780 JAMAICA. 



It feems probable, that the fenfitive plant of Guuiey is the 

 nhambu of Bradl, or, at leaft, that the nhambu is a fpecies of fen- 

 fitive, and agrees fomewhat in defcription with a fpecies found 

 growing naturally at Campeachy by Dr. Houfton, which is thus 

 defcribed, mimofa, foliis Jubdigiiails^ pinnathy caule aculeate hijpido; 

 " fenfitive plant, with winged, handed leaves, and a prickly, hairy 

 " ftalk." The flowers are white, and fucceeded by prickly pods. 

 It has alfo fome affinity to the black-bead fhrub, or large-leafed 

 mimofi, of Jamaica ; a (hrubby fenfitive, and called, by fome, the 

 bumble plant, which has a declining, prickly ftalk, with pods 

 growing in clufters, with prickly coverings. It deferves experiment, 

 whether flrong deco6lions of the leaves and feeds of thefe fpecies, 

 "or an extract made from them, or the crudejuice of the leaves, with 

 powder of the feeds, might not counteract the effeds of this poi- 

 Ibn, tried on dogs and cats, or pn fowls. 



Dr. Browne advifes the following remedy, to prevent any mif- 

 chievous effect. 



" gi a little mint- water, andyiz/ ahjynth. (or fait of wormwood), 

 " and mix." 



If the poifon has not been fwallowed any confiderable time, he 

 aflerts, that this eafy preparation wiJl calm the moft violent 

 fymptoms.. 



The virtue of the fixed fait of wormwood confifts in its being a 

 good febrifuge, and very fuccefsful in removing tertian agues, pof- 

 iibly by promoting the circulation of the blood, and attenuating it 

 when it is agglutinated and fluggifli. 



The effefts of the nhambu are fimilar ; for it undoubtedly a£ls 

 by its heat and pungency, flimulatlng the fibres to aftion, warming 

 the ftomach, and alfilHng the blood's circulation. 



The poifon is of what is called the cold kind ; and hence the 

 bed: antidote to it mufl be a medicine of a warm, active, and atte- 

 nuating quality. The Indians, therefore, of Guiana give a mi.Kture 

 of red pepper bruifcd in rum. 



The leaves of the minofa Jnmaicenjis, Jamaica fenfitive, without 

 prickles, have been ranked among vegetable poifons ; but the root 

 is laid to be an antidote to the effefl; of the leaves. 



The 



