Dr. Hancock on the Anguslura Bark Tree. 25 



Appendage is so elastic that it is difficult to preserve the seeds, 

 the capsule always bursting in the dried specimens. This species 

 of perisperm or seed-envelope, where it obtains, so far from 

 being disregarded, was considered by Linnans as one of the 

 essential characters of a Genus. Witness Dictamm s, Dios.ma, 

 Coffea, &c, but in none is it so notable as in Oraijuri. 



Though concurring, on the whole, with the lucid arrange- 

 ment of MM. Auguste de St. Hilaire and De Candolle of the 

 Genus Gam pea, I cannot agree to the specific name bestowed 

 by those eminent botanists on the Angustura Bark Tree, the 

 term Cusparia, being, as I have before observed, founded in 

 error. I shall, therefore, agreeably to the suggestion of my 

 friend, Mr. J. P. Yosy, one of the Society's Secretaries, propose 

 the name of Galipea officinalis; with the following specific 

 description : 



Galipea officinalis, foliis 3 foliolatis, racemis pedunculatis 

 axillaribus et terminalibus, calyce 5 dentato, staminibus 2, 

 nectariis 5 (staminibus sterilibus ?) 



If in the delightful and fruitful country to which this plant 

 is indigenous, the heat is at times oppressive to the inhabitants, 

 engendering malignant fevers, yet this salutary and providential 

 antidote is growing at their doors, and they have acquired a to- 

 lanble knowledge of ita powen, the mode of employment in that 

 p. ut being to drink a warm infusion in order to induce sweat and 

 diuresis. They often, however, begin with so large a quantity 



as to .\ ;t« ii, it.- tli. .stomach or tlie bowels, for it is capable of 

 effecting both, and indeed is often employed for that purpose as 



well as a febrifuge (contra ralnitnra), while a decoction of the 



rea is resorted to as ;i bath in fevers and pains of the limbs, 

 rig from cold or chronic rheumatism. 



In tin- yean l*l(i and IM7 there prevailed in the district of 

 tin- Orinoko, and particularly at St. Thomas de Aligiistura, a 



Malignant bilious intermittent fever, which proved fatal to great 



rmmi.. r ol ih<- inhabitants as well as to foreigners. Iii tin I. it 



