1* HOKTUS JAMAICENSTS." 



Oli 



produce one or two physical stools. He adds, that given in small draughts, or by 

 clyster, or by embrocation, it is an excellent and wonderful vermifuge. All oils are 

 noxious to insects, but the castor oil kills and expels them. It is gerierally-given as a 

 purge alter using the cabbage bark some days. In constipation and belly-ache this oil 

 is used with remarkable success. It sits well on the stomach, allays the spasm, and 

 brings about a plentiful evacuation by stool, especially if atthe same time fomentations, 

 or the warm bath, ar.e used Belly-ache is at present less frequent in Jamaica than 

 formerly, owing to several causes : t fie inhabitants, in general, live better, and drink 

 better liquors ; but the excessive drinking of new rum slid makes it frequent amongst 

 : spkhers, sailors, and the lower order of white people. It has been known to happen 

 too lroui visceral obstructions after intermittents, or marsh fevers, in Jamaica 



The oil will not make soap, and it contains such quantities of a residuum, like gum, 

 as to be unfit lor using on mahogany furniture, or on gun-locks, &c. Mixed with paint 

 it does not dry unless some spirits of turpentine are added to it. if it be spilled upon 

 paper, after a month or two the paper will bear ink nearly as well as if there was no oil 

 upon it. 



Mr. Hughes, in Ids History of Barbadoes, says that the oil extracted from the berries 

 of the red negro oil bush, is less rank than that of the other varieties, and sometimes 

 Qiadeuseof by negroes in their soups. Geoffrey, speaking of these nuts, says that 

 they purue violently, but, if the skin wherewith they are covered becarefullv taken off, 

 they lose their purgative quality, and maybe eaten with safety. From not knowing 

 this secret, continues he, new .comers into America are often caught by the natives; 

 this ia oer.tai.nJy a mistake, as it is the taking out the small root leaves and not the skin, 

 that renders them inoffensive. The leaves of this plant, from their soft emollient na- 

 ture, are generally used for dressing blisters. The roots in decoction are looked upon 

 as stro g diuretics. 



Dr. (Jullen ob><. rves that castor oil, when the stomach can be reconciled to it, is one 

 ol the most agreeable purgatives we can employ. It has these advantages, that it com* 

 monly operates in two or three hours, seldom gripes, and is generally moderate in its 

 operation ; it is particularly suited to cases of costiveness, and even of spasmodic colic ; 

 is one ot the. most certain remedies in the dry belly-ache, or colica piclonum ; has been 

 experienced to be useful in various febrile complaints, in bilious colics, nephritic cases, 

 worms and especially the tape-worm. It is not heating nor irritating to the rectum, 

 and is therefore suited to Invmorrhoidal persons. The only inconvenience attending 

 this medicine is, that it is nauseous to those who dislike oil, and that, when the dose 

 is large, it occasions sickness at the stomach. The most effectual means to obviate 

 this, is to take it in a little ardent spirit, rum or brandy, but compound tincture of 

 senna is much better : this, in the proportion of one to three-parts of the oil, inti- 

 mately mixed, bv being shaken together in a phial, makes the oil less nauseous, and 

 therefore sit better on the stomach, i he common dose is a table spoonful, or half an 

 ounce, but many persons require a double quantity. It is remarkable that if this medi- 

 cine be frequently repeated, the dose may be gradually diminished ; insomuch, that 

 persons of a costive habit, who at first required half an ounce, or more, for a dose, have 

 afterwards found two drachms enough, at least to keep the belly regular. 



The oil-nut plant is much cultivated in Jamaica; it is raised from the nut or seed, 

 grows with a surprising rapidity to the height of fifteen or sixteen feet, and seems to 

 Sourish most in gullies, or near running water, in cool shady spots. The seeds bein? 



freed 



