ON MATICO. 
105 
of acids to them. Acting on this suggestion, the class of 
double chalybeate salts would resolve itself into — 
Ferric or sesquioxlde salts, 
Ferroso-Ferric or magnetic oxide salts, 
And ferrous or protoxide salts. 
The ferric salts would be subdivided into true ferric, or 
such as have one equivalent of oxide united to one equiva- 
lent of acid ; and diferric salts, or such as have one equiva- 
lent of oxide united to two equivalents of acid. The name 
of the one would then be ferrico-citrate of ammonia; of the 
other, diferrico-citrate of ammonia. 
London Medical Gazette. 
ART. XXV.— ON MATICO. 
BY MR. T. R. N. MORSON. 
A Peruvian plant, the Piper angustifolium of Ruiz and 
Pavon, has recently been introduced into this country, under 
the native name of Matico. The leaves and flowering tops 
of the plant are the parts imported and introduced by Dr. 
Jeffreys, of Liverpool, to the notice of the profession as a 
most valuable remedy in diseases of the genital organs and 
rectum. He considers its activity to depend on its essential 
oil, and recommends its use in the form of infusion or decoc- 
tion, in the proportion of from half-an-ounce to one ounce 
to the pint of water. Dr. Hunter Lane, also, has written 
on this medicine, and used it in various cases. The leaves 
are covered with fine hair, and have been recommended as 
a styptic ; which property depends, I think, on their struc- 
ture, and not on their chemical composition. The natives 
use this plant for similar diseases. 
VOL. X. NO. II. 10 
