510 
COTYLEDONS  OF  SIMABA  CEDRON. 
the  reader  to  the  New  York  Journal  of  Medicine  for  September, 
page  173,  for  the  details,  we  copy  the  following  closing  remarks 
of  the  paper : 
"From  all  that  we  can  learn  regarding  its  habitude  and  mode  of 
procurement,  we  are  led  to  believe  that  the  only  obstacle  in  the 
way  of  the  use  of  cedron  in  medicine,  is  its  apparently  somewhat 
limited  supply.  We  say  apparent,  for  in  a  letter  received  from  Dr. 
Magrath,  we  learn  that  4  the  cedron  appears  to  be  obtainable  in 
quantity,  with  some  little  difficulty,  from  Carthagena  ;  but  a  brisk 
demand,  no  doubt,  would  cause  an  equal  supply.'  The  history  of 
all  new  medicinal  agents,  derived  from  savage  or  semi-civilized 
countries,  teaches  the  fact,  that  at  first,  the  remedy  sought  after  is 
obtained  with  much  difficulty  ;  but  we  should  not,  from  this  cause 
alone,  neglect  to  investigate  or  enquire  into  its  uses ;  and  should 
it,  according  to  our  belief,  be  found  that  this  article  possesses  de- 
cided merit,  and  some  advantages  over  quinine,  we  have  no  doubt 
but  that  some  of  our  enterprising  commercial  druggists  will  find  it 
to  their  interest  to  devise  means  for  its  introduction  into  our  market. 
Finally  : — From  the  declared  experience  of  various  observers  of 
the  medicinal  effectsof  theSimaba cedron,  we  are  warranted  in  draw- 
ing the  following  conclusions  regarding  its  therapeutic  action  : — 
That  it  possesses  decided  anti-periodic  properties,  and  is  there- 
fore applicable  in  the  treatment  of  periodic  diseases. 
That  it  is  less  likely  than  quinii.e  to  produce  the  aggregate  of 
encephalic  or  neuropathic  phenomena,  induced  by  overdoses. 
That  it  may,  in  large  doses,  repeated  often,  produce  griping  of 
the  bowels,  and  even  diarrhoea  ;  but  that  these  conditions  are 
easily  controlled  by  appropriate  medicaments. 
That,  as  a  remedy  in  intermittent  fever,  it  possesses  properties, 
in  many  respects,  equal  to  quinine,  and  in  most  cases  is  equally 
adapted  to  the  curation  of  this  disease. 
That,  in  the  treatment  of  yellow  fever,  it  does  not  appear  to 
possess  any  particular  advantages  over  quinine,  but  nevertheless  is 
equally  well  adapted  to  fulfil  the  indications  which  call  for  the  use 
of  this  latter  remedy. 
That  it  possesses  marked  tonic  properties,  and  deserves  a  promi- 
nent place  in  this  classification  of  the  Materia  Medica. 
%  That  in  chronic  dysentery,  diarrhoea,  dyspepsia,  and  all  stages 
of  the  stomach,  accompanied  with  impaired  or  difficult  digestion, 
its  use  will  be  found  to  be  attended  with  benefit." 
