184 MEDICINAL PLANTS OF JAMAICA 



INTRODUCTION. 



I beg leave to observe that the following descriptions of 

 plants were made on the spot, and that the medical remarks 

 are the result of careful observation and experience in the 

 practice of physic, for many years in Jamaica. 



I flatter myself that I shall be found to have made disco- 

 veries, new and important, which have escaped the notice of 

 Sloane, Jacquin, and Bkowne, and that what I have writ- 

 ten will throw some light on the history of the Materia Medica. 



If men of abilities and observation would contribute thus 

 to the public stock, we might, hope that the history of foreign 

 drugs would soon be made more perfect. 



1. Aeoe pkrfoliata. — Hepatic Alues. — Cabaline Aloes. — Bar- 

 bados Aloes. 



This is a common plant in all the West India Islands. It 

 is known by the name of Semper vivum, and is cultivated par- 

 ticularly in Barbadoes. 



This plant flowers in June, but bears no seed ; the young 

 shoots from the roots serve to propagate it. 



Hepatic aloes is obtained in the following manner : — The 

 plant is pulled up by the roots, and carefully cleansed from 

 the earth, or other impurities. It is then sliced and cut in 

 pieces, into small hand-baskets or nets. These nets or bas- 

 kets are put into large iron boilers with water, and boiled for 

 ten minutes, when they are taken out, and fresh parcels sup- 

 plied, till the liquor is strong and black. 



At this period the liquor is thrown through a strainer into a 

 deep vat, narrow at bottom, to cool, and to deposit its feculent 

 parts. Next day the clear liquor is drawn off by a cock, and 

 again committed to the large iron vessel. At first it is boiled 

 briskly, but towards the end the evaporation is slow, and re- 

 quires constantly stirring to prevent burning. When it be- 

 comes of the consistence of honey, it is poured into gourds, 

 or calabashes, for sale. This hardens by age. 



