Febrifuge Bark of El Malambo. 69 
astringente. Lo hay con abundancia en la provincia de Santa 
Marta, donde lo aplican para curar pasmo, calenturas, intermit- 
tentes, y la dysenteria; y tambien se encuentra en varios territorios 
de esta provincia. Se hacen algunas extracciones de su corteza 
par la Habana, y alli lo usan con mucha suceso contra el pasmo, a 
que son muy propensas los negros; y desde que tien este specifico 
eusi no muera ninguno deel. Aquino se aplica para nada, y hace 
pocos dias hemos visto morir un joven apreciable, par no haberle 
dado en tiempo esto remedio. Es un vegetal importantissimo, que 
merece la atencion del gobierno por las virtudes que dexamos ex- 
puestas, y aplicaciones que se hacen de el en Santa Marta; como 
y por color y olor de su corteza, tenemos razones para creer sea del 
genero Cusparia, 6 Quina de la Angostura, de que se compane 
parte del receta del difunta Dr. Mutis, para curacion de la dysen- 
teria, y na duda mos aseguar que, a falta de esta, puede stiplir la 
corteza del Malambo.””” 
Such is the account given by the late canon Don Jose 
Ignacio del Pombo, the friend and pupil of the lamented and 
learned Mutis, in his rare and almost unknown work on the 
Natural Productions of the Province of Carthagena. 
Having ip gesgre a further supply of Malambo bark for 
experiment, I at length received a second supply of some 
ounds, in the summer of 1827, at a time when indisposition 
ad confined me for some months to the house. I in conse- 
quence applied to my friend Dr. Cookworruy, whose practice 
at the dispensary pointed him out as a person likely to pro- 
mote my views, especially as he had facilities for getting it 
reduced to powder, which were not within my reach; and I 
placed the whole quantity, with the exception of one piece, 
(fragments of which accompany this paper,) at his disposal. 
The bark was in pieces of from a foot to eighteen inches in 
length, about two inches in breadth, and three eighths of an 
inch in thickness; the outer and thinner coat was externally 
* Description of the Malambo, (ertracted from a rare Spanish Work.) 
The third is the Malambo, the aromatic bark of which is a powerful antispas- 
modic, very active bitter, febrifuge, and astringent, It abounds in the pro- 
vinee of Santa Marths, where itis applied to the cure of spasm, intermittent 
fever, and dysentery; it is likewise found in several districts of this province. 
It is sent (the bark) in some quantity to the Havana, and there it is used with 
much success in cases of spasms, to which the negroes are very subject; and 
since they are in possession of this specific scarcely any die of it. Here nouse 
whatever is made of it, and not many days ago we have seen a very amiable 
young men carried off, from not having taken this remedy in time. It is a most 
important vegetable, and deserving the attention of government, for the virtues 
we have enumersted, and the use made of it in Senta Martha. From the colour 
and odour of its bark, we have reason to believe it is of the genus Cusparia, or 
Quina of Angusturs, of which is in part composed Dr. Mutis’ receipt for the 
eure of Apeasnehy's und we have no doubt that the want of this might be supplied 
by the Malambo, , 
