walking. After the major effect of light-headedness, | began to feel 
as though I were near to vomiting. That lasted for about an hour.’’ 
A widely valued antidote for the toxic effects of nicotine is any 
strong alcoholic drink. In Venezuela, the one usually reeommended 
is a wine glass of cocui (or cocuy: a aioe made locally from Agave 
Coc ui, similar to the mescal of Mexico) (27). 
5. Sarrapia; curia, Sarrapia is tonka bean (Dipteryx odorata). It 
imparts a flavor similar to that of vanilla. The beans may be toasted 
before powdered for adding to chimé; the powder is sometimes incor- 
porated into a little cocu: and then added. 
Curia is identified by Pittier (50) as carta. (Justicia caracasana): 
Alvarado (5) uses curia, Rhytiglossa caracasana, synonym of the former 
binomial. Another synonym occasionally ind is Ecbolium caracasana. 
This member of the Acanthaceae is described by Diaz (24) as an 
aromatic: “I'he main use we make of curia is to flavor tobacco, placing 
the dry leaves in the boxes where it is stored or exported. ... The 
aroma of this plant is not pronounced until it is quite dry.’’ Alvarado 
defines curia as “‘a herb, the leaves of which when crushed give off a 
balsamic odor reminiscent of that of sarrapia. In the chim6-making 
industry they have the custom of adding to the paste being prepared, 
an infusion of this herb.’’ Valero (pers. comm.) indicates that curta 
spreads over the ground and has a pleasant odor; stating that it is not 
extensively used in chim6 in the state of Trujillo but that some people 
put a leaf into their chim6 boxes “‘to give the chim6 more taste’’ 
Although Venezuelan authorities specify that J. caracasana is the 
species utilized in the preparation of chim6, there is reason to assume 
that J. pectoralis may likewise be employed. 
Mr. Dieter C. Wasshausen of the Smithsonian Institution informs 
me that J. caracasana is an endemic of the Caracas area whereas JJ. 
pectoralis is a common species found in the Caribbean area and north- 
ern South America growing in woods and wastelands and also in cul- 
tivated fields, adding that the name curia refers also to J. pectoralis 
in Venezuela (herbarium specimen, Steyermark 61051, USNH). J. 
pectoralis is, furthermore, known as curia in Colombia (54), Puerto 
Rico, and Panama. 
The natives say they add Justicia to chim6é simply because it has a 
pleasant aroma. It may be significant to note, however, that, in dis- 
cussing the myristicaceous snuffs of the northwest Amazon, Schultes 
and Holmstedt (58) report the occasional addition of J. pectoralis var. 
stenophylla to snuff made of Virola resin, stating: * ‘There are prelim- 
inary indications that J. pectoralis var. stenophylla may possess alka- 
loidal principles”’ 
The addition of the Justicia, consequently, might play a physiolo- 
gical role in the effects of the snuff. 
[ 44 ] 
