- 44 ~ 
Upon heating quassit '^.elts like a resin and at a tenir)erature 
only slightl-' a"bovG that of rosin. Hes-oJ-ts of analyses 
indicate the foll.ov/ing composition for quassit: Co^H^i-O^. 
WILLIE^IOW, C. L. (122) 
SP3CIES PLMTJSUM. Ed, 4, v. 2, pp. 567-569. Berlin. 1799. 
Q^^a.s si a aaara , Q, s inaru"b a, and Q,, excelsa are described. 
WOOD, H. C, RMIHGTOH, J. P., and SADTLER, S. P.- (123) 
THE mSPSFSA^ORY OP THE UNITED STATES OF A^ffiElCA. Ed. 19, 
1,947 pp. Philadelphia. 1907. 
Syrunus quassiae is prepared as follows: Macerate 
during 24 hovrs 1,000 parts of quassia wood with 5,000 parts 
of water, then "boil for l/2 hour, set aside for 24 hours, and 
press; mi:: the liquid with 150 parts of inolassos and evaporate 
to 200 nvrts. Prom this, Ply water or fly plate is prepared 
"by mixing 200 pnrts of the s;yn-ip, 50 parts of alcohol and 
750 parts of water. It is used by moistening with the 
iTiixture a cloth or filter paper on a. plate, 
"Q^iassia [ Picr r'^.ma excelsa is official] has in the highest 
dc.^rcc all the properties of the simple hitters. It is purely 
tonic, invigoratinf: the digestive organs, with little cxcitc- 
ncnt of the circulrticn or increase of cnimrl heat," It is 
useful in failiu-e of tvppctite, constipation due to dchility 
of the muscular ond intestinal coats, and dyspepsia, Compardon 
asserts tha,t quassin, the active principle, acts in moderate 
doses as a stimul:->Jit to the salivrry., hepatic, and renal 
secretions cxd in overdoses catiscs 'burning pain in the esophagus, 
with hcadrxihc, nausea, vertigo, vomiting, diarrhea, ojnd. muscular 
crrmps, Quassia is given in infusion (0,5 - 1 fl.oz.), tincture 
(0,5 - 1 fl. drachm), extract (0.5 - 1 grain), or fluidextract 
(5-10 minims) (pp. 1032-1033). 
WOOD, H. C, Jr., and LiWALL, C. H, (124) 
THE DI SPElTSATOITf OP THE U'mTED STATES OP AvIERiCA Ed. 22. 1894 pp. 
Philadelphia. 1937, 
About the middle of the eighteenth century a negro of Surinrim, 
nnacd Quassi, acquired. a reputation for treating the malignant 
fevers of that country hy a secret remedy, which he ^as induced to 
disclose to Rolander, A Swede, for a vrJuahle consideration. 
Specimens were tolccn to Stockholm hy the latter in 1756 and the 
