ANTIDOTE HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 25 



the English ivy leaf; but its fruit is like p. gr^en calabash, only it has a circular black 

 line round it, and t\vo or three warts, or little knobs; the inside of the shell is full of 

 white flattish beans, inclosed in a white membranous substance; and, wlfen thorou',di 

 ripe, the fruit turns brownish as a ripe calabash, and tlie beans or nuls are then of ;i 

 lightish-brown colour, and have a thin hard crust, in which is a whitish kernel, full of 

 oil, and excessive bitter. The nuts or beans, which arc generally ten or twelve in a 

 shell, are so close and conijiressed, that when I have taken them out, I never could 

 place them so -again as to make the shell contain them. 



" Piso saith, that he has seen whole families in Brazil, that have had violent aches 

 .and pains, got by the night-air, who have been cured with the oil of these nuts, wiiich 

 they may easily have growing in great plenty in most parts of America. It cannot be 

 used in victuals," Iieing so excessive bitter. A Fi'ench gentleman some years past, 

 brought me from Peru some of these nuts, and asked me if I knew what they were r I 

 did not saiisfy him whether I knew them, ))ut asked him what tlie Spaniards called 

 tliem, and what use they i)ut them to ? He told me, that the Spaniards called thcni 

 avilta ; and that they were worth their weight in gold to expel poison, and wished I 

 could find them growing in Jamaica; v^1iicll they do in great plenty, and the negroes 

 i employed to get them for me called them suho.''' Barhcan, p. 113. 



This ])lant is frequent in the moimtains, and generally found c!iml)ing among tlie 

 'tallest trees in the woods. It bears a ])od \>l)ich contains several broad. Hat, seeds, of 

 a reddish colour, when ripe. The seeds are largely impregnated with an oil, which is 

 extracted by pressing, and burnt in lamps. The negroes burn the seeds themselves. 

 They fasten a number of them upon a skewer, and, setting fire to the uppermost, it 

 ^descends very gTadaally to tlie bottom. They aire extremelv bitter, and. when grated 

 . and infused in rum, or other spirits, a small dose opens the body and provokes an ap- 

 petite. The infusion is also made with Madeira wine, and taken to relieve pains in the 

 stomach. The oil gi'^es a clear fine light when burnt in lamps, and emits no disagree- 

 -able smell. It is easily cultivated, by planting the seed at the foot of a tree or pole, it 

 'bears very luxuriantly. Long, p. 718. 



The kernel sliced and infused with orange-peel and a little wild cinnamon, in rum, 

 -,sn excellent bitter and opening medicine : Infused in water and rum, good in all cold 

 poisons. Dancer, p. 387, 391. 



The seeds are said to be good for a person going into a dropsy, or a swelling of the 

 face, feet, &c. and the following is the receipt : Take eight or ten of tlie kernels, 

 scrape and bruise them fine in a mortar; put the same into a bottle, pouring thereon a 

 pint of old rum or brandy and the like quantity of water : let it remain in the sun two 

 <)r three days, shaking the bottle frequently : take a wine-glass full every morning, 

 fasting, and u'sing moderate exercise before breakfast. 



An anonymous writer, in tiie Columbian Magazine, for .July, 1793, who gives the 

 foregoing receipt, states " that a young girl had been pronounced by the medic ;d 

 gentlemen in Spanish-Town in a drojisicai state, and evcrv thing administered as they 

 thought nefess.iry in such a case, but all in vain ; for, on my subsequent removnl U') 

 Kingston, I found the sucliing much increased in her face, legs, jmd thighs, with a 

 puthness in her belly. A planter from Above-Rocks breakfasted with me ; 1 called the 

 girl to get some water ; he was alarmed on seeing her condition, and advised the use 



of 



