566 
THE ACTION OF MATICO. 
to was, on the contrary, dry, cold to the touch, and quite 
paralysed. He died twenty-four hours after the attack, having 
suffered intensely throughout. I was requested to assist in 
the post mortem examination, but being engaged, Mr. Austin 
conducted it by himself. He informed me that the viscera 
of the thorax and abdomen were quite healthy, as were also 
the brain and spinal cord ; but on tracing the course of the 
large blood-vessels, he found that the right divisions of the 
posterior aorta were completely plugged up by layers of fibrin 
arranged in a concentric manner. This condition of the vessels 
extended for at least ten inches. Their coats were not in any 
way thickened, or gave other indications of disease.] 
ON THE ACTION OE MATICO. 
By F. De Fair Elkes, M.R.C.V.S., Manchester. 
My dear Professors, — The subject of my present 
communication is “Matico” and its effects as a styptic. 
Your kindness in noticing the “herb” in a previous number, 
and the fact of its comparatively rare use medicinally, have 
led me to make both inquiries and experiments in order to 
test its merits as a styptic, etc.; and the following cases in 
human, not veterinary practice, have fallen under my notice, 
and are, I think, interesting, as throwing some light on its 
action as a medicine. The parties I name are personally 
known to me. 
Mr. B — had occasion to have a posterior molar extracted 
from the superior maxilla, and after the operation it was 
found that excessive hemorrhage resulted — doubtless a branch 
of the infra-orbital, or the alveolar arteries was injured. 
The usual means for arresting the escape of the blood were 
adopted without benefit — for the flow was continuous and 
unimpeded, and the effects soon became too visible in the 
emaciated condition of the sufferer. The patient was placed 
on a low diet and in a cold room. Several days elapsed, but 
still the hemorrhage continued. There was more than one 
consultation on the case, all resulting in nothing beneficial 
being adopted, for both physicians and surgeons seemed quite 
at a loss what to employ to save the ebbing life of the patient, 
who was fast sinking under the combined effects of loss of 
blood and meager fare. At this juncture a friend of the family 
visited them for the purpose of assisting in watching the 
patient, and was informed that the doctors gave very slender 
