MEDICINAL USES OF PLANTS 165 



In conclusion, it may be stated that this list of Philippine 

 medicinal plants includes many, the curative virtues of which 

 have been tested by missionaries who for a time exercised their 

 calling in localities lacking the indispensable means for treat- 

 ment of their sick parishioners. However, it should be remem- 

 bered that the missionaries owed their knowledge of these native 

 remedies largely to the mediquillos. Notwithstanding the 

 aversion of the missionaries to certain superstitious practices 

 with which these mediquillos sometimes accompanied the in- 

 ternal or external administration of some therapeutic remedy, 

 the former were frequently compelled to request the services 

 of the latter when the life of a patient became endangered. 



