Flora Medica

KRAMERIACEJE.kernel ovate, white. The bark of the root when fresh pounded andmoulded into balls, or the dry bark is detergent; it readily frothswhen agitatedin water, and is used by the Peruvians as a substitutefor soap; the silversmiths of Huanuco employ it for cleansing andpolishing wrought silver. Antidysenteric used with ; great success inthe cure of dysenteries and irritating diarrhoeas in Peru, where it ispreferred to Quassia. Ruiz.259. M. salicifolia Fl. Peruv. has the same properties.? KRAMERIACE^.Nat. syst.ed. 2. p. 87.KRAMERIA.Sepals 4-5, irregular, coloured, spreading, deciduous. Petals 5,or 4, irregular, smaller than the calyx, the 3 inner unguiculate.Stamens, 1, 3, 4, hypogynous, unequal. Ovary 1-celled, or incompletely2-celled; style terminal; stigma simple; ovules in pairs,suspended. Fruit between hairy and leathery, globose, coveredwith hooked prickles, by abortion 1 -seeded, indehiscent.undershrubs. Leaves alternate,Spreading many-stemmedsimple, entire or 3-foliolate, spreading. Racemes simple,spiked.260. K. triandra FL peruv.i. t. 93. DC. prodr.i. 341.N. and E. pi. med. t. 413. S. and C. ii. t. 72. Dry gravellyand sandy hills in Peru, flowering all the year round. (Ratanhyroot.)A suffruticose plant. Root horizontal, very long and branched ;with a thick bark reddish brown outside, red inside. Stem procumbent,much branched, taper. Branches 2-3 feet long, when young silky.Leaves alternate, sessile, oblong and obovate, acuminate, entire, hoaryon each side. Flowers solitary, axillary, stalked. Calyx silky externally,smooth and shining inside, of the colour of lac. Two upperpetals separate, spathulate; 2 lateral roundish, concave. Drupe dryhairy, burred with dull red hooks. The extract is styptic and tonic ;operates powerfully upon tumours, resolving and restoring tone tothose parts ;corrects and cures all kinds of ulcers when applied tothem in plasters.When administered internally extract of Ratanhia isapt to be rejected by the stomach till 3 or 4 doses have been taken ; ifthe stomach will not retain it the extract should be given in pills, thepatient immediately chewing a little lemon and drinking and garglingwith vinegar diluted with water. Ruiz. Commonly used in Peru astooth-powder.