Spec. Plant. Willd. iii. 1129.

Cl. 17. Ord. 4. Diadelphia Decandria. Nat. ord. Leguminosae.

G. 1362. Calyx five-parted. Drupe ovate. Nucleus compressed.

Species 3. G. inermis. The Cabbage-tree. Med. Dot. 3d edit. 416. t.151. Phil. Trans, lxvii. 512. t.10.

Officinal. Geoffroeyae inermis cortex, Edin. Geoffroea inermis; Cortex, Dub. Cabbage-tree bark. Syn. Umari de la Jamaique (F.), Geoffrunrinde (G.), Maskbark (Swed.),

Geoffrea (I.).

This tree is a native of Jamaica, growing in the low savannahs. It is a lofty tree, branching towards the top; and covered with a smooth grey bark. The leaves are pinnate, composed of four or five pairs of lancet-shaped, pointed, smooth leaflets, in pairs on short footstalks, with a terminal one. The flowers are in clusters on large branched spikes. The calyx is bell-shaped, with five short obtuse teeth; the corolla papilionaceous, of a pale rose-colour, consisting of a roundish concave vexillum notched at the apex; two oblong, obtuse, concave, somewhat shorter alae; and an obtuse divided carina. The filaments, nine of which are united at the base, support simple roundish anthers: the germen is oval, with a curved tapering style, and hooked stigma. The fruit resembles a small plum, is pulpy, marked on each side with a longitudinal furrow; and contains a hard seed.

1 Journ. de Physique, vol. lxxxiv. p. 245.

2 To obtain gentianin, macerate the root in ether, decant and evaporate the tincture, treat the residue with alcohol, and evaporate the alcoholic solution; then treat the residue with diluted alcohol, and leave the filtered solution to crystallize. To obtain it quite pure, boil the impure crystals in water with calcined magnesia, and submit the mass to the action of ether; the etherial solution gives crystals of pure gentianin.

3 Dr. Paris (Pharmacologia) says, that the quack medicine known under the name of Produm's Nervous Cordial consists of the tinctures of gentian, colomba, cardamom, and bark, with the compound spirit of lavender and wine of iron; and Stoughton's Elixir, of tincture of gentian, with the addition of serpentaria, orange-peel, cardamoms, and some other aromatics.

Qualities.-Cabbage-tree bark has a disagreeable, sweetish, mucilaginous taste. The pieces, as they are brought to this country, are externally grey; internally black, furrowed, and pulverulent, affording a powder resembling that of jalap. Its soluble components seem to be chiefly mucus, resin, extractive, saccharine matter, and a narcotic principle.

Medical properties and uses.-This bark is a powerful anthelmintic. Its properties, as such, were first noticed by Mr. Peter Duguid1, and have since been fully confirmed: but we are principally indebted to Dr. Wright for an accurate knowledge both of the plant and its virtues.2 It is particularly useful in expelling lumbrici, and may be given in forms of powder, decoction, extract, and syrup 5 but the decoction is the form most commonly employed. (See Preparations and Compositions.) It operates as a cathartic, but has a narcotic effect also; and requires, therefore, to be given at first in small doses, "which may be gradually increased till nausea is excited, when the dose for that patient is ascertained."8 In over-doses, it is apt to occasion sickness, vomiting, fever, and delirium; and the same effects are produced if cold water be drunk during its operation. When such symptoms occur from either cause, they are generally removed by copious draughts of warm water, a dose of castor oil, and plentiful dilution with lemonade or infusion of tamarinds.

Owing to these deleterious effects of the remedy, it has not been generally used in this country.

The dose of the powder is from Эj, to 3ss.;-and that of the extract, which is made by evaporating the decoction, grs. iij. The syrup, which is the decoction with a double portion of sugar added to it, may be taken in doses of from two to four spoonsful.

Officinal preparation.-Decoctum Geqffraeyae inermis, E.

1 Physical and Literary Essays, ii. 264.

2 Phil. Trans. 1. c. 3 Wright, 1. c.