126 ‘The Natural Fhiftory of Jamaica. 
Flowers, of a yellow colour, fet clofe together, as in the others of this 
Kind. The Fruit is in an echinated Husk, juft like the Fruit of tritulns, and 
the Seed like a Grape Seed. 
The whole Plant has a very ftrong fmell like the others of its Kind. 
It grew in the ftony places of dry River, in which fometimes water ufed 
to run, near Sir Francis Watfons in the {even Plantations, as well as in feveral - 
other inland parts of this Ifland. | 
If this Herb be put under the fick’s Pillow ir foretels death if he {leeps 
not. Boil’d in Zergelim (i.e. {cfamum) or 7 zit-eln Oil, and burnt Wine, 
and applied to the part affeGted, it Cures Ewmpyema’s, and hid abfcefles of 
the Stomach before they ripen, efpecially if the juice be drank with Honey. 
With Malabarick or Ewropean Horehound, made into a Plaifter, and put 
on the pained place, ic Cures the Cramp or Spafm. With Honcy eaten 
fafting ic Cures the Dropfie. The Root boild in Sergelim Oil, rub’d ona 
Cloath, and repeated every twelve hours, takes away freckles or {pots. 
With Coco-Nut Milk boiled, ic Cures eating Ulcers, and the Bark of the 
Root put on the affected part does the fame. H. 1. | 
VIM. Ricinus Americanus fructu racemofo hifpido. Cat. p. 38. Ficus infers 
nalis. Calceol. Muf. p. 641. Mexico Seeds of Med. Cur. Ricinus Americanus 
major rubicundus, Munt. Pa-ten Cleyer. p.46. The Oil-Nut-Tree. 
I have nothing to add to Marcgraves defcription, but that ’tis generally 
nine or ten Foot high, and of two forts, one with large Seed, which is made 
ufe of to make Oil, the other with leffer, which I do not {ee differing from 
the common Ricinus, and 1 am very apt to believe the red and green, as well 
as thofe with little and large Seed, to be only varieties, 
They grow in Bermuda, Ge. 
Itfeems not to be different from the common European Ricinus, which is 
Perennial in Spaiw and Crete, where 'tis large, according to Bellonius, Clufius 
and Mr. Ray. ‘The Seeds are commended by fome for killing Worms in Hu- 
man Bodies. | 
The Leaves dipt in Water or Vinegar Cure Tetters, and are generally made 
ufe of for drefling Blifters. 
The Kernels after drying, and beating to Powder, are boiled in water, 
and an Oil fwims at top, which is usd for Lamps. It is good likewife 
againft all outward and inward cold Diftempers. It is hot in the third de- 
gree. Good againft Wind. Opens Obftructions of the Spleen, gc. or 
gripings of the Belly and Mother. Applied outwardly tothe Navel, as well 
as taken inwardly in Drops, it refolves Apoftems, reftores convulsd or 
contracted Nerves, by diftending them foftly. Three or four Drops given by 
the Mouth or Glifter, opens the Belly, and Cures Dropfies, and Difeafes of 
the Joints. It Cures the Scab, and other external Difeafes of the Skin. 
The Seed is aviolent Purger, more than the Oil, both upwards and down- 
wards, and therefore they want preparation, which is done by infufing 
them in Spirit of Wine, an ounce of which will bring off humours eafily ; 
feven of the Seeds are enough. The Oil is likewife drawn from thefe 
Seeds as from Almonds. Pifo. : 
This Oil is called by Monardes oleum Cicinum, becaufe Diofcorides and 
Pliny calls the Tree or Ricinus Kiki, and the Oil from it fo. A drop or 
two given in Milk expels Worms in Children, if their Belly be anointed 
with it. It is good for Scald Heads, pains in the Ears, and Deafnefs, 
Monard. } 
The Root taken in Decoétion, Cures pain from Wind in the Bowels, 
takes away the {welling of the Legs, and of the Kidnies and Belly, as alfo 
tis good for the Dropfie, Afthma, Gout and Eryfipelas. The Leaves Cure 
the 
