IDENTIFICATION OF THE FALSE ANGUSTURA. 147 
trace of organization can be detected in it by the naked eye. 
Examined by the microscope, it is found to be composed, not 
of cellular tissue like Cryptogamic plants, but of true vascular 
tissue as in the Phanerogamic class, — a fact sufficient to show 
that the exuberance is not a lichenoid production. 
It is altogether unnecessary to add a minute description of 
the nux vomica bark, since Fee's account of it under the name 
of the false angustura, is as accurate as possible. 
I trust the identification of the long doubtful false angustura 
may be of practical therapeutical utility, as well as pharma- 
ceutical interest. It is extremely rich in Brucea, an alkali of 
exactly the same properties as strychnea, but fortunately but 
of one-twelfth the energy of that poison. According to the 
recent experiments of Andral,Magendie,and Chevalier,Brucea 
is extremely effectual in the cure of paralysis, atrophy, chronic 
rheumatism, sciatica, and several analogous affections. I have 
much hope, too, that it will be found useful in the treatment 
of intermittent and remittent fevers. The bark will now 
become an article of consequence as an export, since the pre- 
paration of Brucea as a medicine was limited or almost 
prevented by the rare and casual supply of the bark from 
which it w T as obtained. In fact, Brucea w T as only to be found 
in the museums as a curiosity. In the shops its price was as 
high as forty shillings the ounce — hence the virtues of the 
remedy were only ascertained, its benefits not diffusible. We 
can now prepare it in Bengal for three or four rupees the 
ounce, and I have no doubt its consumption will become very 
extensive. 
Journ. Calcutta Med. Phys. Soc, for Jan. 1837. 
