16 s REMARKS ON GUACO PLANTS. 
INCERTA. DUBIE. 
S. disperma, Don. S. calophylla, Wall. 
S. japonica, Don. S. densa, Wail. 
S. lenta, Fr. S. ? Fail. 
Remarks on GUACO-PLANTS. By BERTHOLD SEEMANN. 
Among the numerous plants used by the inhabitants of America 
to counteract the effect of the bites of venomous snakes, those called 
Guacos or Huacos occupy a prominent place. Some extraordinary 
stories are related of them, but it remains to be ascertained how 
far they can be depended upon, and travellers will have yet to identify 
the vernacular names of these plants with their respective scientific 
appellations. Dr. M. Colazio, a friend of mine, found the Indians of 
Central America very dexterous in catching the most dangerous snakes. 
They were never bitten by them; on the contrary, the reptiles seemed 
to fly their presence, and if taken wound in their hands as if touched 
by a hot iron. On asking for an explanation of so remarkable a phe- 
nomenon, the natives informed him that they had ** guaconized" them- 
selves, i. e. taken Guaco, which, if true, would prove the plant to be not 
only an antidote but also a prophylactic. Great misconception ap- 
pears to prevail, and much has been written, about the plant which 
ought to be considered the true Guaco. But the fact is that nearly 
every country has its peculiar Guaco. At first the name was probably 
confined to only one species; when however in newly discovered re- 
gions the original plant was not found, the appellation was transferred 
to another that happened either to resemble it in appearance or possess 
similar properties. The derivation of the word ** Guaco" could doubtless 
throw some light upon the subject; unfortunately it is unknown. - 
Some spell it Guaco, others Huaco, and in Peru, Ecuador, and the 
Isthmus of Panama the same name is applied to the ancient Indian 
tombs ; but whether there is any connection between the name of the 
plant and that of the native burial-places I have no means of deter- 
mining, nor do I know to which of the American languages the word 
belongs. It sounds most like a corruption of a Quichua one, and if 
this should prove to be the case, those who spell it ** Huaco" would 
be the most correct. 
