BASSIA  FLOWERS. 
421 
angemic  conditions,  &c,  and  in  hysteria  and  hypochondriasis, 
even  if  the  latter  had  increased  to  weariness  of  life.  The  coca 
might  also  be  employed  with  great  benefit  in  mental  diseases 
where  some  physicians  prescribe  opium.  Of  its  sedative  effect 
in  spinal  irritation,  idiopathic  convulsions,  nervous  erethism,  the 
author  has  fully  convinced  himself.  He  proposes  its  use  in  the 
highest  dose  in  cases  of  hydrophobia  and  tetanus.  It  is  a 
popular  opinion  that  the  coca  is  a  reliable  aphrodisiac ;  the 
author  has,  however,  observed  only  two  cases  in  which  a  decided 
influence  upon  the  sexual  system  was  perceived. 
Dr.  Mantegazza,  finally,  recommends  this  remarkable  plant, 
which  could  be  easily  introduced  into  trade,  to  the  profession 
for  further  physiological  and  therapeutical  experiments,  and 
adds  the  full  history  of  eighteen  cases  by  which  the  medicinal 
virtues  of  the  remedy  are  proved  to  satisfaction. — London 
Pharm,  Journ.,  June,  1860,  from  0 ester reichische  Zeitschrift 
fur  Prahtisehe  Heilkunde,  November  4,  1859. 
BASSIA  FLOWERS. 
Few  trees  have  economic  applications  so  numerous  and  so 
important  as  the  Bassia  trees  of  India.  The  wood  of  Bassia 
longifolia  L.  is  hard  and  durable  ;  its  bark  and  leaves  are  used 
by  the  natives  in  medicine.  Of  the  fruit,  ripe  or  unripe,  the 
skin  boiled  to  a  jelly  is  eaten  with  salt  and  capsicum.  The 
ripe  kernels  afford  an  oil  •which  is  employed  for  culinary  pur- 
poses as  well  as  for  lamps,  for  soap-making,  and  in  medicine. 
The  flowers  which  are  produced  in  immense  quantity,  are 
gathered  as  they  drop  to  the  ground,  and  eaten  as  good  food, 
either  raw  or  roasted  or  boiled  to  a  jelly. 
These  valuable  properties  are  shared  to  a  great  extent  by 
Bassia  latifolia  Roxb.,  a  closely  allied  species  also  abundant  in 
India.  The  flowers  of  this  species  also  serve  es  food  to  both 
man  and  animals.  They  are  used  likewise  for  the  preparation 
of  an  alcoholic  spirit  which  is  obtained  from  them  by  distillation. 
"  This  flower,"  says  Dr.  Alexander  Gibson,  Government  Con- 
servator of  Forests  in  Bombay,  "is  collected  in  the  hot  season 
by  Bheels  and  others,  from  the  forests,  also  from  the  planted 
