PLANTS USEFUL AND POISONOUS. 81 



and of the stinking- weed, are accounted excellent : the Pop-bark, 

 or Poque (Phy sails), I consider as highly recommendable in the 

 cure of Leucorrhcea. 



In dysentery the following are extensively used as astringents : 

 The liber of the Cashew, wild Plum, and Mangrove; green 

 Guavas and Liane Tasajo ; as sedatives and emollients, Lemon- 

 ade, the Cashew-apple and Mango, the Prickly-pear, Aloe, 

 Balais-doux, Bois d'Orme, and, almost as a specific, the Toco 

 (Cratceva Tapia) ; from the berries of the Hamelia also is pre- 

 pared a syrup of excellent effect. 



The Bitter-ash (Quassia amara), Herbe-eguilles (Rolandra 

 argentea), Herbe-a-pique (Calea-lobata) , Grand Trefle (Aristo- 

 lochia), Pruta de burro (Uvaria), Quinquina-pays (Portlandia 

 hexandra) are good febrifuges. To these may be added, as excel- 

 lent stomachics, and very valuable in cases of indigestion, the 

 Secua or Nhandiroba (Feuillea scandens), and the Guaco (Mikania 

 Guaco) ; as also the leaves of the Aguacate, or Avocado, and 

 Aya-pana, and the seeds of the Guatamare (Myrosjoermum) . 



The Brinvilliers, and the inner bark of the Angelim (Andira 

 inermis), are powerful but rather dangerous anthelmintics, as 

 they have a strong stupefactive action on the brain. The 

 Worm-bush (Chenopodium ambrosioides) and the Liane-a-1'ail 

 (Bignonia alliacea) are excellent and safe vermifuges. Some 

 persons are prejudiced against the administering of the Cow- 

 hage (Mucuna) as an anthelmintic : I have, however, prescribed 

 it on several occasions, not only without the slightest ill effect 

 or inconvenience, but with remarkable success. I even urge it 

 as the best remedy against Lumbrics. It ought to be given 

 either in thick syrup, in honey, or well enveloped in some soft 

 substance. 



The action and uses of Balsam Capivi are too well known to 

 require any comment : the Liane-paques (Securidaca), Lignum- 

 vitse, and the roots of the Agave, are administered as anti- 

 venereals ; and I have invariably found the root of the Pareira- 

 brava (Cissampelos) valuable in chronic inflammation of the 

 urinary organs. 



Some of the above plants, viz., the Guaco, Secua, Grand- 



trefle, as also the musk Ochro (Hibiscus Abelmoschus), and the 



roots of the Manaco, are regarded as excellent antidotes to the 



bite of serpents and venomous insects, such as scorpions, spiders, 



G 



