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T H 



N A 



U R A 



H 



TOR 



Lignum -Vitce . 



o 



This tree grows in great abundance on the fouth-fide of Jamaica, but feldom or 

 never in any other part of that ifland. It is an ever-green of a dark gloomy caft, which 

 continues its verdure in the mod droughty feafons, and, at times, throws out a great 

 number of blue blofibms, which are fucceeded by fo many comprefTed berries of 

 a roundifli form. The tree grows frequently to a very con fiderable fize, but takes 

 up a feries of years, to come to that perfection: the roots are thick in proportion to 

 the growth of the tree, and run a great way into the ground, in a perpendicular di- 

 rection ; contrary to the uiual growih of timber-trees in that country, which gene- 



rally (hoot the largeft prongs of their roots in an horizontal direction, and are com- 



monly obferved to run very near the furface: the bark is thick and fmooth ; the 

 wood of a dark olive colour, and ctois-grained ; the ftrata running obliquely into 

 one another, in the form of an X. It is a hard, heavy timber-wood; and 

 anfwers on all occafions where ftrength and duration is required, and its weight no 

 impediment. It takes a fine poliftt, and anfwers well in the turner's lathe; but is 

 now chiefly ufed for fhip-bloclL. 



The frefh bark opens the body, and is deemed a fweetner of the blood ; but the pulp 

 of the berries purges and vomits very violently (three or four of thefe are a dofe) fa). 

 The rennous parts of the tree are of a warm active nature, and found (by long 

 experience) to attenuate and dinolve the blood : they are efteemed fpeciiics in old 

 venereal taints, chronical rheumatifms, and other diforders arifing from the fizyne/s 

 of the juices; and generally adminiftered in decoclions (the refin fometimes, 

 in bolus's) ordered for a continuance : but great care muft be taken to moderate or 

 temper the native acrimony of thefe medicines in the beginning of a couife, and tcf 

 prepare the body for the uie of them ; the neglect of which has been frequently the 

 caufe of very difmal confequents in thofe warm climates, and may probably have 

 the like efft&s fometimes in colder regions. 



There is a tincture made with the gum of this tree, that has been fometimes ad- 



ministered with fuccefs, as well as the powder itfelf, in obftinate intermittent and 

 remittent fevers; in which cafes they commonly procure a few /tools, as well as 



promote a general difcharge by the /kin. 



The foliage of the tree is of a very de- 

 terfive nature, and frequently ufed to fcour and whiten the floors in mofl houfes 

 about Kingjion : the infufion of them is alfo ufed to wafh painted linens, and 

 other flamed garments ; which it is faid to do very effectually, without changing or 

 diminishing the lu/tre of the dyes. 



ferent fp 



ANACARDIUM i. Frudiu obverfe ovato, nuce reniformi, racemis termina- 



libits. 

 Anacardium. L. H. C. & Sp. PI. 

 Pomifera, feu potius prunifera, &c. Slo. Cat. 187. & H. 

 Acaiaiba. Pif. 120. & Acaju Bontii 198. 



The Cafiew Tree ; and Cafhew Tree of Catef. App. t. 



and feems to be a very dif. 



This tree is very common in mofl: parts of J 



from the Anacardium of the eaff 



d of the /hops, whofe 



are 



of the form of a heart moderately comprefTed, and not fo large as thofe of this fpecies. 

 It grows frequently to the height of twelve or fixteen feet, and fpreads much as it 

 rifes ; for the trunk feldom (hoots above four or five feet before it begins to divide 



d branch 



It yields a great quantity of gum 



mechanical ufes 



ferior to Gum Arabic either 

 and carries a light aftringency with it, which in many 



(a) The gum, or rather refin of this plant, tranfudes frequently of its own accord, and may be ken 

 concreted on many parts of it at all feafons of the year; but is generally found in greateft abundance 

 where the bark has been cut or wounded. 





cafes 



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