EUPHORBIACEJE, the Euphorbium tribe o plants, consists of trees, shrubs, or herbs, many o them abounding in an acrid juice. The nutnbe: of species has been estimated at 1500, and Dr Roxburgh describes 120 in India. The genera property of this order is that of exciting, varyinl in degree froln mere stimultmts to the moa danc,erons poisons. The application of heat h stiffie'cient to destroy the stimulating principle, at in the instance of the Jatropha manihot or cassava, which when raw is poisonous, but when roasted becomes a nutritious article of food. A caout chone, turnsol, and farfiyun arc useful products of the order. The more important genera in the East Indies are agneya, aleurites, acalypha, Bridelia, buxus, cnemidostachys, cicca cluytia, crozophora, eroton, codiocum, emblica, e'lmococca, exccecaria, euphorbia, fluggea, glochidon, hura, janipha, jatropha, maearanga, phylhnthu.s, pluke netia, poincettia, Rottlera, ricinus, sapium stil li ngia, siphonia, sarcococca, stylodiscus xylophylla. 1Villiams says (Middle Kingdom, p. 1'07) that in China a strong oil is derived from the seeds of two or three plants belonging to the euphorbiaceous family, for mixing with paint, smearing, boats, etc. Voigt enumerates 31 species of Euphorbium as known in India, viz. :— acaulis. ligularia. prolifera.
an tiquorum. linearis. prnnifolia.
arborescens. lophogona. punicea.
bojeri. maculata. pyrifolia.
bupleurifolia. mellifera. sessiliflora.
ehaminsyce. nivulia. splendens.
dracuriculoides. parviflora. thymifolia.
exigua. peltata. timeulli.
hirta. peplis. trigona.
hoymfolia. pieta. uniflom.
lactca.
In February and March, women are to be seen wherever the milk-bush prevails. They apply the milk to their bodies and limbs, and then stick the places over with tufta of raw cotton. It produces a hot, and slightly prickly feeling, and a small degree of blistering. It is considered good for the health, and is supposed to ensure fecundity. The exhibitions seen at this season, in applying the milk, aro often indelicate in the extreme. The Enphorbia plant is sacred with the Kachari. It is the representation of their god Batho, and is worshipped by them.
The gum euphorbium plant of Morocco is the E. resinifem. The juice illStICS from incisions made with a knife. The people who collect tho gum tie a cloth over their mouth and nostrils, as the small dusty particles produce incessant sneez ing. The branches are used by the tanners, and to it probably the morocco leather owes its reputed pre-eminence. Iron coated with the juice of some of the euphorbia does not rust, even though_ 19ng immersed in water. To this end the gum is dissolved in spirits, and applied as a coating for ships' bottoms, and for ironwork generally, the spirits evaporating, and the gum being left on the 1 surface of the metal. The composition has also been successfully tested in Africa against the ravagea of the white ant.