PAREIRA. BRAVA (ante), the root of the chondodendron tomentosum. It has fora century been supposed that the root known as pareira brava was that of cissampelos parevia, but its true origin was established by Banbury in 1873. Chondodendron tomentosun2 is a tall, woody, climbing plant, a native of Brazil and Peru, belonging to the order menispermacece. It has large ovate-cordate, fine nerved leaves, very small unisexual flowers, and purplish-black, ovoid one-seeded drupaceous fruits, resembling grapes. As it comes to market the root is in pieces from three to six incites long, cr more, and front one to three inches in diameter, of a dark-brown color externally with transverse ridges and fissures, and irregular longitudinal furrows. When cut it presents a palish brown color and a waxy luster, and when broken, a fibrous fracture. It is nearly inodorous and has a bitter taste. The stem is sometimes found mixed with the root, Ivhich it much resemble's, but may be distinguished by the pith. Several roots of
menispermous plants have been sold for pareira brava, and recently a yellow pareira bravo has been imported from Brazil. It comes in the form of flat, twisted stems which have been thought to lie obtained from abuta umura: It may be detected by the eccentric arrangement of its woody zones, which in the genuine are symmetrically con • centric. Pareart brava contains a yellow, bitter principle, which has been called eissampelina (after the plant for which it has been mistaken), soluble in alcohol and ether; a soft resin soluble in alcohol; and a brown extract soluble in alcohol and water. It appears to have therapeutic properties similar to those of urn vrsi. It has been used with benefit in chronic pyelitis and cystitis in the form of an infusion, dQ.coction, or fluid-extract. The solid extract is said to be less active.