8i8 JAMAICA. 



The roots of the true ipecacuanha are brought from Peru and 

 BrafiL The Peruvian have an alh-coloured or hght brown bark; 

 many circular rings, wrinkles, or corrugations, furrounding a firing 

 or nerve in the middle, and feveral fiilures or cracks on the outward 

 bark, reaching quite to the nerve. The mealy parts of the bark 

 and nerve are whitifli. They are brittle, refmous, and have but 

 little fmell. 



The Brafilian are of a brownifh colour, crooked and rough, hav- 

 ing rings like the former, but more rugged. The infide white, 

 and of a bitteridi tafte. 



Sir H. Sloane fufpedls the firft of the fpurious plants abovemen- 

 tioned to have bad qualities, but condemns the root and juices of 

 the fecond or lejjer Afdepias, as abfolutely poifonous. 



Although this may ferve by way of caution againft a carelefs ufe 

 of them, yet they probably contain very exalted virtues: as among 

 mankind we often meet with fliining qualities and great abilities, 

 joined to great vices -, fo in the vegetable kingdom, we find the 

 mofl exalted medicinal principles lodged in plants which are vul- 

 garly thought to be poifonous ; fmall dofes well prepared from 

 them, poffefling in abftradl the moft falutary powers in combating 

 with many diflempers; on this account fome of thefe plants, when 

 their nature has come to be fully developed and well underfhood, 

 have ranked amongft the nobleft of the Materia Medica j becaufe 

 they contain more efficacy within a fmall compafs, than a multi- 

 farious compofition, made out of many fimples efteemed more in- 

 nocent. 



Thofe plants therefore ufually fuppofed poifonous, or violent in 

 the operation of their juices or parts, are proper fubjeds for a fur- 

 ther critical examination and analyfis. 



The wild or fpurious ipecacuanha, firft mentioned, has been me- 

 dicinally given in this ifland ever fince it became known. 



The juice of the plant, made into fyrup with fugar, has been 

 obferved to kill and bring away worms in a very effcdtual manner, 

 even when moil other vermifuges have failed ; it is given to chil- 

 dren from a tea to a table fpoonful. The juice and pounded plant 

 are applied to flop the blood in frefn wounds, and it is faid to be 



I a very 



