B0MBACE7E. 
91 
very sparing diet, and a weak decoction of tamarinds is given 
as a drink. Should the symptoms continue, then after some 
rhubarb as a laxative, the red and friable spongy part of the fruit 
is first given ; and should that fail, then the rind is made into 
a paste with water, and frequent doses are taken in the course 
of the day. Dr Frank states, that he tried this practice in 
several instances ; and in all of them the disease yielded as if 
by enchantment.* The Lemnos earth , first noticed by Prosper 
Alpinus as an article of the Materia Medica, formerly im- 
ported from Ethiopia into Europe, was the dried pulp of this 
fruit. The analysis of Vauquelin gives as its composition, 
starch ; a gum ; an acid analogous to Malic, but not chrystal- 
lizable ; a sugar resembling that of grapes; and a woody par- 
enchyma. (Annates du Museum, VI 1 1. 1.) 
III. Boaib ax. 
Calyx naked quinquefid or truncated. Petals 5 , 
slightly connected together at the base, and with the 
column of' the stamens. Stamens many, monadel- 
plious, or pentadelphous at the apex. Capsule large, 
5-celled, 5-valved, woody, with the cells many-seeded. 
Seeds thickly wrapped in wool, albuminose. — De 
Cand. 
Name , from one of the Greek names of cotton. 
1. Bombax Ceiba. South American Cotton-tree. 
Stem prickly, leaves palmate 5-foliate, fruit turbin- 
ate concave at the apex. 
13. quinatum, Jacq. Amer. 192. t. 176. f. 70. — B. Ceiba, Cav. 
diss. V. 296. t. 152. f. 2. 
HAB. ? 
FL. 
This has long been, I consider incorrectly, regarded as a na- 
tive of Jamaica. I have not met with it in any of the districts 1 
have visited ; and I have no doubt but that its locality is con- 
fined to the neighbouring Continent. 
IV. Eriodendron. 
Calyx naked, obtusely 5-lobed. Petals 5, con- 
nected with each other, and with the column of the 
stamens. Stamens united at the base into a short 
* Dictionnaire de Matiere Medicale, i. 73. 
