2  Vegetable  Drugs  Used  in  Mexico.  {AmjJa0nUfi89i.arm' 
Anacardiacece. — Rhus  Toxicodendron,  Linne,  grows  from  the 
valley  of  Mexico  and  from  Jalapa  northward,  and  is  popularly 
known  as  mala  mnjer,  guau,  etc.  The  leaves  are  used  in  incon- 
tinence of  urine ;  a  hot  strong  decoction  is  employed  against'  the 
bites  of  poisonous  animals  by  bathing  the  affected  parts,  and  the 
juice  is  given  for  coughs  in  doses  of  five  drops,  with  a  hot  aromatic 
infusion.  The  alcoholature  (tincture  of  the  fresh  leaves)  has  been 
used  by  Dr.  Garcia  in  elephantiasis  (mal  de  San  Lazaro). 
Tapiria  cyrtocarpa,  Bentham  et  Hooker,  copalcocote  ;  the  seeds  are 
said  to  cure  lepra. 
Apocynacece. — Aspidosperma  Quebracho,  Schlechtendal,  yields 
quebracho  bianco,  the  bark  being  given  in  doses  of  I  to  4  gm. 
Asclepiadece. — Asclepias  Cornuti,  Decaisne,  grows  near  the  north- 
ern frontier  of  Mexico,  and  is  known  as  soliman  vegetal.  The 
rhizome  is  used  in  doses  of  0  5  to  1  gm.;  the  fresh  milk-juice  serves 
for  destroying  warts,  and  after  drying  as  a  sternutatory. 
Berberidece. — Berberis  pinnata,  H.  B.  K.,  known  as  cachisda, 
grcws  in  Guanajuato, .  Toluca,  etc.  The  constituents  of  the  root 
bark  are  probably  analogous  to  those  of  Berberis  vulgaris.  The 
comestible  fruit  is  employed  as  an  antiscorbutic,  and  the  bark  as  a 
laxative ;  the  wood  is  used  for  dyeing  yellow. 
Cactece. — Tuna  is  the  name  by  which  the  fruit  of  several  species 
of  Opuntia  are  designated.  They  -are  regarded  as  possessing 
diuretic  properties  and  are  employed  for  curing  diarrhoeas,  while 
the  juice  is  used  in  biliary  affections;  the  flowers  have  the  reputa- 
tion of  being  useful  in  pectoral  complaints.  Among  the  economical 
uses  of  the  berries  may  be  mentioned  that  they  are  eaten  as  table 
fruit;  that  a  very  agreeable  fermented  beverage,  known  as  colonche, 
is  made  from  the  juice  in  San  Luis  Potosi ;  and  that  the  fruit  is 
converted  into  a  preparation  called  que  so  de  tuna  (tuna  cheese). 
Capparidece. — Polanisia  uniglandulosa,  Cavanilles,  which  grows 
in  the  valley  of  Mexico,  Puebla,  etc.,  is  the  yerba  del  coyote,  and  is 
employed  as  a  stimulant,  stomachic  and  vermifuge,  and  externally 
for  its  rubefacient  properties. 
Connaracece. — Rourea  oblongifolia,  Hooker  et  Arnott,  var.  flori- 
bunda,  which  is  found  in  Southern  Mexico,  Vera  Cruz,  etc.,  is  called 
ckilillo  de  la  huasteca.    The  root  is  flexuose,  little  branched,  annu- 
