ANDIRA INERMIS.— SMOOTH BASTARD CABBAGE-TREE. 
Class XVII. DIADELPHIA. Order IV. DECANDRIA. 
Natural Order, PAPILIONACE.E. THE PEA TRIBE. 
The Smooth Geoffroya* Andira Inermis, or Bastard Cabbage-tree, universally known in the West Indies by 
the name of the Worm Bark-tree, is a native of Jamaica and Martinique, growing in the low savanhas. It 
is a lofty tree, whose wood is white, and so tough as to be preferred beyond all others for the shafts of car- 
i riages. It was first introduced into this country by Messrs. Lee and Kennedy, who cultivated it at Ham- 
mersmith about the year 1778. 
This tree rises to a considerable height, sending off several branches towards the top of a straight, 
smooth trunk. The external bark is smooth and grey ; internally it is black and furrowed. The leaves are 
pinnate, composed of six or seven pairs of lanceolate-acuminate, smooth leaflets, about three inches long, of 
a dark-green colour, standing in pairs on short foot-stalks, with a terminal one. The flowers are disposed 
in very large, much-branched, terminal, downy panicles. The calyx is bell-shaped, and divided into five 
| obtuse segments. The corolla is papilionaceous, of a pale rose-colour, and is described by Dr. Woodville 
as consisting of a roundish, concave vexillum, notched at the apex, two oblong, obtuse, and somewhat shorter 
ales, and an obtuse, divided carina. The filaments, nine of which are connected at the base, bear roundish 
i anthers ; the germen is oval, with a tapering, curved style, and hooked stigma. The fruit resembles a small 
plum, is pulpy, marked on each side with a longitudinal furrow, and contains a hard nut or seed, separated 
into two valves. 
The generic name Geoffroya, was given by Jacquin, in honour of Stephen Francis Geoffroy, a Parisian 
1 physician, who wrote a treatise on materia medica, in which an analysis is given of every officinal plant, and 
who was author of several ingenious essays in the M6moires de l’Acad. des Sciences. The trivial name, 
inermis, was applied to this species by Dr. Wright, to distinguish it from another (G. spinosa ) which is armed 
with spines. 
The bark of the cabbage tree has a disagreeable, sweet, mucilaginous taste, and a slight but disagreeable 
i odour. The pieces, as they are imported into this country, are externally of a grey colour ; internally 
blackish and furrowed ; when reduced to powder resembling that of jalap. Its soluble parts seem to be 
composed chiefly of extractive, resin, mucus, a peculiar narcotic principle, and saccharine matter. 
Medical Properties and Uses. — Cabbage tree bark was first brought into notice as a vermifuge 
by Mr. Peter Duguid,* and its properties as an anthelmintic have been fully confirmed by subsequent 
writers; but we are chiefly indebted to Dr. Wright, of Jamaica, for the fullest information, both in respect 
! to the botanical character and virtues of this tree. “ This bark, like most other powerful anthelmintics, has 
' a narcotic effect, and on this account it is always proper to begin with small doses, which may be gradually 
increased till nausea is excited, when the dose for that patient is ascertained.” It is also powerfully cathartic, 
and in an over dose excites violent vomiting, fever, and delirium : when these effects follow an over dose, the 
stomach must be washed with warm water ; the patient must speedily take castor oil, and use plenty of lime- 
i juice beverage for common drink ; vegetable acid being a powerful antidote in this case, as well as in an 
over dose of opium. Care must be taken that cold water be not drank during the operation of this medi- 
i cine, as it is apt to occasion the same untoward effects as an over dose. This bark (in powder) acts briskly 
cathartic in doses of thirty or forty grains ; but its anthelmintic effects are more powerful when given in the 
form of decoction, of which an adult may at first take four table-spoonfuls, and gradually increase the dose 
if sickness be not excited : in this way it seldom fails in destroying worms, and bringing them away in great 
quantities. “ It must not be concealed that fatal accidents have happened from the imprudent administra- 
tion of this bark, chiefly from overdosing the medicine. But this cannot detract from the merit of the cab- 
bage-bark, since the best medicines, when abused, become deleterious.” Upon the whole the bark is con- 
sidered a valuable anthelmintic, although in this country it is not held in general estimation. This bark may 
be taken in the form of powder, decoction, extract, or syrup. The decoction is prepared by boiling one 
ounce of (fresh dried or well preserved) bark in a quart of water over a slow fire, till the water is of an amber 
l colour, then strain off and sweeten with sugar ; this should be used immediately as it does not keep many 
Essays and Observations, Physical and Literary, vol. ii. p. ‘26 k 
