170

Materia Medica.

part II.

furbiune, in September. It is obtained by making slight inci-sions in the branches of the plant with a knife, from which amilk-like juice exudes, and forms into tears of an oblong orroundish form. The quantity yielded is so considerable thatthe plants are cut once only in four years ; the supply then ob-tained being sufficient for that space of time for all Europe.—The recent juice is so corrosive as to erode the skin whereverit touches ; and the people who gather the gum are obliged totie a cloth over their mouth and nostrils, to protect them fromthe acrid dust of the withered branches, which induces themost violent sneezing. 1

Euphorbium is imported in serons, each of which containsfrom 100 to 150 lbs. weight. It is in small hollow somewhatforked pieces, which appear as if the euphorbium had concretedround the pedicels of the flowers ; and it is often mixed withthe tricoccous seeds, and other impurities.

Qualities. — It is inodorous; and, when first chewed, haslittle taste, but it soon gives a very acrid burning impression tothe tongue, palate and throat, which is very permanent and al-most insupportable. Water when triturated with it is renderedmilky, but actually dissolves l-7th part only of the quantityemployed: alcohol dissolves l-4th part, and affords a clearstraw-coloured tincture, which is rendered milky by the addi-tion of water: ether takes up six parts in ten, forming an opa-line infusion. When the ethereal tincture is evaporated onwater, it leaves on the side of the glass a pellicle of transparentresin, and on the water a cake of opaque adhesive whitish mat-ter, which I found to consist of wax and resin, resembling anofficinal plaster; while the water is rendered milky. The acri-mony resides in the resinous matter. The analysis of Bra-connot 1 makes 100 parts of euphorbium to contain 37*0 ofresin, 19*0 wax, 20-5 malate of lime, which was mistaken forgum, 2-0 malate of potass, 5-0 water, 13-5 woody matter,and 3*0 loss. He regards the resin as peculiar, from its beinginsoluble in alkalies, but soluble in the sulphuric and nitric acids.

Medical propeiiies and uses. — Euphorbium possesses power-ful carthartic, emetic, errhine, and rubefacient properties. Ithas been given as a hydragogue in dropsies; but owing to theviolence of its effects its internal use is now exploded : neitheras an errhine can it be used alone, for it occasions so much in-flammation as to produce haemorrhage from the nostrils,

1 Bruce says," When the iree (Kol-Quall) grows old, the branches wither, and, inplace of milk, the inside appears to be full of powder, which is so pungent, that thesmall dust which I drew upon striking a withered branch seemed to threaten to make mesneeze to death, and the touching of the milk with my fingers excoriated them as ifscalded with boiling water." — Appendix, 4to. p. 43.

* Annates de Chimic, lxviii. 44.