The 
flowers are very beautiful for the genus. It is'a native of the Cape of 
Good Hope. The seeds are gathered and eaten by the Kaffirs. 
STRYCHNOS NUX VOMICA.—This is a native of the Coromandel coast 
and Cochin-China. It bears an orange-like fruit, containing seeds that 
have an intensely bitter taste, owing to the presence of two most 
energetic poisons, strychnin and brucin. The pulp surrounding the 
seeds is said to be harmless, and greedily eaten by birds. The wood of 
the plant is hard and bitter, and possesses similar properties to the 
seeds, but in a less degree. It is used in India in intermittent fever, 
and in cases of snake-bites. S&S. Tiente is a Java shrub, the juice of 
which is used in poisoning arrows. WS. toxifera yields a frightful poison 
called Ourari or Wourali, employed by the natives of Guiana. This is 
considered to be the most potent sedative in nature. Several species 
of Strychnos are considered infallible remedies for snake-bites; hence are 
known as Snakewood. SS. Pseudo-Quina, a native of Brazil, yields Col- 
pache bark, which is much used in that country in cases of fever, and 
is considered equal to ae in value. It does not contain stry chnin, 
and its fruits are edible. & 7 Os um furnishes seeds known in India 
