55- HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. Jamaica 



Iiigb., and icven or eight inches in diameter. The branches are few and spreading. 

 Tlie le.ives stand in pairs, and are smooth and sliinii.g; very like tl;ose of the Port- 

 landia grandijlora. The flowers grow in pretty large clusters, on the extremities of 

 the branches, and have nearly the beauty and nppearance of the common honeysnckle*, 

 but are rather larger. The seed-j>od is larger tiian anv other of this genus. It is oval, 

 adorned with the calyx, oT a: firm consistence, somewliat striated, and black coloured ; 

 when ripe, it splits in two, and discharges a number of small, flat, brown, seeds, witli 

 a membrane nearl}' round the edges. The trunk and branches are of a brownish-grey 

 colour, with a few superficial furrows and cross cracks, like the Peruvian bark. The 

 1 ark of the trunk is pretty thicli, and, when wounded, exadess a small quantity of a 

 milky juice. The bark, when dried, li of a purplish-brown colour on the inside. It 

 is itbrous, and more difficult to pulverise than the. Jesuit's bark in use. Th^ powder.is 

 ot a purplish-grey colour, and Uistes sweet, then bitter and astringent. 



' No opportimitj- ought to be omitted that can in any v.ay make us more, acquainted 

 with this valuable genus cinchona, the sahitary effects of which give a security and com- 

 f(nt to the- lives of those in warm and unhealthv climates, beyond any other medicine" 

 we know of. This species might be used as a^uijstitute to the Peruvian bark; but it 

 is to be regretted that the U"ee is scarce and small, and that enough of ic cannot be had, 

 at least in these parts.* 



" I do not pretend tofcoldup this new bark as snperior, or even equalj to the Rc- 



ritvian. I have given it in the slighter cases of intermitting and remittmg fevers, with 



good.effect ; and, in a few instances, it produced a cure, where the patients had taken 



the common and red bark to no purpose. _ To people afflicted with intermittents,i I 



pave the powder from twelve grains to thirty every hour, or every two hours, in the 



absence of fever. By this means a stop was put to the fever, and the patients reco- 



' vered. I have also administered this new bark in dyspepsia, both in powder and mfu- 



sion. It sat easy on the stomach, promoted appetite, and was easy to take. I had 



"hewn this species of cinchona to my good friend Dr. V/iight, before he left the island, 



nd gave him a little of the bark. He gave it in powder to a patient, but founds it 



imetic, which could only happen from some peculiarity in the constitution. In his 



letter to me, he intimates, that probably the same thing would happen with any other 



of this genus, if given before it was completely dried." 



The following observations, by the same gentleman, on the use of ihe red Peruvian 

 bark, may not be thought misplaced here : 



" The red Peruvian bark, when genuine, and given briskly, it pretty large doses, 

 will, in particular cases, occasion a degree of anxiety, depression, .giddiness, and 

 faintness, that are alarming to the patient and his friends, and perhaps, if not timely 

 attended to, might be of serious consequence. This only happens in certain constitu- 

 tions, and in weakly habits, or those rendered so by disease. This effect of the red 

 bark, so far as I know, ha^ not been taken notice of by any writer, and when it occurs 

 is either not attended to, or imputed to some other cause. -The following extract of .a 

 letter from James Graham, Esq. a worthy and respectable gentleman of this island, 

 places this circumstance in a strong light; 



" Mr. Graham had been afflicted with a fever and ague for several months, and, hav- 

 ing 



* Tills loss may be compensated by the abundance of the preceding species, described by Dr. Wright 

 ia the sixty-seventh volume of the Philosophical Transactions, and which lias been found to answer all the 

 purposes of Jesuit's bark. All the Jamaica s{>ecies, being of an emetic nature, should be givea ia suaU dosa* 

 Hf iirat. 



