thickly HO It TVS JAMAICENSIS. W 



vita; anil sarsaparilla, with a giil of the infusion of crocus metallorum, made by putting 

 four ounces ol the powdered crocus into a jug, with four gallons of spring water; 

 which was kept forty-eight hours before the clearest part was decanted. liis common 

 drink was a decoction ot lignum-vita- and sarsaparilla.* 



" it has been discovered that the decoction of the xanth. roots may be substituted foe 

 lignum vita?. 



" Thus far is considered the virtues of the excrescence of the bark as an outward ap- 

 plication, but the valuable qualities of the roots are stated in the following narration, by 

 a physician lately deceased, which is decisive on the subject, and affords rational groui.d 

 for pursuing other experiments : 



" ' Mr. Crosdaile purchased two negro wenches, in the beginniog of 1792, the 

 youngest of whom, at different times since, has been afflicted with a dry belly-ache, 

 or colica pictonuni. About two months ago, she was seized with it in so dreadful it 

 form, that our every effort to remove the spastic constriction of the bowels, and pro- 

 cure some motions, proved ineffectual. To no purpose were emollient fomentations, 

 anodyne or cathartic clysters, mild and drastic purges, castor oil, and ultimately blis- 

 ters to the abdomen applied. That horrid symptom of the volvulus, vomiting of the 

 ercrements, commenced and removed every ray of hope. In this situation she desired 

 to have her sister with her, who, on seeing her deplorable condition, signified a wish 

 of giving a nostrum communicated to her 1)3' their mother, and once employed to cure 

 herself in a similar complaint in Africa. The request 1 readily complied with. In the 

 course of two hours she returned from the woods, with the root and flowers (as ap- 

 peared) of some plant, pounded together in a calabash. Two spoonfuls of the ex- 

 pressed juice of this she gave her sister twice, at an interval of two hours each. 

 The first effect of this was a tranquil profound sleep of twelve hours duration ; during 

 which the pulse and breathing gradually returned to the natural state: after this all 

 sense of pain and every bad symptom disappeared, and no other inconvenience did she 

 experience save debility and light soreness from the passing of the purgative medicines, 

 which came away copiously during the course of the following day. The sister wa^ 

 observed to boil the ingredients (after expressing the juice) in a large quantity of water, 

 and gave it on the following day as a common drink. No reward or menace could in- 

 duce her to discover the plants, until stratagem brought it to light. We induced 

 another negro to dissemble a similar complaint, and prevailed with the wench to seek 

 for and prepare the same cure- In complying with the request, we had her so nar- 

 rowly watched, as to discover the secret to be the fresh root of the xanthoxylum, 

 in its infant state, intermixed with the saffron coloured flower of the wild sage, which 

 last, 1 have since found to contribute nothing to its virtue. Having procured some of 

 the sappy and smallest roots of the young trees, I expressed the juice, and began the 

 experiment of its qualities upon myself, in tea-spoonful doses. From the first of these- 

 I found no other effects thau an unusual flow of spirits. By continuing the dose, drow- 

 siness, nausea, head-ache, &c. and at length sleep ensued, from which, however, I 

 next morning awoke perfectly refreshed, and had three copious easy motions. Fearful 

 of making any further experiments on myself, I determined my future should be on 

 those of a different colour, and preserved some of the juice in rum and with syrup. 

 Vol. II. N These, 



" To those unacquainted with the danger of abruptly healing very old ulcers, it is recommended to create 

 n artificial drain, for a sufficient time, by issues ; for the purpose of discharging the superfluous humour, 

 -hich tke habit has been accustomed to secrete; and which, for want of such rtvulsigo, is wU known by 

 Jtke faculty tt terminate life suddenly. 



