AmFeb.?i39iarrn'}       Vegetable  Drugs  Used  in  Mexico.  71 
bles  cacao  butter,  is  non-drying,  melts  near  400,  and  is  readily 
saponifiable,  producing  hard  soaps. 
Pachira  insignis,  Savigny.  An  infusion  of  the  root  bark  is  used 
for  curing  ulcerated  gums  and  in  toothache;  the  flowers  are  emol- 
lient and,  according  to  Dr.  Grosourdy,  the  seeds  are  comestible. 
Oleacece. — The  ash  employed  in  Mexico  (see  Amer.  Jour.  Phar., 
1885,  p.  556)  is  Fraxinus  viridis,  Michaux,  var.  Berlandiereana, 
Asa  Gray. 
Papaveracece. — Bocconia  frutescens,  Linn'e.  The  milk-juice  has 
been  examined  by  Prof.  Laso  de  la  Vega,  who  found,  besides 
resins,  etc.,  an  alkaloid,  boconine,  and  a  second  alkaloid  not  suffi- 
ciently characterized.  Boconine  is  stated  to  have  properties  analo- 
gous to  those  of  morphine,  to  be  crystallizable  and  to  form  salts 
having  a  red  color;  it  may  be,  probably,  identical  with  sanguinarine 
and  chelerythrine. 
Polemoniacece. — Lceselia  (Hoitzia,  Cavanilles)  coccinia,  Linn'e,  the 
espinosilla  has  the  leaves  alternate,  petiolate,  oval-lanceolate,  mucro- 
nately  serrate,  rough,  pubescent,  penninerved  ;  flowers  axillary,  with 
five  linear-lanceolate  bracts,  a  tubular  calyx,  a  red  funnel-shaped 
corolla,  five  exserted  stamens  and  a  tri-fid  style  ;  inodorous ;  taste 
bitter.    (See  Am.  Jour.  Phar.,  1885,  p.  554.) 
Polygonacece. — Rumex  hymenosepalum,  Torrey,  has  been  repeat- 
edly referred  to  in  this  Journal  (1876,  p.  49 ;  1886,  pp.  113,  115,  158, 
264;  1889,  p.  395).  It  is  know  in  Mexico  as  raiz  del  indio,  r'aiz 
de  la  frontera  (it  grows  near  the  northern  frontier)  and  canaigra,  and 
is  employed  as  an  astringent  and  for  tanning. 
Primidacece. — Anagallis  arvensis,  Linn'e,  indigenous  to  Europe,  has 
been  completely  naturalized  in  the  valley  of  Mexico,  the  plant  being 
used  as  a  substitute  for  saponaria  (see  Amer.  Jour.  Phar.,  1886,  p. 
122). 
Pipcraccce. — Piper  sanctum,  MociTw.  The  leaves  are  petiolate, 
oval,  deeply  cordate,  acuminate,  undulate,  pubescent,  three-veined, 
the  lateral  veins  running  from  the  base  to  the  apex  of  the  leaf, 
forming  curved  lines  on  both  sides  of  the  midrib,  the  space  thus 
enclosed  being  of  a  lanceolate  shape.  The  leaves  have  an  agreeable, 
piperaceous  odor,  and  an  aromatic  and  somewhat  bitter  taste. 
Rhamnacece. — Rhamnus  Humboldtiana,  Rce/Jier  et  Schidtcs,  is  the 
capulincillo  of  Queretaro  and  other  sections.  The  drupes  are  of  the 
size  of  a  cherry,  dark  violet  in  color,  and  have  a  woody  endocarp, 
