170 
The  Saw  Palmetto. 
{'  Am.  Jour.  Phann>> 
April,  1879. 
amount  of  potash  salts,  and  may  be  in  time  a  source  of  that  valuable 
alkali. 
The  saw  palmetto  berries,  or  more  properly  drupes,  ripen  in  Octo- 
ber and  November,  and  may  be  found  until  the  middle  of  December. 
They  are  about  the  size  of  the  olive,  dark  purple  in  color,  and  con- 
tain a  large  quantity  of  juice  and  a  pit,  shaped  like  that  of  the  olive. 
The  berries  are  at  first  exceedingly  sweet  to  the  taste,  but  in  a  few 
seconds  this  is  followed  by  an  acrid,  pungent  sensation  that  spreads  to 
the  fauces,  nasal  mucous  membrane  and  larynx.  This  is  in  turn  suc- 
ceeded by  a  feeling  of  smoothness  in  all  those  parts,  as  if  they  had 
been  coated  with  oil.  The  general  impression  is  that  of  a  sweet  and 
decidedly  strong,  though  not  unpleasant  butyraceous  taste,  which 
increases  with  the  age  of  the  fruit.  The  seeds  are  enveloped  in  a 
tough,  fibrous  membrane,  are  very  hard,  and,  when  cut  open,  present 
a  white,  oily,  glistening  substance,  which  burns  readily  with  a  blue 
flame,  and  gives  off  the  odor  of  roasted  coffee. 
The  oil,  or  rather  oils — for  there  are  two — a  volatile  oil,  soluble  in 
alcohol,  and  a  fixed  oil,  are  obtained  from  the  expressed  juice  by  allow- 
ing it  to  stand  for  some  time.  In  a  few  days  the  oils  rise  to  the  surface,, 
and  the  liquid  is  resolved  into  three  layers  ;  first,  a  yellow  volatile  oil,, 
next  a  thicker,  grayish-brown  fixed  oil,  and  then  a  yellowish  watery 
fluid  containing  a  large  percentage  of  saccharine  matter,  richer  in  fact 
than  cane  juice  itself.  By  evaporation  this  fluid  yields  a  rich  golden 
syrup,  which  neither  ferments  nor  candies,  slightly  retaining  the  pecu- 
liar taste  of  the  fruit.  When  the  berries  are  boiled  in  water,  the  vol- 
atile oil  is  dissipated,  filling  the  atmosphere  for  a  great  distance  with  its 
pungent  vapor,  and  producing  dizziness  and  headache  in  those  in  the 
immediate  neighborhood. 
The  residue  of  seeds  and  husks,  when  ground  up,  forms  an  oil  cake 
which  is  greedily  eaten  by  many  animals,  and  fattens  more  speedily 
than  that  of  rape  or  flaxseed. 
Medical  Uses. — From  the  above  account  of  some  of  the  properties 
of  this  plant,  its  application  as  a  remedial  agent  seems  warranted.  In 
all  cases  where  a  highly  nutritive  agent  is  needed,  it  seems  to  apply 
well  and  to  fulfill  the  indications.  By  its  peculiar  soothing  power  on 
the  mucous  membrane  it  induces  sleep,  relieves  the  most  troublesome 
coughs,  promotes  expectoration,  improves  digestion,  and  increases  fat, 
flesh  and  strength.    Its  sedative  and  diuretic  properties  are  remarkable. 
