WHOLE VOL. THE WEST INDIES VAZQUEZ DE ESPINOSA 657 



1717. From the qiiinaquina tree (cinchona) they get a liver-colored 

 resin which is very fragrant and healing; with its vapor (sahumerio), 

 chills (frialdades) and head colds disappear; and with this resin 

 mixed with oil they cure wounds and sores, and the oil which is 

 pressed out from its seeds has the same virtue and is more efficacious. 

 The quinaquina is a very handsome tree, and its wood is very fra- 

 grant and tough ; the color of the wood is white with tawny streaks. 



1718. The molle also yields a white resin which is good for curing 

 chills ; [which] given in pills, it acts as a purge. They make decoc- 

 tions of its leaves to use as lotions for chills and swellings on the 

 legs, and they are very efficacious. Its bark is excellent for strength- 

 ening and cleaning the teeth. 



1719. The tipa tree yields a red resin with which they tighten and 

 strengthen the teeth. The tarco tree is very medicinal in its flowers, 

 which are purple and very handsome, the shape of white lilies, but 

 growing in clusters; [from them] they make preserves which are 

 very helpful and curative for syphilis tumors ; water boiled with 

 wood from this tree has the same virtue, as well as the dried leaves ; 

 powdered, they are a grand remedy for curing every kind of sore, 

 no matter of how long standing ; and this powder boiled in water 

 is good for curing piles, used as a lotion. 



1720. With the vilca tree they tan leather, as with sumac. This 

 tree bears pods which have small, round seeds inside ; these are an 

 effective purge for all sorts of humors, and are the usual purge used 

 by the Indians. The uruche tree serves the same purpose as the 

 cork oak in Spain, being very light. From the sutarpo tree they make 

 dishes for the table, painted trays (bateas) and other things. The 

 leaves of the tuisumo tree are used to bring tumors quickly to a head, 

 and to get rid of leg swellings ; its bark stops or relieves aching back 

 or front teeth, and strengthens them, killing caries. From the carob 

 they make excellent charcoal, which the Indians call taco ; the juice 

 of its bark and leaves is an effective remedy against snake and spider 

 bites, and the bites and stings of other poisonous vermin. 



Chapter XXVII 



Of the Bezoar Stone of the Vicuna and Its Virtues, and of Other 

 Stones, Roots, and Herbs of Medicinal Value, To Be Found in the 

 District of This City. 



1721. The bezoar stone of the vicuna, of which I have made men- 

 tion several times in other chapters, is very effective against poison 

 and other heart affections and the tabardillo fever, and so they 



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