. 
VIII. 4x Account of the QUASSIA POLYGAMA, or 
BirTer-Woop of Yamaica; and of the CINCHONA 
BRACHYCARPA, a new Species of Jesuit’s BARK 
found in the Jame Ifland. By Mr Foun Linpsar, Surgeon 
in Weftmoreland, Famaica. 
{Read Nov. 7. 1791.] 
HE Quajfiia Polygama has long been known in Jamaica, and 
in fome other iflands in the Weft Indies, not only as an ex- 
excellent timber, but as an ufeful medicine in putrid fevers and 
fluxes. With us, it is called Bitter-qood, and in the Windward 
Iflands, the Bitter d/h. The bark has for fome time been prefcri- 
bed by practitioners here, and exported to England in confiderable 
quantities, for the purpofes of the brewers of ale and porter. 
On thefe accounts, a fuller defcription of this plant than has 
hitherto appeared, will be acceptable to the botanift and the 
public at large. 
Previous to this, it will be proper to give a fhort hiftorical 
account of this tree from preceding writers. 
_ Sir Hans Stoane, who called at Barbadoes, notices the Bitter- 
wood. In his catalogue, he defcribes it thus: “ Milanomma 
et melanoxylum, arbor laurifolia nucifera, gemmtis nigricanti- 
“ bus, Americana.” He refers to PLuKENET, Tab. 205. fig. 3.5 
but that plant is different from ours, and probably he meant 
another, which we fhall have occafion to mention prefently. 
Dr 
