^ , FAMILY HERBAL. 203 



The wliole plant is used, and has been of Uia 

 very famous, lis ellicacy is against the bite of 

 a mad dog ; it is mixed with pepper, and the per- 

 son is at the same time to bathe in the sea. There 

 have been instances of its success^ when given to 

 dogs, but perhaps no cure was ever performed 

 upon a human creature, when this terrible disease 

 had arisen to any height. Bleeding and npiuni 

 are the present practice. 



The hoGwooB Tree. Arbor campcchiaiia. 



A TREE, native of the Southern parts of 

 America, the wood of which has been used in 

 dying, longer than in medicine^ but is very service- 

 able in the latter capacity. The tree is large, and 

 makes a beautiful appearance. The branches are 

 numerous, and they spread with a sort of regularity. 

 The leaves a»re composed each of several pairs of 

 smaller, ^ei on the two sides of a common rib ; 

 with an odd one at the end. The flowers are of 

 the shape of pea blossom^, but they are yelk)w ; 



pod 



are very large, anrf 



the boughs of the tree are very thick set^ with 

 sharp thorns of a reddish colour. 



We use only the heart of the wood which is of 

 a deep red colour. It is of an austere taste, but 

 with something of sweetness in it at last, in this it 



resembles greatly whf^t is called Japan earth, and 

 it resernbles that drug also in its virtues. It is a 

 a very powerful medicine to stop fluxes of the 

 belly, and overflowings of the menses. The best 

 way of giving it is in form of an extract, which 

 is to be made by boiling down a strong decoction 

 of wood to the consistence of honey. In this 

 form it will keep a longtime^ and is always ready 

 for use. 



