Miscellaneous Facts and Observations . 151 



25. One of the favourite cathartics of our Indians, 

 in cases of obstinate costiveness, is a large draught of 

 Bear's-oil. 



Editor. 



26. Some few months since, a considerable quan- 

 tity of a medicinal article was brought from the wes- 

 tern parts of Virginia, and offered for sale in Phila- 

 delphia, as Ipecacuanha. Upon examining it, the 

 Editor found it to be nothing but the powdered root 

 of the Spiraea trifoliata of Linnasus, a very common 

 plant in many parts of the United- States, where it is 

 known by the names of Ipecacuanha, Bowman's root, 

 &c. &c. — Of the medicinal powers of this plant, some 

 notices may be found in Collections for an Essay to- 

 wards a Materia of the United-States. Part First, 

 page 26 : and Part Second, page 39. 



Editor. 



27. " The juice of the fruit of the Papaw, and of 

 all the other parts of the tree in its fresh state, is 

 milky, and extremely acrid ; it is used in the Indies 



as a remedy for the ringworm." Mr. Davy. 



It is said that the inspissated juice of the same tree 

 (the Carica Papaya of Linnaeus), which grows spon- 

 taneous in the West-Indies, and also in the Penin- 

 sula of East- Florida, is used, with much advantage, 



