1 7 2  The  Botanical  Source  of  Jaborandi.     { """^xS' 7^."^' 
THE  BOTANICAL  SOURCE  OF  JABORANDI. 
BY   E.    M.  HOLMES, 
Curator  of  the  Miiseum  of  the  Pharmaceutical  Society. 
Having  lately  had  the  opportunity  of  examining  a  quantity  of  jabo- 
randi from  Pernambuco,  *  through  the  kindness  of  Messrs.  Hearon, 
Squire  and  Francis,  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  find  several  ripe  fruits  of 
the  plant.  These  fruits  are  distinctly  Rutaceous  in  their  character,  and 
enable  me  to  confirm  Professor  Baillon's  conjecture  that  they  belong  to 
that  natural  order,  and  probably  to  a  species  of  Pilocarpus^  which,  if  not 
identical,  certainly  comes  very  near  to  the  P.  pennatif alius ^  Lemaire. 
The  specimens  of  the  plant  which  1  examined  appear  to  belong  to  a 
shrub  about  five-feet  high.  The  root  is  cylindrical,  hardly  tapering  at  all, 
nearly  three-quarters  of  an  inch  in  diameter  for  the  first  twelve  inches, 
and  very  sparingly  branched.  The  bark  of  the  root  is  of  a  pale  yellow- 
ish-brown color,  about  one  line  in  thickness,  and  has  a  very  short  frac- 
ture. The  outermost  layers  are  very  thin  and  papery,  and  are -frequently 
exfoliated.  A  small  portion  of  this  layer  placed  under  a  microscope 
forms  an  extremely  pretty  object,  and  is  seen  to  consist  entirely  of 
strongly  reticulated  dodecahedral  cells.  The  odor  of  the  root  is  like 
that  of  a  mixture  of  bruised  peapods  and  orange  peel.  The  taste  is  at 
first  like  that  of  green  peas,  but  this  soon  disappears,  and  gives  place  to 
a  tingling  sensation,  which  is  much  more  powerful  than  that  produced 
by  the  leaves  or  bark  of  the  stem,  and  endures  for  a  considerable  time. 
By  gaslight  the  transversely-cut  surface  of  the  bark  is  seen  to  sparkle 
with  minute  crystals. 
*In  a  note  on  the  physiological  action  of  jaborandi,  published  in  the  "Pharma- 
ceutical Journal  and  Transactions,"  January  i6,  1875,  Mr.  Wm.  Martindale,  F.  C.  S., 
gives  some  information  supplemental  to  the  account  published  in  "American  Journal 
of  Pharmacy,"  1873,  p.  345.  The  strained  infusion  has  but  little  effect;  but  taken 
with  the  powder,  its  action  becomes  apparent  within  a  few  (five)  minutes,  manifest- 
ing itself  by  increased  circulation,  uneasiness  in  the  head,  restlessness  and  the  secre- 
tion of  saliva.  A  dose  of  about  50  grains  caused,  in  about  half  an  hour,  impaired 
vision  at  a  distance  and  slight  dilation  of  the  pupil  5  the  pulse  rose  to  104,  the  per- 
spiration became  quite  excessive,  and  the  collected  saliva,  which  was  alkaline  in  reac- 
tion, measured  16  ounces  5  articulation  became  difficult  and  indistinct.  Two  and 
one-half  hours  after  taking  the  dose,  vomiting  occurred  and  was  promoted  by  me- 
chanical means,  after  which  the  effects  began  to  subside  ;  more  spirit  and  water  was 
given,  the  clothes  were  changed,  and  the  patient  wrapped  in  a  warm  blanket,  after  which 
he  slept  quietly  over  four  hours.  He  was  able  to  attend  to  his  business,  but  felt 
squeamish  all  next  day.  It  was  evident  from  this  account,  that  four  grams  (one 
drachm)  of  jaborandi,  or  at  least  of  some  samples  of  it,  constitute  an  excessive  dose. 
— Ed  Am.  Jour.  Phar. 
