MEDICINAL PLANTS AND DRUGS. 169 



acute rheumatism. This oil is remarkable for resisting rancidity; and, on 

 that account, has been sele6led by the perfumers, as the fittest for being 

 impregnated with the odor of jessamines, violets, tuberoses and other 

 flowers ; which yield little or no essential oil, but impart their fragrance 

 to expressed oils. 



The seeds of this tree are the Ben nuts of the old writers on pharma- 

 cy. Some of these writers supposed their Lignum Nephritkum to be the 

 wood of the Monmgo ; but erroneously ; the tree which affords that wood 

 being a native of J^ew Spain, ^ 



JuSTROPHA CuRCJs. ( W, ) Bdgbavmdd IL 



MuRRAYj IV. 164, 



The seeds of this plant, are, like those of the Croton Tiglium, (to which 

 plant it is nearly allied,) frequently used as a purgative, by the more in- 

 digent natives. Their operation is milder than that of the Tiglium seeds, 

 and two or three may be taken for a dose ; but the same precaution must 

 be used, in freeing them from the membranaceous parts, that was formerly 

 diredled to be observed in respe6t to the Tiglium seeds. 



JusTECgA Panicul^tj. (W.) Calapndt'W^^ and CWa/ H. Cairdta. S. 



This species of Justicia is a native of Bengal, and of many other 

 parts of Hindustan. The whole of the plant is intensely bitter, and it 

 yields this quality equally to aqueous, vinous and spirituous menstrua. It 

 is much used, by the native pra6litioner3, in fevers and dysenteries. The 

 French and Portuguese inhabitants of India consider it as an excellent 

 stomachic ; and it forms the basis of their bitter tin6lure, so well known, 

 on the Malabar coast, by tiie name of Drogue Amere. 



<0 KuluTpnaCh, 



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