BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. 717 



minative ; opening obftrudlions ; and attenuating vifcid humours; 

 but it is feldom ufed in medicinal compofitions. It is mixed in 

 chocolate by the Spaniards, French, and Italians, to give it a de- 

 licate fmell and agreeable flavour. It is likewife ufed to perfume 

 fnuffs and other fubftances. 



14. CoNTRAYERVA. — Arijlohchta. 



This plant, which is alfo a climber, abounds every where among- 

 the wood-lands and thickets, on the South and North fides of the 

 ifland, and rifes frequently to a confiderable height among the trees 

 and buflies. The root is much in efteem here, and often admi- 

 niftered medicinally. Both this and the I'eeds are extremely bitter, 

 hot, and aromatic. They are reckoned an excellent alexipharmic 

 againft all forts of coagulating poifons ; flrengthen the ftomach ; 

 help digeftion ; difcufs wind; promote diaphorefis and urine; and 

 deftroy worms : for the latter intention, the root is chopped in 

 fmall pieces, and given by the planters to their horfes, mixed with 

 corn. 



The root is found to produce feveral other iinportant effe6]:s. It 

 throws out the fmall-pox and meafles ; and is a wonderful antifeptic 

 in malignant fevers. It gently purges fomeby ftool ; but never fails 

 working powerfully, either in this way, or by urine, or fweat. A 

 fimple deco£tion of it in water has often recovered perfons from 

 lingering diftempers, loft appetite, and debilitated limbs. But, in- 

 fufed in wine, it makes the fincft bitter known ; and, with the ad- 

 dition of fteel to this tindure, is a great fweetener of the blood. 



It is fo abundant in this ifland, that it might be colle<5ted an- 

 nually, in very large quantities, for exportation, if there was a de- 

 mand for it at the home-market ; and it feems to merit this en- 

 couragement, as it has been thought, by very able phyficians, to 

 be fuperior in efficacy to ihe Spanifli contrayerva, and is probably 

 another fpecies* 



,15. China-root. — Smihx. With a taper, prickly flalk ; and' 

 oval, heart-flaped, unarmed leaves. 



This plant is frequent in th^ more cool inland-parts of the ifland ;: 

 and is the fame as that of the Zafl-Indies. The roots are compofed 



