313 HORTUS JAMAICENSIS. yeli.oW. 



fastened to the angles of the pericarp, not gaping. One species is a native of Ja- 

 maica. 



MEXICANA. MEXICAN. 



Papaver spinosum Sloane, v. 1, p. 196. Spinosum succo lutco tur- 

 gidinn Browne, p. 244. 

 Capsules six-valve:!, leaves spiny. 

 This is an annual plant-, rising to the height of one or two feet, the root small and fu- 

 siform ; the stem is eyiindric, aculeated, priekled, and sends out alternate branches. 

 Leaves sinuate or jagged, soft, shining, stem-clasping, the points of the jags ending in 

 sharp yellow spines ; on the upper side are milky veins, on the under are small prickles 

 along the midrib and veins. F.owers solitary, at the en !s of the stem and branches ; co- 

 rolla of a beautiful yellow colour, with from four to sis petals ; the calyx consists of two 

 or three prickly leaves ; stigma capitate, small, with five noiches, or as it were reflected 

 back into five divisions ; capsule superior, pentagular, prickly, having five or six ribs, 

 open at top, with a hard thread-like substance proceeding from its angles, and ad united 

 at the summit; seels very numerous, small, round, black, rough, or like network, 

 with a compressed scar on one side. This plant grows wild in every part of Jamaica, 

 and is common in the streets of Kingston and Spanish-Town. All parts of the plant 

 abound with a milky glutinous juice, of a line bright yellow colour, turning black when 

 exposed to the aii-, and which reduced to a consistence is hardly distinguishable from 

 gamboge : for which reason Long supposes it may probably have equal efficacy in drop- 

 sies, jaundice, and cutaneous eruptions. Browne says the juice is esteemed very deter- 

 sive, and generally used in diseases of the eyes; and the infusion looked upon as a su- 

 dorific and resolutive, which may be used with success on many occasions The seeds 

 are said to be a stronger narcotic than laudanum. Browne observes that they are thought 

 to be an excellent remedy, and frequently a Immistered, in diarrhoeas and bloody fluxes. 

 They have a pungent taste, which does not manifest itself for so ne time upon the pa- 

 late, and work both by stool and vomit, and have been often administered in the dry 

 belly-ache; but we have much safer and better medicines for both these disorders, 

 though this may be given with success, when the parts are relaxed or weakly, or the dis- 

 order Droceeds from indigestion. Browne. Long remarks -that the seeds might, on 

 some occasions, be used by smoaking, after the manner of tobacco, and produce the same 

 effects as opium, which some stomachs cannot bear in the smallest dose. A decoction 

 from the leaves of the flower has been recommended for throwing out and filling the 

 pustules of the small-pox ; it is likewise given in fever to promote perspiration A de- 

 coction ol the leaves is considered as a good application for abatit.g inflammations in the 

 eyes, and is used with success in bathing ulcers, which are cleaned and healed thereby. 

 Sweetened with sutiar, and drank warm, tin-- decoction affords immediate ease in stran- 

 guries arising from the effects of blisters. The leaves bruised an . a few drops (it lime- 

 juice sprinkled on them is a good cataplasm f>r uicers. Barbara speaks o( the qualities 

 of this plant, as follows : " The whole plant is milky, but of a yellow colour ; which, 

 mixed with woman's milk, and flroppe I into the eye, clears the sight, and takes off spots 

 or films: It may he for this reason it is called argtmonc. It also wastes fun trusses or 

 proud-flesh. The distilled water, with tlie tops of wild tamarinds, makes a good eye- 

 water The fruit or iiead is called figo del interim, or fie;is iafernaiis, and well it may, 

 for it contains seeds enough to send any that should take them wilfully to interna, 

 being much stronger than any opium, as was lately discovered in Jamaica in the follow- 



ina 



