PARTS OF ROOTS AND STEMS. 
177 
Surinam Quassia; this is the variety used in conti- 
nental Europe. 
Description. — Usually in raspings, light or bright 
yellow, medullary rays two to five cells wide in trans- 
verse section, the cells containing tetragonal prisms or 
cryptocrystalline crystals of calcium oxalate ; fracture 
fibrous; odor slight; taste bitter. 
Surinam Quassia ussually occurs in small billets; 
the medullary rays are one cell wide in transverse 
section, and calcium oxalate crystals are wanting. 
Constituents. — Jamaica quassia contains two crys- 
talline bitter principles — a-picrasmin and /3-picrasmin ; 
it also contains a crystalline alkaloidal principle which 
gives a blue fluorescence in acidified alcoholic solution. 
Surinam quassia contains one or more bitter princi- 
ples, which are related to the picrasmins of Jamaica 
quassia, and which are known as quassiins. 
H iEM ATOX YLON (Logwood). 
The heartwood of Hsematoxylon Campechianum (Earn. 
Leguminosie), a tree indigenous to Central America, 
and naturalized in the West Indies. Much of the com- 
mercial logwood being used for dyeing is allowed to 
ferment, but it is the unfermented wood that should 
be used for medicinal purposes. 
Description. — Usually in small chips, externally 
reddish brown, freshly cut surface dark yellowish red, 
in transverse section slightly radiate and with numer- 
ous alternate yellowish and reddish concentric rings,, 
medullary rays four cells wide; fracture hard, fibrous; 
odor slight; taste sweet, astringent, imparting to water 
a violet or wine color. 
Constituents. — A colorless crystalline principle, 
lisematoxylin, 10 to 12 per cent.; it is easily oxidized 
to hiematein, which has a green, metallic luster and is 
