CANDLB HORTUS JAMArCENSlS. v.Y 



itwfe'wood. By sul>jecting the wood to distillation, Dr. Wright thinks a perfume equal 

 to oil of rhodium may be obtained. It is called :^uite candleirood, because it burns s 

 fieely as frequently to be used for that purpose by the negroes. 



This tree if. found in the woods of St. Ann's, and those bacl< of Bull Bay in the pa- 

 tish of Port Royal ; it grows to a considerable size, and is considered as one of the most 

 valuable timber trees in the isliuul. The v.'ood is white, and of a curled grain when 

 --joung, but grows of a dirty ash-colou? by age : it bears a fine. pohsh and has a fine 

 smell. The young trees are freqweutly cut for firewood in -the nionntains; -they are 

 full of resin, bnrn very freeiy, anu with a most agieeahle smeU. Th** wood is heavy 

 .t.nd in great. vogue aniprsg ciil)inct maimers. AH tue parts of this tree are full of wai-m 

 aromatic particles, -and may be used in batlis and foni-entatiftHs wjon e-ccasiou. 

 Brozimc, p. 208. 



Sweefwpod, or sTirnbhy sweetwwd, or losf-wood. Professor T,inii^uSj having ob- 

 tained a spfecimen of the balsam of niccoa tree, was of opinion, tlrat it was a species of 

 this genna. Mr. Robinson, pursuing tins hint, found three species, -difiering only 

 irom each othvri'inthe size of the trees, dimensions of- their leaf, and greater or less 

 aroma of tlieir bark and wood. 



TlKy grow ir^ great abundance on the rocky, hills of tke south side coast, and other 

 parts more inland ; and arc remarkably frequent in Healthshire, in St. Catherine. 



Their leaves and bark are impregnated v.ith a fine balsamic juice, and,, if the body 

 was tajjped at the proper season of the year (supposed to be August), might be found 

 -to transride. a thfck liquor Teseuibling that of the Gilead balsam, to which the taste of 

 '^his bark, and wood of the smaller branches, bears a very exact relation. 



The leaves, infused ir, boiling water, aftevthe manner of tea, ,hav3 a very pleasant 



-ilavour, and odoriferous scent, and may -be drank with milk and sugar, instead of -tea. 



Tiiis infusion is highly cephalic, strengthens the nerves, and-is particularly restorative 



to weak eyes ; insomuch, tiiat 1 knew a gentleman, who, by.theconstantu.se of it for 



-SO aie weeks, hy way of i reakfast, was able to read a small print, a*nd view objects dis- 



-lincllv, without the assistance of spectacles, which he had been unable to do. for some 



years before. 



The leaves, dried thoroughly in the shade, might be very securely packed, and ex- 

 ported, for farther trial of tiieir virtues, which, in Jamaica, chd not seem to be impaired 

 'by their dryness, or length of keeping. 



There is then the strongest reason to-believe, that the ai'ri/ris-ma.y,hy incision, pro- 

 duce a balsam not much infej-ior to the celebrated balm of gilead, or ojwhahammu ; 

 jvhich, for loetter information of tiie inquisiti\e reader,! shall here descrilie, from com- 

 petent authority. It is a liquid resin, of a very light yellowish colour, and a fragrant 

 smell, not unlike that of citrous ; but the taste is acricr and aromatic It is pellucid, 

 tenacious^ or glutinous, sticking to the fingers, and may be drawn into long threads. 

 It scarcely ever becomes fluid or liqvnd, by the heat of the sun, in the westerly part of 

 Asian Turkey, where it is produced. 



Its virtues are said to be these : It is one of the best stomachics known, if taken to 



ihree grains, toswengtlien a weak stomao-h It isa capital vuhierary ; for, if applied 



to a fresh wound, it cures it in a very short time. When fresh, it is said to have a uuich 



greater efficacy, than when old. It is given internally against putrefaction of the vis- 



^^era, and abscesses of the lungs, liver, and kidneys. It also cleanses foul ulcers, an?i 



U 2 he.*k 



