766 J A M A I C A. 



All unduous fubrtances, imported from Europe, fooii lofe their 

 mildnefs after crofling the Line, and turn acrid ; by which dege- 

 neration of quality, they impart to ulcers a putrefaftive tendency, 

 and, fo far from healing, often render them incurable : an evident 

 and very cogent reafon, to prove the expediency of uniting a 

 knowledge of botany to chirurgical pradice in this ifland, and of 

 preferring the freOi-gathered vegetables, indigenous in it, to the 

 Hale and corrupted medicaments imported from Europe. 



85. Worm-grass. — Anthehnenthia. 



This plant is now cultivated in many gardens in the ifland. It 

 was brought originally from theSpanilli Main, and takes its name 

 ■from the extraordinary virtues it poflelles in deflroying worms in the 

 'human body. 



Two moderate handfuls of this plant, either green or dry, are 

 boiled over a gentle tire, in two quarts of water, till they are re- 

 duced to one quart. The decoilion is then ftrained off, and a little 

 Higar and lemon-juice added, to make it more palatable. Some- 

 times the decoftion is made into a fyrup with fugar ; and in this 

 form may be given to children. Half a pint, at the hour of going 

 to reft, is the dofe for a full-grown perfon, and proportionably to 

 -weaker perlbns and children. This is repeated once in every twen- 

 ty-four hours, for three or four days fucceffively. But, left this 

 Jofe fliould prove too large, it will be a fafer praftlce to begin 

 with about a third of a pint for a grown perfon ; and fo in pro- 

 portion for others ; repeating it in a ftill liiialler quantity at every 

 interval of fix hours between each dofe, if its anodyne quality will 

 permit. But in weaker conftitutions, and for infants, it may be 

 repeated only at the diftance of twelve hours. This is continued 

 for thirty-fix or forty-eight hours ; at the expiration of which, the 

 double dofe may be again adminiftered. After this takes effedl, it 

 is to be worked off with gentle purgatives, as the infufion of 

 fenna, or rhubarb, with manna, and the like. It procures fleep 

 almoft as certainly as opium, removes the fever and convullions, 

 and expels the worms in great quantities. When a few only are 

 brought away, and many are fufpeded ftill to remain, the dofe 

 muft be repeated, and will rarely or ever fail. Jt is fuppofed rather 



prejudicial 



