running HORTUSJAMAICENSIS. 12!> 



the circulation, dissolve tenacious juices, open obstructions of the excretory glands, 

 arid promote the fluid secretions. The writers on the Materia Medica in general have 

 entertained a very high opinion of the virtues of this plant. Boerhaave is full of its 

 praises; particularly of the essential oil, and the distilled water cohobated or re-dis- 

 tilled several times from fresh parcels of the herb'. After extravagantly commending 

 other waters prepared in this manner, he alls, with regard to that of rue, that the 

 greatest commendations he can bestow upon it fall short of its merit : " What medi- 

 cine (says he) can he more efficacious for promoting sweat and perspiration, for the 

 cure of the hysteric passion and of epilepsies, and for expelling poison ?" Whatever 

 service rue ma he of in the two last cases, it undoubtedly lias its use in the others '. 

 the cohobated wafer, however, is not the most efficacious preparation of it. An extract 

 made of rectified spirit contains in a small compass the whole virtues of the rue ; this 

 menstruum taking up by infusion all the pungency and flavour of the plant, and ele- 

 vating nothing in distillation. With water, its peculiar flavour and warmth arise; the 

 bitterness, and a considerable share of the pungency, remaining behind. 



" Rue is of excellent use for all illnes-es of the stomach that proceed from cold or 

 moist humours ; a great digester and restorer of appetite ; dispels wind, helps perspi- 

 ration, drives out ill humours, useful in pestilent or contagious airs. The only ill lies 

 in too frequent use, which impairs the natural heat of the stomach, by the greater heat 

 of an herl) very hot and dry; and therefore the juice made up with sugar into small 

 pills, and swallowed only two or three at nights or mornings, and only where there is 

 occasion, is the most innocent way of using it." Sir W. Temple on Health and Long 

 Lije. 



RUNNING GRASS. PASPALUM. 



Cl. 3, or. 2. Triandria digynia. Nat. or. Graminte. 



Gen. char. Calyx a one-flowered two-valved glume, membranaceous; valves 

 equal, orbicular, plano-concave; inner flatter, placed outwardly; corolla two- 

 valved, the size of the calyx ; valves roundish, cartilaginous, outwardly convex, 

 inflex at the base ; stamens three capillary filaments, the length of the glume, with 

 ovate anthers ; the pistil has a roundish germ ; two capillary styles, the length of 

 the flower; stigmas pencil-form, hair)-, coloured; there is no pericarp; glumes 

 permanent, closed, growing to the seed, which is single, roundish, compressed, 

 convex on one side. Seven species of this genus have been found in Jamaica. 



1. B1CORNE. TWO-HORNED. 



Gramen dactylon bicorne repens, foliis lat is brevibus. Sloane, v. I, 

 p. 11 2. Bicorne repens spieis tenuioribus el longioribus. Browne, 

 p. 136. 



Spikes two, almost erect, one of them sessile; florets oblong, smooth ; culm 

 ascending. 



The mountain running grass is the most common sort of grass in the midland moun- 

 tains, and grows frequently in the lowlands. It is a little sourish, and not liked by any 

 sort of brutes when green, but, when cut and well cured, it makes excellent hay, and 

 Vol. II. R agrees 



