343 E'O.RTUS J;AMAfef:NSfSi. eowirei^ 



. of two or tlirce yc^irs okl, and c!oi!i>ie the quantity to an adult,; is given, m tslie mornins 

 fa-ling, a!id repeated tlie two succeeding mornings ; after which a dose of rhubarb is; 

 USlKlliV subjokiifed. 



" This is the empirical practice of planters,^ wJio \isualij-, once in three or four 

 months,, exhibit the cowhage in this manner to their-siaves iii general ; br.t especially'' 

 to al! tlieir children, wit' ^fint distinction ; and in tiiis manner I- have seen it given to' 

 Ijinidrcds, fi'ym. one year old and upwards, with the niost happy success.* The pa- - 

 tients,, after thesecoiid.dosej usually discharged an incredible nunihcf of wornw, even-^ 

 to the amount of more than twenty at a time ; so that the stools consisted of little else 

 than these animals. Bnt, though these were indisputable proofs of its eflicaw, f'was;- 

 far fi-,)ni being convinced, of its- safety. I' observed,, tiiat the substances given,, con- 

 sisted o) an a-Si mbiage of spicnlse, exquisitely fine,, and so acutely pointed, that, when,: 

 applied to the skin, they e>a;ited an intjlera!;le itching, and even inilanimati-on ; fron^,; 

 whence I appreh! ndod dangerous consequences' fioni their contact with the .stomacK 

 and intestines.. Indred, when, tnixecf into an ehxtuarv,. in the mannet in which they 

 are given, their elasticity is so impaired that tliey do not produce the san>e sensible ir- - 

 ntation ; but yet I could conceiyt! no other qiialitj',.on whicH the-ir elB'cacy depended ; ; 

 especutlly after I'had prepared both a tincture and decoction from the cowhag-e, and. 

 given them to worm patientSjVviihout any sensible adv;anage. Influenced by these 

 suL'ge-tions, I particularly examined the state and condition of all such patients as i 

 knew had taken the cowhage ; and yet, can with the greatc-st truth declare that, though;, 

 prejudiced txi its disadvantage, Iwa* never able, either by my own observation, or a,, 

 diligent enqnir)', to discover a single instance of any ill consequence resulting from its,- 

 use, which has been so extensive that sei'eral diousands must have taken it: and, aS:- 

 no ill effects have been observed, Ithink,. not only its efficacy, but safety, .are suffici- 

 ently evinced to entitle it to general u.se ; especially when we reflect on the uncer- 

 tainry,_ and even danger, which attends other vermifuges. It is to be observed, that 

 lliis remedy is particularly de.signed agamst the long round worm ; whether it is equally 

 deleterious to. the ascarides, or whether it has been used agiiinst them, I am un- 

 certain. "t 



," Ishall here subjoin a letter which 1: received from Mr. Neil Stewart, surgeon iri. 

 Jamaica, relative to the success of tlie cowhage in his practice, as a farther confirma* 

 tion of its utility and safely :. 



" Hope Estate, Liguama, August 9, 1 752. 

 " My Good Friend,, 



*' In compliance with your reqvtest, that Tvvould give you my sentiments, and re- 

 commendacion, of the covyhage, in wjitmg, . Inovv sit down to give you a historj' of " 

 it; butmnst premise,, tliat you can expect no more than F have already so often as- 

 sured 5'ou of, vha voce : which is, that the cowhage, as a \ermifuge, has not its equal 

 in the world, either for certainty of its effects, or its perfect innocence. Too much 

 cannot be said in the praise of that extelient medicine. I have, for mv own part, givea 

 it for these tea. years pa.-t, in all sorts of worm cases, both to old and to young, and 



with.' 



* " It was my constant prartrpe, wliite in Jamatoa. to have s!l the children of the estates an(V settlements 

 tiat 1 liuil tl c- I art of, tVoni the joinigest infant to those of twelve year.'s o.lil, hrought to me once in two 

 snoiitlis, to ali of whom, withoiit eNception, I gave the cabbage-bark, and latterly tlie cowhage, for three - 

 nioriiinif.s, .whether t;;ey had symptom* of woi-ms or not." 



t " WJien we considfrtlic n^iture of its operation, and that it is carried through the whole length of the in 

 testinal canal, without sutlering any alteration, 1 tUiiik there cau be no sort of doubt 3 its being equally Uou.- 

 fc'les'jnit to every species of worm." 



