52 
comprehending the Melon, the Cucumber, the Choco, and the various spe(‘ies 
of Gourd, all useful as the food of man. A bitter laxative quality perhaps per- 
vades all these, which, in the Colocynth gourd, is so concentrated as to become 
an active purgative principle. The Colocynth of the shops is prepared from 
the pulp of Cucumis Colocynthis : it is of so drastic and irritating a nature as 
to be be classed by Oi-fila among his poisons ; but, according to Thunberg, this 
gourd is rendered perfectly mild at the Cape of Good Hope, by being properly 
pickled. Ainslie, 1. 85. The bitter resinous matter in which the active prin- 
ciples of Colocynth are supposed to exist, is called by chemists Colocynthin. 
A waxy substance is secreted by the surface of the fruit of Benincasa cerifera. 
It is produced in the most abundance at the time of its ripening. Delile 
Descript. The leaf of Feuillea cordifolia is asserted by Drapiez to be a 
powerful antidote against vegetable poisons. Ed. P. J. 4. 221. The fruit of 
Trichosanthes palmata, pounded small and intimately blended with warm 
cocoa-nut oil, is considered a valuable application in India for cleaning and 
healing the offensive sores which sometimes form inside of the ears. It 
is also supposed to be a useful remedy, poured up the nostrils, in cases of 
ozsena. Ainslie, 2. 85. The root of Bryonia possesses powerful purgative 
properties, but is said to be capable of becoming wholesome food if properly 
cooked. The perennial roots of all the order appear to contain similar bitter 
drastic virtues, especially that of the Momordica Elaterium, or Spirting Cucum- 
ber. An extremely active poisonous principle, called Elatine, has also been 
found in the placenta of this plant. It exists in such extremely small quantity, 
that Dr. Clutterbuck only obtained 6 grains from 40 fruit. Ed. P. J. 3. 307. 
An ingenious explanation of the cause of the singular ejection of the seeds of 
this plant wiU be found in Dutrochet’s Nouvelles Recherches sur V Exosmose. 
The root of Bryonia rostrata is prescribed in India internally, in electuary, in 
cases of piles. It is also used as a demulcent, in the form of powder. That 
of Bryonia cordifolia is considered cooling, and to possess virtues in complaints 
requiring expectorants. Ainslie, 2. 21. The root of Bryonia epigaea was 
once supposed to be the famous Calombo root, to which it approaches very 
nearly (?) in quality. The tender shoots and leaves of Bryonia scabra are aperient, 
having been previously roasted. Ihid. 2. 212. The seeds of all the species 
are sweet and oily, and capable of forming very readily an emulsion ; those of 
Joliffia africana, an African plant, are as large as chestnuts, and said to be as 
excellent as almonds, having a very agreeable flavour; when pressed they 
yield an abundance of oil, equal to that of the finest Olives. De Candolle 
remarks, that the seeds of this family never participate in the property of the 
pulp that surrounds them. That this is occasionally extremely dangerous 
is proved by a case of a sailor who brought home with him a bottle gourd, 
into which he poured a quantity of beer, of which those who drunk died. 
Excellent remarks upon the order are to be found in Royle’s Illustrations, 
p. 218 . 
GENERA. 
Lagenaria, Ser. 
Cucumis, L. 
Rigocarpus, Neck. 
Luffa, Cav. 
Zehneria, Endl. 
Benincasa, Savi. 
Erythropalum, Bl. 
Turia, Forsk. 
Bryonia, L. 
Solena, Lour. 
Cucumeroides, Gaert 
Sicyos, L. 
Sicydium, Schlecht. 
Elaterium, L. 
Momordica, L. 
Amordica, Neck. 
Poppy a. Neck. 
Ecbalium, Rich. 
Neurosperma, Rafin. 
Sechium, P. Br. 
Melothria, L. 
. Colocynthis Schrad. 
Trichosanthes, L. 
Ceratosanthes, Juss. 
Joliffia, Bojer. 
Telfairia, Hook. 
Coccinia, W. et A. 
Cucurbita, L. 
Citrullus, Neck. 
Involucraria, Ser. 
Muricia, T our. 
Anguria, L. 
Psiguria, Neck. 
Feuillea, L. 
Nhandiroba, Plum. 
Zanonia, L. 
Alsomitra, Blume. 
Kolbea, Pal. Beauv. 
Zucca, Commers. 
Allasia, Lour. 
Thladiantha, Bge. 
Hepetospermum, Wall. 
Schizocarpum, Schrad. 
Cyclanthera, Schrad. 
