142 
other, we conceive the further difcuflion of this fubje^l: to be of no 
material confequence. Nich. Monardus/ ahnoft two centuries 
firft makes mention of the plant called Contrayerva; and as this name 
is of Spaniih origin, fignifying an antidote to poifon, it might apply 
ago, 
to any other plant fuppofed to poiTefs this power 
We 
are 
told by 
Clufms, that he received from Sir Francis Drake fome roots which 
were brought from Peru, where they were highly valu 
c 
and 
N 
re- 
ported to counterad: the effeds of every kind of poifon, of which 
the leaves of the fame plant were faid to be 
one. 
- This root, in 
compliment to the circumnavigator, he named Drakena radix, and i 
s 
generally thought by botanifts to be that of Contrayerva. The 
eneric 
name, Dorftenia, was firft ufed by Plumier,^ and afterwards by Lin 
nx'us, who makes four fpecies of this genus. 
The root of Contrayerva has a pecuhar kind of aromatic fmell, 
and a light ailringent warm bitterifh tafte, and on being long chewed 
it difcovers fomewhat of a fweetifh fharpnefs. According to Lewis, 
" Contrayerva root gives out its virtue, by the afhftance of heat, 
both to water and red:ified fpirit, and tinsres the former of a dark 
brownifh red, the latter of a brighter reddiih colour : the watery 
decodion is very mucilaginous, fo as not to pafs through a filter."^ 
The antipoifonous virtues formerly attributed to this root, have 
been long very juftly exploded as entirely chimerical, fo that it is nov/ 
merely employed as a diaphoretic of a moderately ftimulant kind, 
being pofTeffed of lefs pungency than any other of thofe medicines 
ufually denominated alexipharmic. Putrid and nervous fevers are 
the difeafes in which Contrayerva is chiefly ufed, conformably to the 
pradice of Huxham and Pringle, whofe works are well knovm to 
all our medical readers. 
'N 
' Vide Clufius Exot. p. 311 
4 
5 Nov. gen. plant » 
* Lewis Mat. MecL 
HYOSCYAMUS NIGER 
/ 
