724 JAMAICA. 



ufed to have recourfe to it for a cure. In February the tree fheds 

 its old leaves, and is then very full of fap. On wounding the bark, 

 a pellucid juice illues out, which gradually turns yellowifh, and 

 acquires in the air a hard confiftence, and dark complexion refem- 

 bling pitch, and is equally brittle. About two fpoonfuls of the 

 juice freih drawn, if mixed with the fame quantity of water, and 

 fweetened with a little fugar, is an excellent remedy in the colic, 

 or bejly-ach, gives immediate eafe, and produces an evacuation in 

 four or five hours. When it is old, it flill retains its laxative qua- 

 lity diflblved in water, but in a gentler degree. It is conftantly 

 ufed here in ftrengthening-plaifters ; and, adminiftered in form of 

 pills, it flops a gonorrhoea. It poffefies a warm, difcutient nature, 

 and may be ufed with great propriety in all fwellings arifing from 

 colds, weaknefs of the veffels, or poverty of the juices, either inter- 

 nally or externally adminiftered. It is thought to be an extraordi- 

 nary diuretic, and is an admirable vulnerary. 



22. Gum Lignum- vit^, or Pock -wood Gum. — Gujacum. 



The gujacum tree grows in vaft abundance on the South-fide of 

 the ifland. I do not remember to have obferved any on the North- 

 fide. The wood and gum are too generally known, to require a de- 

 fcription. The largeft trees make a very good remittance to Bri- 

 tain, for manufa£luring the trucks of fhip-blocks, and a variety of 

 turnery-ware, as well as for medicinal ufes. The gum is no lefs in 

 demand for its virtues in venereal taints, rheumatifms, and other di- 

 fteniperatures. It is obtained by jagging the body of the tree in 

 May. It exfudes copioufly from the wounds, though gradually ; 

 and, when a quantity is found accumulated upon the feveral wounded 

 trees, hardened by expofure to the air and fun, it is gathered, and 

 packed in fmall kegs for exportation. This gum has been fufpeded, 

 fometimes, to have been fophifticated, by the Negroes, with the 

 gum of the manchineal-tree, to which it bears fome fimilitude at 

 the firft appearance ; but it is eafily diftinguifhed by diflblving a 

 little in fpirit of wine, or rum. The true gum imparts a whitifh 

 or milky tinge; but the manchineal gives a greenifti caft : and this 

 is ftill further diftinguifhablc, by pouring a little of the fame tinc- 

 ture 



