318 VENEZUELAN MEDICINAL PLANTS. 
Siielda'Con-Suelda {Commelyna Cayennensis, Eicli; Griseb. 524,)" 
Poultices made of the leaves are put on dislocated or fractured bones. 
An infusion of the leaves in white wine is recommended in colics. 
Talaco {Nicotiana Tabacum, L.). Tobacco is principally cultivated 
in Cumana and Barinas. Tn the year 1859-60 there were exported 
15,369 lb. With the thickened juice of the leaves a Bnd of paste is 
prepared, called '' mo " and " chimo/' pieces of which are taken in the 
mouth and chewed. This custom is found in Merida, Trujillo, and 
some parts of Barinas. Tobacco-leaves are put on forehead and 
temples in headache. The decoction of the leaves is used in a great 
many diseases, even for bites of venomous snakes ; but popular medi- 
cine has the principle, post hoCy e^^go propter hoc, 
. Tamarindo {Tamarindiis Tndica, L.). Dr. Yargas,* whose memory 
will ever be cherished in Venezuela, and known to botanists by the 
number^f plants he sent to De CandoUe, recommended the following 
in diseases of the liver and jaundice : — Boiling water, 1 bottle ; fol. 
sennae, 1 ounce. Boil, and let the decoction stand till it becomes 
cold; decant i add 4 handfuls of tamarinds without shells, 4 peeled 
ripe Seville oranges, and ^ lb. of sugar. Boil again till the decoction 
has the consistence of a jelly ; clear, and add a spoonful of nitrate of 
potash, or 3 spoonfuls of cremor, another spoonful of rhubarb, and mix 
well. Dose, 3 spoonfuls every day, with tepid water. The dose is 
to diminish when there are many evacuations. 
Tartago, Higtiereia, Falma-Christi {Ricimts commimis^ L. ; Griseb. 
37). The leaves are put on external inflammations, after having been 
a little warmed in the sun or over a fire ; even in toothache this re- 
medy is recommended. Oleum Ricini (Aceite de Tartago) is the most 
commonly used piu'gative in the country. It seems strange that this 
oil is imported from Europe, the plants growing abundantly every- 
where. But the difficulty is in gathering the fruits, the working 
classes being so extraordinarily lazy that only a vein^ high price could 
induce them to collect them. [I found three varieties of this plant ia 
Venezuela. — Ed.] 
Tomate iLycopersiciim esculentum^ Mill.). Cultivated on account 
* Vargas bequeathed his extensive library, containing many valuable works 
on natuinil liistory, and his collection of plants and minerals, to the University 
of Caracas. By this time the plants, from sheer neglect, are nearly all de- 
strojed. 
