QUASSIA SIMARUBA. 
257 
MM. Morin and Roeun, the components of Simaruba bark are resin, 
a peculiar bitter principle, which they have named Quassine, malic 
and galic acids, acetate of potass, malate and oxalate of lime, oxide 
of iron, alumen, an ammonical salt, and a volatile salt, having the 
odour of Benzoin. 
Medical Properties. Simaruba bark has never been gene- 
rally employed in this country, as a remedial agent in the treatment 
of those diseases by which it was first brought into notice, and at 
the present day it is more than ever disregarded. Dr. Wright says, 
that in fluxes it restores the lost tone of the intestines, allays their 
spasmodic motions, promotes the secretions by urine and perspi- 
ration, disposes the patient to sleep, removes gripes and tenesmus, 
and brings the stools to their natural colour and consistence. Sir 
John Pringle, Dr. H.Saunders, and several others, prescribed this 
bark in old and obstinate dysenteries and diarrhoeas, particularly 
those brought from warm climates ; and fluxes of this sort, which 
were brought home from the sieges of Martinico and the Havannah, 
were speedily cured by it. Dr. Lind, of the Naval Hospital at 
Haslar, considered the bark to be most eflicacious when given in such 
quantity as to nauseate the stomach. Dr. Wright recommends two 
drachms of the bark to be boiled in twenty -four ounces of water to 
twelve ; the decoction is then to be strained and divided into three 
equal parts, which may be taken in the twenty-four hours ; and 
when the stomach is reconciled to it, the quantity of bark may be 
increased to three drachms; aromatics, or a few drops of tincture 
of opium may be added to this decoction. But some more modern 
practitioners have found that this medicine is only successful in the 
third stage of dysentery, where there is no fever, where the stomach 
is unimpaired, and where the gripes and tenesmus are only continued 
by a weakness of the bowels ; in these cases, Dr. Monro gave two or 
three ounces of the decoction every five or six hours, with four or 
five drops of tincture of opium, and found it a very useful remedy. 
The Simaruba bark has also been recommended as an excellent 
reraedv in fluor albus. It is usually given in the form of infusion, 
but may be taken in substance from one scruple to thirty or forty 
grains. 
Off. The Bark of the Root. 
Off". Pp. Infusum Simarubae, L. 
