KOUSSO, or COSSO. Under these names are comprehended the flowers and llower.stalks of a tree, native of Abyssinia, long celebrated among the natives for its anthelmintic properties. The earliest notice of it among European writers was by Leutholf, in 1681 e pica,' lib. 1., e. ix, sect. 81); but the first representation of it occurs in Bruce's' Travels' (vol. v., p. 73, of London edition, 1790). By him it was proposed to call the tree Banksia Abyssinica, a generic name untenable as having been previously appropriated to a New Holland genus. llayenia, applied to it by Lamarck, is for the same reason untenable. The universally admitted name is Brayera andic/mintica, Kurth (D. C. ' Prod.' ii., p. 08), [NAT. Hist Div.]; also, Richard, Teutamen Florae Abyssinicre; pl. 48. Dr. Beke says that the tree in the Amharic language is called kosso, and in that of Tigre hhabbe ; and these same names are respectively applied to the tape-worm, against which this drug is esteemed a remedy. it flourishes best on the table land in the north-eastern part of Abyssinia, at the height of six or seven thousand feet above the level of the sea. It is a rosaceous plant, though by Theodor d'Abbadie ascribed to the Malraccce. The flowers and flower-stalks are collected before the seeds are quite ripe, whilst still a number of florets remain unchanged. They are suspended in the sun to dry, and if not required for immediate use, are deposited in a jar. The dried portions are sent first to Egypt, thence to Constanti nople, and Europe ; perhaps some come to Aden.
The chemical analysis yields a fatty oil, wax, bitter acrid resin, tasteless resin, two kinds of tannin, ashes, gum-sugar (Wittstein). Martin gives also a crystalline substance termed kwoseine ; there is also a little volatile oil. Owing to the high price adulteration is much practised, chiefly with pomegranate bark. To avoid this the kouso should be purchased in the entire, not powdered, state. About half an ounce is the dose for an adult. This is to be infused in half a pint of tepid water for a quarter of an hour, a little lemon-juice may be added, and about a third swallowed; then after an hour another third, finally the remainder, with lemon-juice. This seems to check the disposition to vomiting caused by the nauseous taste and odour. At the end of four hours, a dose of castor-oil or infusion of senna may be given. By the action of this last tape-worms, either entire or in part, mostly dead, are brought away. The chief recommendation of kousso over other anthelmintics seems to be that under its influence the head as well as the joints of the parasite are brought away. Without this be effected any amendment can only be temporary. The fullest ac count of kousso, in English, is by Dr. Pereira, in Journal of Pharm. Society,' vol. x. p. 15, now incorporated in Pereira's ' Mat. Med.' [ANTirm.musTrcs.)