This section is from the book "Recent Materia Medica: Notes On Their Origin And Therapeutics", by F. Harwood Lescher. Also available from Amazon: Recent materia medica.
Piscidia Erythrina. S. America. W. Indies. N. 0. Legvmxinosce.
This shrub has bright red blossoms: in 1844 its anodyne properties were recognised in the United States.
Root-bark: in thinish, tough, fibrous pieces, brown and odourless. Used in Jamaica to stupefy fish.
Therapeutics. A powerful calming sedative, especially in mental worry and mania; relieves neuralgia, uterine colic, headache, etc.; resembles the effect of large doses of Bromide of Potassium, without bad after-effects: produces internal heat, with profuse perspiration and deep sleep. [Piscidin is the crystalline active principle. Crystallizing in colourless prisms, soluble in chloroform, but scarcely in cold alcohol or water.] Dose, fluid extract, 20 to 30 drops, to be carefully increased; tincture (1 part in 4 rect. spirit), 1 fluid drachm.
As an anodyne, of great service in facial neuralgia and toothache.
For dogwood bark of the United Stakes, see Cornus florida.
 
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