283 VENEZUELAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
ters for broken or dislocated bones, and tlie decoction of the flowers is 
said to be valuable in pulmonaiy diseases. 
Coralito {Hamelia patens, Jacq.)- The leaves put on the forehead 
give relief in headache, 
Cordoncillo negro [ArtanlJie Bredemeyerh Miq.). Partakes in some 
degree of the aromatic, pungent properties almost universal in Pipe- 
racea^j and is considered an antisyphilitic, but not often used. . 
(A, 
" An excellent beverage, re- 
sembling champagne, and quite as intoxicatuig, is made of the Palma or 
Corozo de Vino, by felliug* the trunk and cutting a hole just beloM^ the 
crown of the leaves. 
[state 
zuela] the people had cut down several of these spiny Palms to supply 
themselves with 'wine' for the Easter holidays." (Dr. B. Seemann, 
' Eeport on the Tocuyo Estate of Venezuela/ p. 21.) This wine is 
said to promote conception. 
Cremon (a Malvacea from Maracaybo). Leaves like Gossypinm, but 
flowers scarlet. The leaves are placed on the forehead and temples to 
cure headache. 
Cruceta real or Quipito hediondo, and Cruceta blanca, are both un- 
known to me. The first is said to have an exceedingly bitter bark, 
used like Cortex CMjicJiojice. Jacquin mentions, in the description of 
his Muss^nda spinosa (Araer. Pict, p. 70, 7 1), the vernacular name 
is " Cruzeta" or " Crucicula,'* but I cannot state anything about the 
identity of his plant with the above-mentioned. The " Cruceta blanca'' 
is reputed to be efficacious in hsemorrhoids, by exposing the suffering 
parts to the steam rising from a very hot decoction of the whole plant 
mixed wdth some brandy. 
w 
A de- 
coction of the pods is taken in chronic diarrhoeas, and the juice of the 
pounded pods is said to act with good effect in inflammations of the 
eye. It dyes the hair black. By condensing it over the fire, it be- 
comes a blackish, exceedingly astringent substance, which resembles 
catechu. The gum which exudes from the stem may be used like gum 
Arabic. 
Culantnllo (Jdianlum concinnumj Kth., and several other species). 
" Jarabe de Culantrillo" is much used in pectoral diseases, and said to 
purify the blood. Take six ounces of leaves in a gallon of hot water ; 
macerate for twenty-four hours, then evaporate to a proper consis- 
