BOOK III. CHAP. VIIL 



142. Lime. — Citrus fruBu ovato, minorly act do. 

 Id. FrtiSlu rot undo. 



791 



This bufhy tree does not grow to any confiderable height or bulk ; 

 it is commonly ufed in fences. The fruit is well known, as a princi- 

 pal ingredient in punch. If intended for exportation, it fiiould be ga- 

 thered when a yellowifli tinge firft begins to appear on fonie part of the 

 rind, and will keep well, hung up in an airy part of the fhip in nets ; or, 

 where a quantity is fent, it may be packed up in dry corn hulks, and 

 flowed in a calk which has fome air-holes made in it. If a method 

 could be fallen upon of drying the ripe fruit in Jamaica, until the coat 

 grew perfedlly hard and tough, it would bear the voyage much better 

 fo preferved, and go in e.vcellent condition for ufe ; and this, I appre- 

 hend, may be done by expofing it, fprcad out on a platform, to the hot 

 fun, after the manner of pimento, for a week or two before it is packed 

 for exportation. The unconcodcd juice of the green fruit is gene- 

 rally injurious to weak bowels. 



This fruit, as well as the following, makes an excellent fweetmeat, 

 cleared of the pulp, and prepared with the beft clarified fyrup. 



The bark and fibres of the root are excellent ftrengthening aperi- 

 tives, and found frequently effedual in obftinate febrile cafes, as well 

 as in weaknefies and obflrutlions of the bowels. The leaves are ge- 

 nerally ufed in difcutient baths; and the fruit in a variety of cafes. 

 The crude juice, mixed with fait of wormwood, is given in the ftate 

 of ebullition in fevers, and commonly ufed in the compofition of faline 

 draughts. The fruit is roafted, and the pulp applied to cleanfe ulcers. 

 It anfvvers all thofe intentions where a livelier fub-acid than that of 

 the lemon is required. 



The Negroes take the young fruit foon after it is formed, or when it 

 is about the fize of a fmall hazel-nut, pare off the rind, which they 

 beat into a fine pulp, and with a hair pencil apply it carefully to the lids 

 of fore eyes, for a cure. It is fiippofcd, this rawnefs of the eye-lid, 

 accompanied with a humour, is generally caufed by worms, which 

 lodge in it, and that this application deftroys them. This hint is worth 

 a further attention, fince the animalcules, if they really lodge there, 

 may be difcoverable by proper glafles ; and hence the knowledge ob- 

 tained, whether the application would be proper, or otherwifc. 



5 I 2 There 



