MEDICINAL PLANTS OF JAMAICA. -— 187 



will be swelled, inflamed, and eovered with a rash or erysi- 

 pelas. 



Roasted cashew-nuts are better than chesnuts ; and when 

 blanched in water, and freed from their covering, are as sweet 

 as almonds, and are used like them for emulsions. 



This tree is of speedy growth, as in one year from the sow- 

 ing it blossoms and bears fruit. The tree lasts many years, 

 and when old, yields a great quantity of transparent gum, in 

 no way inferior to gum-arabic. 



(This tree is not found wild in Jamaica, except where the 

 seeds have first been planted by the human race. It grows 

 to a middle size, and the trunk sends off many branches. 

 The leaves are broad, smooth, and shining. The blossoms 

 are numerous, but many of them are abortive. The white 

 cashew-apple is the sweetest. When in bloom the whole tree 

 is very beautiful.) 



6. ANDROPOGON LITORALE. 



I saw this grass only on the sea-shore, near St Ann's Bay, 

 Jamaica. It was five feet high, and had jointed stalks and 

 roots, like the dog-grass of Britain. 



A strong decoction of the roots has been successfully em- 

 ployed in visceral obstructions, given at the rate of three pints 

 a-day : but in liver complaints it succeeds better, if accom- 

 panied by calomel in small doses. 



7- Annona muricata. — Sour Sop. 



squamosa. — Sweet Sop. 



reticulata. — ( 'usturd Apple. 



palustris. — Jl (tier or Alligator Apple. 



All these grow wild in Jamaica, or are cultivated on ac- 

 count of their fruit. 



The sour sop is a large fruit, of a heart-shape, pointed, and 



