15! 
fuse in boiling water, keeping the vessel covered for four or six 
hours, and at bed-time the infusion is taken warm, either by itseli 
or with a little sugar. 
_ They say that it causes them to perspire abundantly, anil as= 
sert that in a few hours it alleviates their pains, generally effect- 
ing a cure within three days. Incases where entire relief is not 
obtained, they repeat the medicine two or three times, ‘antil, guey 
are freed from pain or other inconvenience. __ 
The Indians also apply the Star-reed poundédl's or praia; 
fresh, to the bites and stings of reptiles and insects, as a powerful 
antidote against their poison. 
The great estimation in which: the Star-reed is: held’ by the 
Indians for such disorders, the peculiar fraprimes which it ex- 
hales on eutting, and the: exquisite:camphorous, balsamic and 
bitter flavour which I discovered in it, excited in me the most 
lively wish to make myself acquainted with the plant. 
_ Notwithstanding the most diligent researches in the woods, E 
was for two years unable to meet with the plant in flower or in 
fruit, and had at length recourse to the expedient of transplant- 
ing some specimens of it into the garden at Buenamuerte de 
Lima, distant a hundred and five leagues from Pozuzo, where - 
it flowered in the months of January and February; a period 
which, on account of the continual rains, w as by n no means far 
vourable for exploring the mountains where ds, as 4. 
done in seasons when there were few showeraso2 ines: 
_ By its flower I perceived that the Siarseded: Reo: 105 , the 
genus Aristolochia of Linneus. The genus being ascertained, 
no. impropriety could arise in-recommending to the Faculty the 
use of this new: sam ccoaeenee to ste ———— made of it | 
= the Indians. | 
-In my recommendation I added a iptegestion that Physicians 
