VENEZUE^.AN MrDTCINAL PLANTS. 147 
chemical laboratory. They were those of an Aristolochia, and in shape, 
though not in size, resembled the first Atlantic telegraph cable. He 
wanted to have made a decoction of them, which he praised as a 
wonderful medicine, but without divulsfin"- in what disease. 
Aullama {Cucnrbila maxima^ Duch.). Cooling poultices are made 
of the unripe fruit. The seeds are used for emulsions in pectoral 
diseases. Parts of the fruit-bearing- peduncle, on a string, are worn by 
children round the neck, in order to facilitate dentition. 
Atahar {Citrus Auranlium, L.), " Aqua de Azahar/' extracted from 
the flowers by distillation, is frequently used as a vehicle for repulsive 
medicines. (Under the name of ** Azahar de la India/' Murraya exo- 
tica, L. is very often cultivated in gardens.) 
Azucena {LiUitm candidnm, L.). Cultivated. An infusion of the 
flowers is said to be as eiScacious a sudorific as that of Elder or 
Borage. 
Sarbasco (^BaiUieria JSardasco, H. B. K. ; Cllbadlum leiocarpum^ 
Steetz in Seem. Bot. Herald, pp. 152, 153). This herb bruised is 
applied in frictions against itch, freckles, and other cutaneous disorders. 
The root soaked for about twelve hours in white wine, and with some 
leaves of Commelyna Cayennensls^ Eich., called '^Suelda con Suelda," 
forms a draught of which a tablespoonful taken on three consecu- 
tive mornings, is said to cure colic and chronic diarrhoea. 
Batata {IpomcBa Batatas, Lam.). The variety generally cidtivated 
is /3. leucorrjika (Griseb. Flora of Brit. West India, -p. 768). The 
cooked root is applied in the form of poultice in erysipelas or inflamed 
skin; in the last case some olive-oil is added. 
/' 
Yery 
common in the " llanos," or large plains of the interior. One drachm 
of the powdered root, taken in white wine, is a mild laxative. 
Bejuco de cadena {Ipomcea acetosijolia, R. S. ?). A strong decoc- 
tion of the root, with three spoonfuls of lioney, is given in dysentery- 
By some the plant is believed to be a more efficacious remedy in 
venereal diseases than Zarzaparilla. Small pieces of the stem are put 
into cold water, and by drinking the infusion three times a day, eveiy 
symptom of tlie. disease is said to disappear after nine days or a fort- 
night. But as Zarzaparilla is very frequent in the mountainous neigh- 
bourhood of Caracas, T have always seen that plant used instead of this 
Jpomoea. 
