rarest H-ORTUS J^MAICENSIS 5 . 6* 



violently swelled and indurated, the latter apparent for some inches upwards, and there 

 waa a considerable" discharge of pus. My- medical friends apprehended Umt I had -i 

 fistula, and were considering of the usual operation, hut gave me some time tq decide 

 on submitting to it. In this interval 1 used an ointment made of the milk of thephysic - 

 nut shrub, mixed with half its quantity of melted hogs-lard, and applied in ward I v. as 

 i \v as it could be pressed. In live days all the swelling and induration were reduced, 

 and in a wr ek I was perfectly free from pain. This remedy was told by an old Cbro- 

 mantee woman to her mistress, who is my neighbour- afl '. bj hei* communicated to 

 me. It is very astringent, and gives an ugly stain to linen. I have since heard that 

 this juice, which is acquired by cutting or breaking the branch of the shrub, is com- 

 monly used by negroes in dispelling tumours. In mercy to suiFta'cro in the same wav 

 this ought to be published." 



i. MULTinra. mcltifid: v 



Asmrgens, Joliis digitalis, lacutiis angustis pinnatifidis. Browne* 

 p 3-tS. 



Leaves many-patted, ever.; stipules bristle-shaped, multilid, 



This grows generally to the height of five, six, or seven feet, with a very smooth 

 sU'firutesccnt stem, and spreading brandies. Stipules bristle-shaped, multifi I, at the 

 baSe of the .branches and petioles. Leaves alternate, sub- peltate, multifid ; the divi- 

 sions pinnate, with the odd leaf longer, smooth, but whitish underneath. Peduncles 

 terminating, very long, round, thick, very smooth, sub-divided ; pedicels coloured, 

 in corymbs ; (lowers small, red. Malcs-v-ery numerous ; females solitary, sub-sessile; 

 in the former the calyx five-cleft, coloured ;, petals fivo, ovate-entire; nectary live- 

 parted, surrounding the stamens ; .filaments eight, red, united at the base; anthers" 

 ovate, yellow.: In the latter the calyx is five-parted, coloured; corolla five- petaled, 

 petals ovate, red ; germ three-cornered, green ; styles three, shorter, red, bifid at 

 top; stigmas blunt ; capsule large, oblong, growing yellow as it ripens; seeds soli- 

 tary, round. \v>. This plant is now very common, and, having been first introduced 

 into the French islands from the continent, is known by the name of French physic-nut. 

 From its bunches of beautiful red flowers it is a very ornamental plant. The seeds are 

 purgative, but operate so violently that it is dangerous to make use of them ; though, 

 formerly the Spaniards administered scarcely any other medicine. The whole plant, 

 Swartz observes, distils a tenacious watery liquor. 



Physic-Nuts. Some call them iyle-berrns of India. They purge strongly upwards 

 and downwards, given from three to live ; -they may be candied over, and given un- 

 known to nice palates ; if the inward film he taken out, they will work more gently 

 The best way of preparing them is, firstto torrify them ; then take off the outward skin 

 and inward film, that is, the sprout or punctum saiiens ; then bruise them in a mortar, 

 and steep them in Madeira wine ; and they will purge well all gross humours. They 

 afford great quantities of oil, which may be got by boiling or expression, and which 

 purges strongly ; this oil they use or burn in their lamps in Brasil. If you rub the 

 stomach with the oil, it will purge and kill worms; it cures the itch, and deterges 

 ulcers. There are three or four sorts of these trees ; but one, in particular, differs 

 very n^eh from the rest, whose leaves are more divided, and have a very beautiful 



scarte't 



