6ft 2>r. Hancock on Sarsaparilla. 



gestion in wine, or a spirituous menstruum, or by an infusion 

 with water, allowiug it to stand for eight or nine days exposed 

 to the sun's rays, or by a fire side in the rainy season, and 

 forming thus a strong vinous or fermented liquor. After my re- 

 turn from the Orinoko to Demerara, in January, 1818,* I had 



* Early in this year, I publisher], in the Guiana Chronicle, the Spanish recipe 

 for the Jarave, so called, or diet drink, after which the use of the Sarsa became 

 very general in the Colonies. The following is a somewhat modified and im- 

 proved form of this recipe : — Take of Rio Negro Sarsa, bruised, 2lb. ; Bark of 

 Guaiacum, powdered, 8oz. ; raspings of guaiac wood, anise seeds and liquorice 

 root, each 4oz. ; mezereon, bark of the root, 2oz. ; treacle, 21b.; and a dozen 

 bruised cloves : pour upon these ingredients about four gallons of boiling water, 

 and shake the vessel thrice a day. When a fermentation has well begun, it is fit 

 for use, and may be taken in the dose of a small tumblerfull twice or thrice a day. 



The publication of the recipe, at least gave an impulse to the employment of 

 Sarsa in the Colony. At first, it was prepared according to the Spanish process, 

 and which certainly produced the most beneficial results, — surprisingly so it 

 might be said, for many spoke of it as effecting very extraordinary and unexpected 

 cures, even in old invalids, or those who had been for a long time entirely 

 crippled. 



Some years afterwards, many were found to complain, that they had not expe- 

 rienced that efficacy in the decoction which had been reported. It was soon 

 perceived, on inquiry, that the persons who had been thus disappointed, were 

 for the most part, those who had confounded the preparation with that of the old 

 decoction of woods, prepared by long boiling. 



The recipe, or formula, having been anonymously published in the Gazettes, 

 which are seldom preserved in Demerara, in a short time after, no indication 

 was left for recurring to it. Many people would send to the druggists' shops 

 for the articles, and some not even knowing what was meant, would send for the 

 deeoction of the woods. They received the packages, of course, with a very 

 small portion of the more active article, Sarsa, (it being the dearest one), put up 

 in the old way, and with the usual pharmacopoeial directions, by which it was 

 boiled till quite exhausted of all active properties. This affords an example of 

 the dilapsus and neglect of many of the most valuable remedies from mere care- 

 lessness and inattention. 



If intended for old and obstinate complaints, as leprous affections, elephantiasis, 

 various anomalous ulcerations, and foul disorders of the skin, there was added 

 to the jug a solution of tartrate of antimony, with muriate of mercury and 

 ammonia, viz. Antim. Tar. 12grs. Hydr. Oxymur. 8 or 10 grs. Mur. Ammonia;, 

 1 drachm. These three articles, being previously dissolved in a little water, are to 

 be thrown into the jug, when the infusion has well begun to ferment, not before, 

 as they would prevent the fermentation taking place. The addition of those 

 •ctive ingredients not only greatly enhances the alterative power of the vegetable 



