-PASSIA .HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. u$ 



Leaflets five pairs, ovate-subtomentose ; petioles roun'l, without glands. 



'This rises to the height of forty or fifty feet, with a large trunk, dividing into many 

 branches, garnished with winged leaves, composed of five pair of spear-shaped loiies, 

 which are smooth, having many transverse nerves from the midrib to the border. Tliu 

 flowers are produced in long spikes at the end of the branches ^'^]"'ci have a very agree- 

 able smell, each standing upon a pretty ing. foot-stalk ; these arc composed of five 

 yellow concave petals, which are snccceded by cyiindncal pods from one to two feet 

 long, with a dark brown woody shell, having a longitudinal seam on one side, divided - 

 into many cells by transverse partitionsj each conlaming one or two ovai, smooth, com- 

 pressed seeds, lodged in a blackish pulp, which is used in medicine, ^uch pods should 

 be chosen as are weighty, new, and do not make a rattling- noise (from the seeds being 

 loose within them) wlien shaken. The pulp siiould be of a bright shining black colour, 

 and a sweet taste, not iiarsh, which happens from the fruit being gathered before it has 

 grown fully ripe, or sourish, which it is apt to tprn ujjon keejnng : it should neither 

 be very dry, nor very, moist, nor at all mouidy; which, from its being kept in damp 

 cellars or moistened, in order to increase its weight, it is very subject to be. Greatest 

 part of the pulp dissolves l)Oth in water and in rectified spirit; and may be extracted 

 from the cane by either. T'he shop^emplov water, Jjoiiing. the bruised pod therein, 

 and afterwards evaporating the solution to a due consistence. Tliis^ pulp is a gentle 

 .iasatlvc medicine, and frequent-ly given, in a dose of some diiU'hnis, in costive iiabits. 

 GeofiVoy says, it does excel. ent.service in tlie painful tension of the bellj", which some- 

 times follows the imprudent use of antimonials ; and that it may be advantageously ac- 

 tuated with the more acrid purgatives, or autimonial emetics, oremplojed to abate 

 their force. . Vallisnieri relates that its purgative virtue is remarkably promoted by 

 nianna that a mixture of four drachms.of cassia and two of manna purges as much aa 

 twelve drachms of cassia or thirty-tv.o of manna alone. Senertus observes, that the 

 iwiiie.isapt-to be turned o/a green colour by the use of cassia j aaid sometimeSj where ' 

 a large quantity h;is Ixien taken, blackish. 



This tree grows in many parts of Jamaica, but is not indigenous. 



The pulp is soft, black, sweetish, and of the consistence of thick honey, and con- 

 tains oblong, roundish, fLutish seeds, that are hard, shining, and of a dusky yellow. 

 The pulp is only in use, wiiich is taken from the pods, and passed through a sieve. It 

 irf. looked upon as a mild inoffensive y>urge, agreeing with all sexes and ages. In the 

 AVest Indies the shell is oliserved to be tiiicker, and the pulp acrid; in which respect 

 it differs li-om that of tire East Indies ; and perhaps this is owing to a difference in soil 

 and culture. In .Jamaica the finest fruit is produced from trees growing in rich deep 

 mould in some bottom or vale, warm and well sheltered; it is not wonderful that the 

 quality should degenerate, when no pains are taken in tlie cultivation of iti^ Long^^ 

 9, 730. 



The ptilp of the pod, strained through a coarse sieve, ftiay be kept as an electuary ; 

 Imt the pulp docs not keep long, without turning rancid. JJose the bulk of a small 

 nutmeg. Dancer's Med. Ass. p. 380. 



Se&. Cake Piece Sensitive Horse Cassia Ringworm Shuub^Senka- Stinkins^- 



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