^"'sepr'iss?'^'"'}     Materia  Medica  of  the  Mexican  Pharmacopoeia.  431 
The  bulbs  of  the  three  plants  are  known  in  Mexico  as  eebolleja^ 
cebolleta  or  cintul,  are  used  like  the  fruit,  and  are  believed  to  possess 
identical  properties,  but  they  have  not  been  analyzed.  The  fruit  is 
rarely  employed  internally ;  the  powder  is  used  as  an  insecticide  and 
errhine,  and  the  tincture  as  a  stimulating  embrocation.  The  capsules 
of  Pentstemon  barbatum  and  other  species,  known  as  chilpantlacol, 
are  sometimes  fraudulently  substituted  for  the  former,  but  are  easily 
distinguished  by  the  grayish  yellow  color,  a  somewhat  horny  texture, 
and  the  numerous  seeds,  which  are  not  sword-shaped.  The  more 
important  botanical  distinctions  between  the  two  fruits  are  as  follows : 
The  capsules  of  the  veratrums  become  three-lobed,  and  separate  into 
three  carpels,  opening  by  their  ventral  sutures,  while  the  capsules  of 
pentstemon  are  two-celled,  have  a  central  placenta,  and  open  by  four 
valves. 
Cedro  Colorado,  Cedrela  odorata,  Lin. ;  Meliacese ;  in  hot  localities 
of  Mexico.  The  bark  is  very  bitter,  and  is  reputed  to  be  febrifuge 
and  anti-epileptic ;  the  decoction  of  the  leaves  is  used  for  curing  tooth- 
ache, and  the  resin  is  employed  in  bronchitis. 
Cedron,  Lippia  citriodora,  Kimth.    See  July  number,  p.  333. 
Ceiba,  Ceibo,  Eriodendron  anfractuosum,  De  Cand. ;  Bombace^e ; 
in  Tamaulipas,  Yucatan  and  other  hot  and  damp  regions  of  the  Re- 
public. The  cotton  investing  the  seeds  is  used  for  stuffing  cushions, 
etc. 
Cera  de  Campeche  is  obtained  from  different  Mexican  bees  of  the 
genus  Melipona;  particularly  from  Mel.  domestica,  commonly  known 
as  Abeja  alazana,  etc.  It  is  seen  in  commerce  in  lumps  of  several 
kilos  in  weight,  or  in  oblong  cakes,  wrapped  in  maize  leaves,  and 
weighing  not  over  500  grams.  It  is  opaque,  yellowish,  or  after  expo- 
sure to  the  air  gray,  internally  of  a  much  lighter  yellow  and  fallow 
tint ;  though  of  a  rather  soft  consistence,  it  preserves  its  shape,  but 
may  be  moulded  between  the  fingers  and  becomes  adherent ;  it  has  a 
peculiar  odor  and  aromatic  taste,  melts  at  53°C.,  and  burns  with  a 
bright  and  sooty  flame.  Ether  dissolves  from  this  wax,  besides  the 
aromatic  principle,  a  yellow  substance,  which  is  softer,  more  adhesive, 
and  more  readily  fusible  than  the  wax ;  the  residue  insoluble  in  ether 
is  waxy,  white,  hard,  brittle  and  less  readily  fusible.  The  wax  is 
adulterated  with  suet,  acquiring  thereby  a  lower  melting  point  and 
greater  adhesiveness ;  and  with  resinous  substances,  which  increase  the 
