Practical observations on the remedial properties of Simaba cedron, and on its employment as a substitute for quinine / by Samuel S. Purple.

  • Purple, Samuel S. (Samuel Smith), 1822-1900.
Date:
1854
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical observations on the remedial properties of Simaba cedron, and on its employment as a substitute for quinine / by Samuel S. Purple. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by The Royal College of Surgeons of England. The original may be consulted at The Royal College of Surgeons of England.

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    1854.] specific for the bites of snakes, for intermittents and stomach complaints generally. The bark and wood also abound in a high degree with the bitter principle.’ The dried speci- mens sent by Mr. Purdie were further accompanied with the following note: ‘ The cedron has an erect stem not more than six inches in diameter, crowned by an umbelate mass of branches, with large handsome pinated foliage ; so highly are the seeds prized here for their powerful medicinal virtues, that they cannot be purchased for less than two reals, or one shilling each. I have had the testimony of medical men in Bagota in favor of their properties, and Dr. Cheyne has fre- quently tried them with success. Dr. Cespedes, some years ago, was sent expressly on a mission from Bagota to the locality of this plant, which is in woods immediately be- hind the village of San Pablo, on the banks of the Bio Grand de Magdalena.’ The cedron is, however, probably more extensively distributed than Dr. Cespedes and Mr. Purdie imagine, especially to the westward towards the Pacific, in New Grenada. Another collector of Kew Gardens, then and still on board of H. M. surveying ship “Herald,” (Capt. Kellett, commander), transmitted specimens to Kew the fol- lowing year, 1847, from the Isle de Caybo.” Dr. Peter Smith, of the City Hospital, of San Francisco, received a letter dated Nov. 22d, 1849, from Don Jose Abal- dia, Govenor of Panama,* in which it is stated that, “the tree which produces the fruit, and is called the ‘ cedron,’ is described in the scientific work of Dr. Cespedes, one of their own naturalists. * * * * The tree grows abundantly in humid places, and as the wood is inapplicable to the uses of life, and the fruit neglected by animals on account of its bitterness, an abundant supply is predicted.” I might here state that the first specimens I saw, those pre- sented me by Mr. Skidmore, were obtained at Panama. Dr. Horner, of the U. S.N., states! “ that Dr. Smith, of San Francisco, used for the cure of chronic dysentery and inter- * Philadelphia Medical Examiner. Yol. vii. N. S. p. 140. f Ibid, p. 91.