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Show CATECHU MIMOSA. 867 HISTORY. This tree is abundant in the mountainous parts of Hindostan, where it flowers in June, The extract of catechu, which was formerly termed, with peculiar impropriety, Japan earth, is principally prepared from the internal coloured part of the wood, bydecoction, evaporation, and exsiccation in the sun. Butcatechu is also prepared in India from severa l other species of mimosa, and even fromthe woods, barks, and fruits of other genera. There are two kinds of this extract; one is sent from Bom- bay, the other from Bengal. The extract from Bombayis of a uniform texture, and of a red brown tint, its specific gravity being generally about 1-39. friable and less consistent. The extract from Bengal is more Its colour is like that of chocolate externally ; but, when broken, its fractu re presents streaks of chocolate and of red brown. Its specific gravit y is about 1-28, Theirtastes are precisely similar, being astringent, but leaving in the mouth asensation of sweetness. Theydo not deliquesce, or apparently change by exposure to the air, and are not fusible. By Mr. Davy’s analysis, 200 grains gave, CATECHU MIMOSA. MIMOSA CATECHU. Tannin é es e Peculiar extractive matter = = Mucilage = 2 5 2 Residual matter, chiefly sand andcal« careous earth Class XXVII. Polygamia. Essent. Gen. Coan. The same as Spec. Caar. Spines stipular: i 5 of the partial ones “ous: Glande Glande oe merous: s filiform, axillary, in pairs or threes, bipinnate: Pinna eee DESCRIPTION. : ele st A rere twelve feet in height. Leaves doublycaer winged, eee i , . . Cit te tee atthe nate. Pinnz fromfifteen to thirty pair. Spines in pairs, & basis of each leaf, small, recurved. Flowers in close spi . rising i from the axille of the leaves. Filaments numerous, capillary, ary double the length of the corolla, crowned with round yel- a tow anthers, Fruit, a long pod. = = - Bengal. 109 68 13 97 3Q 16 10 14 MEDICAL USE. the last. peduncled. ; - Order J. Moncecia. Bombay. Catechu is one of the most convenient and powerful astrin. gents we possess, and maybe exhibited in every case where astringents are indicated. It is particularly serviceable in diarrheea, in hoarseness from relaxation of the fauces, ulcers and aphthe of the mouth, and’ in excoriations with lympha tic ex- udations. The antiseptic quality of catechu appears from the experi. ments made by sir John Pringle. (Vide Dis. of the Army, App. Exp. 10.) Huxham e: ployed it successfully in cases where a putrid dissolved state of the blood prevailed. This ex. tract is the princrpal ingredient in an ointment of great repute in India, composed of catechu four ounces, alum nine drachms, white resin four ounces ; these are reducedtoa fine powder , and 3K 2 |