122      Materia  Medica  of  the  Mexican  Pharmacopoeia.  {A^S;fmrm' 
entirely  dependent  upon  the  hypochlorite  alone,  in  the  absence  of  free 
chlorine  gas,  which  also  has  the  same  properties  of  decolorization. 
Since  gallic  acid,  as  well  as  tannin,  rendered  inky  by  the  addition 
of  ferric  salts,  is  changed  in  color  by  hypochlorites,  the  absence  of 
that  body  in  the  tannin  solutions  must  be  previously  determined  in 
the  application  of  Mr.  Durien's  method. 
MATERIA  MEDICA  OF  THE  NEW  MEXICAN 
PHARMACOPOEIA. 
By  the  Editor. 
(Continued  from  page  77.) 
Sanguinaria,  Illecebrum  Paronychia,  Lin.,  Caryophyllacese ;  in  the 
valley  of  Mexico.    The  flowers  are  astringent. 
Saponaria.  Anagallis  arvensis,  Lin.,  Primulacese,  is  usually  sub- 
stituted for  Sap.  officinalis;  the  former  is  known  as  "coralilla"  or 
"  saponaria  de  pais." 
Sauco,  Sambucus  mexicana,  Priestley ;  Caprifoliacea?.  The  flowers, 
leaves,  bark  and  berries,  which  have  not  been  analyzed,  are  used  in  a 
similar  manner,  as  the  corresponding  parts  of  the  European  elder. 
Semillas  de  balsamo,  Myrospermum  Pereirse,  Boyle;  Leguminosse; 
in  Cuautla  de  Morelos,  Panuco  and  other  hot  districts.  The  legumes 
are  indehiscent,  one-celled,  one-seeded,  oval  and  scimetar-shaped, 
brownish  yellow,  rugose  on  the  surface,  convex  and  keeled  on  the 
margin,  and  provided  with  a  wing  which  is  much  elongated  above; 
the  pericarp  contains  ducts  which  are  filled  with  a  resinous  balsamic 
matter.  Other  fruits  found  in  commerce,  which  have  a  longer  wing  and 
a  less  delicate  odor,  are  produced  by  Myrospermum  peruiferum.  The 
fruit  is  antispasmodic  and  stimulant,  and  the  tincture  is  employed  inter- 
nally as  an  antispasmodic,  and  externally  against  rheumatism. 
Siempreviva  de  Mexico,  Aizoon  canariense,  Lin.;  Ficoidaceae;  cul- 
tivated. Used  as  a  dentifrice  and  antiscorbutic,  and  the  juice  as  an 
astringent. 
The  name  siempreviva  is  also  applied  to  other  plants  of  different 
genera  and  families,  like  Bryophyllum  calycinum,  Lin.  (also  called 
Bruja  or  Amor  tras  de  la  puerta),  several  species  of  Helichrysum,  &c. 
Simonillo,  Galea  Zacatechichi,  De  Cand. ;  Composite ;  in  the  Mexi- 
can valley,  Puebla,  Orizaba,  &c.  The  plant  is  used  popularly  as  a 
tonic  and  antiperiodic  in  infusion  8:500.  Drs.  Soriano,  Campuzano 
and  others  have  used  it  successfully  against  hepatic  calculi. 
