DOLICHOS PRURIENS. ORD. XXIV. Papilionacce. 425 
roots and pods of this plant, observes, that an infusion of the latter 
** is a certain remedy for the dropsie;” but he takes no notice of 
the vermifuge effects of Cowhage: Browne however has informed 
us, that “in the Windward Islands some of the inhabitants make 
** asyrup of the pods, which is said-to be very effectual against 
« worms.” Butas little attention would be paid to an observation so 
vague and unsatisfactory as this, we are to consider Mr. Bancroft as 
the first person whose writings tended to establish the anthelmintic 
character of Cowhage in Europe. He tells us, “ the part used is 
*« the setaceous hairy substance growing on the outside of the pod, 
* which is scraped off, and mixed with common syrup or molasses, 
** to the consistence of a thin electuary, of which a tea-spoonful 
“to a child of two or three years old, and double the quantity to 
* an adult, is given in the morning fasting, and repeated the two 
« succeeding mornings; after which a dose of rhubarb is usually - 
“ subjoined. This is the empyrical practice of the planters, who 
«* usually once in three or four months exhibit the Cow-itch in 
“* this manner to their slaves in general, but especially to all their 
* children without distinction; and in this manner I have seen it 
“* oiven to hundreds from one year old and upwards with the most 
«“ happy success. The patients, after the second dose, usually 
« discharged an incredible number of worms, even to the amount 
« of more than twenty at a time, so that the stools consisted of 
« little else than these animals.” He concludes by saying, “ It is 
« to be observed, that this remedy is particularly designed against 
«« the long round worm; whether it is equally deleterious to the 
« ascarides, or whether it has ever been used against them, I am 
. € uncertain.”* Farther accounts, shewing the efficacy of this 
medicine, have since appeared in the Medical Commentaries,’ 
and in a treatise, professedly written on the subject by Mr. 
> He also informs, that this remedy was successfully used in the East Indies by 
Mr. Buckley. L.c. | 
© Vide his Essay on the natural history of Guiana in South America. 
¢ See Vol. ti. 
No. 36.—vot. 3. oP 
* 
