MODE  OF  DISSECTING  [OR  SKELETONIZING]  LEAVES.  551 
section,  of  an  oblate  shape,  hangs  from  the  tree  by  a  rounded 
cord-like  stem,  sixteen  and  a  half  inches  long.  The  length  of 
the  fruit  is  sixteen  and  a  half  inches ;  circumference,  in  the 
centre  eleven  inches,  and  at  the  upper  and  lower  ends  ten  and  a 
half  inches ;  while  the  diameter  is  three  inches  and  three-fourths. 
A  tough  greenish-brown  rind,  with  dark  spots,  encloses  the  pulp, 
which  closelj  adheres  to  the  cortex.  A  vertical  section  shows 
that  the  closely-grained  nearly  dried  fleshy  fruit  is  of  a  reddish- 
brown  color,  the  seeds  being  imbedded  in  a  fibrous  and  tenacious 
substance.  In  taste  and  flavor  the  fruit  is  strongly,  but  not 
unpleasantly,  astringent ;  the  rind  less  so  ;  but  the  bark  of  the 
tree  is  strongly  astringent ;  and  I  feel  satisfied  that  the  bark  of 
the  Etua-tree  will  be  found  a  medicine  of  great  value  in  the 
treatment  of  diarrhoea  and  dysentery.  The  negroes  esteem  it 
as  a  sovereign  cure  for  dysentery,  and  have  done  so  for  count- 
less ages.  On  the  Gold  Coast  the  fruit  is  fetish,  and  is  employed 
by  the  wily  fetish  men  and  women  as  u  charm.  When  it  is  so 
used,  the  fresh  fruit  is  painted  in  alternate  stripes  of  red,  white 
and  black.  The  colors  are  composed  of  ochre,  chalk  and  char- 
coal. Thus  prepared,  the  fruit  is  transfixed  to  the  earth,  either 
in  the  pathways,  house,  or  about  the  house  of  the  party  who 
consults  the  fetish  man  or  woman,  as  may  be  directed.  Some- 
times the  fruit  is  painted  entirely  black,  and  then  dotted  all  over 
with  red  and  white  spots,  when  it  is  used  in  a  similar  manner. 
The  ceremony  is  an  invocation  to  the  fetish  to  discover  the  re- 
medy which  is  suitable  to  cure  the  disease  of  the  person  seeking 
advice  from  the  fetish  man  or  woman  London  Pharm.  Journ.^ 
from  Remarks  on  the  Topography  and  Diseases  of  the  Gold 
Coast.  Read  before  the  Epidemiological  Society ^  by  R.  Clarke, 
Esq.,  Colonial  Surgeon,  Gold  Coast. 
ON  THE  MODE  OF  DISSECTING  [OR  SKELETONIZING]  LEAVES. 
Several  correspondents  having  applied  to  us  for  information 
as  to  the  best  mode  of  dissecting  leaves,  &c.,  we  subjoin  the 
following  particulars,  which  a  correspondent  has  kindly  for- 
warded to  us :  Steep  the  leaves,  seed-vessels,  or  other  parts  of 
the  plant,  which  are  required  to  be  dissected,  in  rain  water ; 
