BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. 821 



tincnt ; but, after its virtues came to be publifhed, it was likewife 

 uifcovered to be indigenous to the ifland of St. Chriftopher, and 

 fome of the other Caribbees. It is defcribed as about the fize of an 

 apple-tree, of the pentandria monogynia claf?. The ftyle grows 

 out of the rt/'f.v of two iViiVind: gcrniina ; the berries are bilocular ; 

 the plant itfelf in every part firm ; the root and leaves are of a very 

 bitter tafte, without aroma; the bark by much the bittereft part; if 

 any thing, the leaves are of a flightly-aromatic tafte. It grows 

 in the mountains, and near the fides of rivulets. It is vulgarly 

 called, by the Negroes, the bi/fer ajlj, and is ufed by them to pro- 

 mote abortion. But it is likev.ile proved, fince the white inha- 

 bitants brought it into ufe, to be a great fpccific in dropfical cafes. 

 The wood is extremely light, yet firm ; of a pale-yellowifli caft, 

 without fmell, and of a bitter (liarp tafte. It is more bitter than 

 the Jefuits Bark, and does not feem more difagreeable : it is fome- 

 what lefs aftringent in operation ; and preferred to it by Tiflbt, for 

 the intention of flrengthening a weak flomach, recovering the 

 digeftion, dilTipating flatulencies, and relieving coftivenefs pro- 

 ceeding from debility ; ftill better in all febrile, gaugrenouSj pu- 

 rulent, worm, and convulfive cafes. 



The following is the method of admmiftering it in pradice at the 

 Windward Iflands. Boil four ounces of the bark in two quarts of 

 water until reduced to one; rack it off; then add a gill of be ft 

 Coniac brandy, which will preferve it from turning four ; and bottle 

 for ufe. A wine-glafs is the dofe for a grown perfon, to be taken 

 twice a day for fwellings, and dropfical cafes. When it is ap- 

 plied in fevers, the wood is pulverized, and the powder given from 

 eighteen to twenty grains, as frequently as the Jefuits Bark is 

 ulually exhibited for the like intention ; or a decoction is made of 

 the wood, and given in as large a quantity as the patient can bear. 

 It is fo inoffcnfive and mild in its nature, that no extraordinary re- 

 flri^tions are neceflary in regard to diet. 



It is uncertain as yet, whether or not we have the fame tree in 

 this ifland ; but the citharexylon, or old woman s bitter, feems to 

 have a very near affinity to it in feveral circumftances. Firft, as 

 to the clafs, the old woman's bitter may not with much impra- 

 priety be ranked among the pentandria mono^nia. It has one ilyle, 



four 



