Wrattia HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. 4S9 



I have often wondered, considering the powerful effects of these restrlngent bark-j 

 ~Tipon animal substances, and tliat, b}' numberless experiments, their stronger infiisiuu^ 

 have been found to recover from a state of absolute putridity, that some trials arc not 

 made how far persons in the lattur stage of putrid and malign;int fever.;, when livid 

 yf^(r/2i> make their appearance, when the blood is nearly' dissolved, and llie disease 

 seems desperate, might not be recoverable, by being plunged into a warm bath matle 

 with bark decoctions ; the finer virtues of the bark, absorbed into all tiie pores spread 

 over the surface of the body, must (it is reasonable to im;igine) have an immediate effect 

 upon the fibres, in some measure restore their'tone and spnwgyness, and, i>v th; ir an- 

 tiseptic quality, re-unite the globules of the blood, and correct tlioir disposition to pu- 

 trescency.* I am persuaded, from more than one observation, that the Jesuit's bark 

 may be administered to infants in this manner, when they are incapable of taking it by 

 the mouth, and with the happiest effects Such experiments are deemed bold, becausQ 

 they are out of the common track ; but surely what is called a desperate case woultl al- 

 ways justify the attempt, and especially when it is at least probable that it may succeed. 

 The quantity of fluid which may be carried into the human body by absorption in a 

 tath is amazmg ; and, upon this principle, the ingenious Dr. Hales suggests a means 

 by which persons at sea, when ready to perish with thirst, fronn want of fresh water, 

 may obtain a recruit ; which is, by inmiersing their naked bodies Irequently in a tub of 

 sea water; they will imbibe the water at every pore, freed of its salt, which is too large 

 to enter with it, and remains condensed u[)on the surface of their skin.f But in the 

 case of the bark decoction, much of its antiseptic principles are sucked in with the 

 water. Long, p. 811. 



The wood of the mangrove tree makes very good staves for sugEur hogsheads aad 

 tierces; it makes also good shingles. ' 



ee Alder Thee and Olive Mangrove^ 



Manisuris See Bur-Grass. 



m English Name. MARATTIA. 



"b 



Cl. 24, OR. 2. Ciyptngamia filices. Nat. or. Filices. 



"This was so named by Swartz, in honour of G. F. Maratti, an Italian botanist, wh 

 %'rote on cr\ ptoganious plants. 



Gen. char. Capsules oval, gaping longitudinally at top, with several cells on each 

 side. One species is a native of Jamaica. 



ALATA. WINGED. ; 



Rachises scaly, the partial ones winged ; leaflets sharply serrate. 



R r r Frond 



Are not all these effects answered by bark jackets lately introduced into practice .' The hint of tliom 

 -perhaps i laki-n from tliis sii).'j;estion. 



t Win ii i.liimbus dispa'uimi an express from this island to the Commamlcr at Hispaniola, the Indians who 

 ^ere employed in navigating the canoe, |)hinged themselves into the sea every now and tlicn, wlieii almost 

 spent with the laliguc of rowins;, and pui lied with heat and thirst; for they Uad found by experience, that 

 St^a prsctii:c revived tUcir spirits, and enabled them to renew their labour. 



