BOOK III. CHAP. VIII. 841 



whole fiMme, and bring on very bad fymptoms, and fomctlmes 

 death; but that the juice, when matured and conco6ted as we find' 

 it in the ripe fruit, lofcs much of this acrimony, and, though ftlll 

 unpleafant in its operation upon the bowels, docs not produce 

 mortal effeds, unlefs perhaps in very weak and delicate habits ; but, 

 as to thefe latter, I fpeak only from conjedure. ' ' 



That the fruit fliould fometimes produce violent irritation, and- 

 at other times be chewed, and even fwallowed, without any difa- 

 greeable confequence, can only be accounted for by fuppofing, that 

 perfons of ftronger or weaker habits are differently affedcd by it ; 

 and that the juices of the fruit may poffibly vary much in the dif- 

 ferent flages of its advance to maturation, and until the exadt 

 time of its being thoroughly ripe, when, by a perfed fermentation 

 and concodion, their acrimony is almoft fubdued. It is not un- 

 likely alfo, that the juices of this tree may be more poignant and 

 cauftic in the hot months, than during the cooler feafons of the 

 year, becaufe the fap in thofe months is more redundant and 

 aftive. 



It is well known, that -goats, and even fheep (Tertre adds, ma- 

 caws), feed very greedily upon the fallen fruit, when it is in a flate 

 of perfe£t maturity, and doubtlefs refolve it into wholefome nou- 

 rifliment. 



Inftindl, which determines the choice of thefe animals, points 

 out this as an aliment not baneful (at leafl: to them) ; for they fufFer 

 no injury from it. Barham obferves, that, however venomous the 

 crude juices of the tree may be, they depofite this quality fo foon 

 as they become concoded ; that the milk, which oozes out at the 

 bark, hardens in time, and turns to a fi^ie gum, which he admi- 

 niflered inwardly many times, miftaking it for gum gii'tacum, and 

 not knowing that the Negroes, of whom he bought it, had put a 

 cheat upon him, and fold him the one for the other. But, after he 

 difcovered the fraud, and perceived no ill effefl refulting from it, 

 nor any other than what the giiiacum itfelf ufually produces, he 

 continued to give it, generally diflblved in redihed fpirit of wine, 

 making a tinclure which the niceft eye could not diftinguifh from 

 tindure of guiac. He infifls, that it poflcfles all the virtues of the 

 other J and that he had found it, by experience, to be a fpecitic for 



Vol. III. ' ^ P the 



