Dr. Hancock on Haimurada. 15 



the treatment of disease ; but we .ilso know, tliat it is so egre- 

 giouslv abused, empirically and indiscriminately employed, and 

 so frequently to the exclusion of more appropriate remedies, ;is 

 to render it doubtful, whether, upon the whole, it lias not been 

 productive of more barm than good to society. 



Way should we repose such an overweening confidence* in ■ 

 single metal, where benignant nature has bestowed her choicest 

 gifts. The vegetable tribes not only furnish the most potent 

 poisons but also their antidotes, and are the most salutary and 

 appropriate remedies for the various distempers to which our 

 frail nature is daily exposed. 



It behoves the members of our profession duly to consider 

 these things. Let us hope that the subject may engage the at- 

 tentive- reflection of those whose opportunities and active minds 

 shall qualify them for breaking down the trammels of authority, 

 and the b arri e rs to improvement, in our most obscure and pro- 

 blematical art of physic. 



It may not be out of place to add a short description in 

 English, which, with the figure (the first, to the best of my 

 knowledge, ever published), will enable any person to find the 

 plant in its various places of growth, which are the elevated 

 lands both of Demerara and Essequebo, especially what are 

 called the Grampian Hills, about the plantation llibemia, &c. 

 and also in the tocalitiei given by LinnSBOJ and Yahl. 



The If'"'/ i^ perennial, fibrous, and strikes, like most plants 

 similarly constructed, at almost ever] joint. The Sttm is. 

 repent, extending about one foot in length and two or three 

 mcli.s in height, branching, tetragonal with sharp edges, taper- 

 ing tow. ml. its num. ions . \ treiuilies. mid BOOM what pubescent. 



/ rne on rerj short petioles, ovate* slightly 



lied, somewhat hairy on the louer surface, particularly of 



Ihfl young i 0O< -. smooth on the upper, opposite. The stem 

 and- i th< leaven are, in the healthy plant, tinged with a 



• It W probably sot >. m.i h fi<>m •■ ■ >" '>■" " ">"!> mat It tiM 



oftoD |.rr»cril»-.l, u lr.,tn a I. llr««ii. •"• ji.I inln! • ll" ml. mi., r. il.lt' liOUO- 



• .ill win. I. nature ha* ■urrnuiitiioi u». 



