GUAIACUM OFFICINALE. 139 
Rutty recommends it in these words: — " Uicera Vetera et putrida, 
sanat vino vel aqua decocta collutione et inspersu. In vino cocta 
optime deterget et roborat, in uiceribus scorbuticis oris, gutturis, et 
faucium ac in gingivis dissolutis, sanguinem stillantibus. Decocta 
ad appetitum deperditum maxime valet, tonum ventriculi restituens, 
et sordes ejus abstergens. Non est vegetabile quod in fluxionibus 
alvi efficacius sit. In dysenteria epidemica quidam, in ore tenent 
ad praecavendum contagiura. In fluxu sanguinis, floure albo, et 
jSiiQtu involuntario valet." * 
As an antiseptic, its external application has been recommended 
to ill-conditioned ulcers ; and it has been found serviceable as a 
gargle, in ulcerations of the mouth and fauces. It may be given 
either in substance or decoction ; the latter is the more general way 
of administering it : of the former, from 5ss. to 5i. of the powdered 
root may be given; in decoction the following formula may be 
used : | oz. of the root powdered, boiled in 3 lb. of water to 21b. ; to 
which add, towards the end, cinnamon 5i.; dose 2 oz. three or four 
times a day. It gives out its astriugency both to water and spirits, 
but most perfectly to the latter. The extracts obtained by iuspis- 
sation, are intensely styptic, particularly from the spirituous infusion. 
It enters into but one officinal preparation, the Pulvis crette 
com 
Off. The Root. 
GUAIACUM OFFICINALE, i ..'•^^ 
Guaiacum.f 
Class Decandria.— Orc?er Monogynia. 
Nat. Ord. Gruinales, Linn. RuTACEiE, Juss. 
GEl^i Char. Ca/yjf 5-cleft, unequal. Pe^afo 5, inserted on 
the calyx. Capsule angled, 3 or 5-celled. Mnhaium 
ipPEC. Char. Leaflet two-paired, obtuse. 
■:i'fS>- — — — — 
l-tTHls tree]: is a native of the West India Islands, and the warmer 
parts of America ; by a MS. of Sir Hans Sloane, in the British 
* Ruttj, Mat. Med. p. 521. 
t Fig. «. The pericarpium. b. The pistillain. 
t Linnasus desoiibes three species of the Gaaiacuiii, viz. Officioale, Sauctuoi and 
Af'rum, but later botaaists cousider the Sauctum to be a varietj of the OiiioiDale. 
