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Quassia Excelsa or Q. Amara is a small
branching tree of the genus Simarubaoeae |
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Sunday, 02 July 2006 |
Treatment for Fevers, hysteria
found in Jamaica. Surinam Quassia obtained from Quassia Amara was formerly used for medicinal purposes, but it has now been replaced by Jamaica Quassia. The wood is so called after Quassi, Coissi or Quass, a Negro of Surinum who first discovered its tonic and febrifuge properties and Used it in malignant fevers so prevalent in the moist tropical countries. The quassia wood is in the form of yellowish white shavings, chips, or raspings or large dense billets. Its constituents are (1) quassin----a mixture of a-picrasmin and b-picrasmin bitter principles, (2) a volatile oil, Quassin when heated melts like resin; both alkalies and acids increase its solubility in water. Quassia is a bitter tonic without astringency; and as it contains no tannin it can be ordered with iron preparations. It invigorates the digestive organs. It is most suitable in dyspepsia and anorexia. A strong" decoction of quassia is a good poison for flies and fish; similarly it actsin various diseased conditions of the blood destroy-ing unhealthy organisms and acting as a poison to insects and the lower forms of animal life. When injected into the rectum a strong infusion will destroy thread-worms. The infusion of the B. P. (1 in 240 of boiling water) is given in dyspepsia, loss of appetite and debility after fevers etc. The strength of the cold infusion is 1 in 120; and the dose of both is « to 1 ounce. It may be used also in
the form of tincture ( 1 in 10) in doses of « to 1 drachm. It is given in bilious fevers, together with alkaline salts in gout with aromatics and ginger; in hysteria with camphor and tincture of valerian; in dyspepsia with sulphate of zinc or iron or with mineral acids. The dose is from 1 to 4 ounces. |
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 02 July 2006 )
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