MEDICINAL PLANTS OF JAMAICA. 191 



eight feet. Every part of it is acrid. The juice rubbed on 

 the skin causes an intolerable itching. If eaten through iff- 

 norance or design, it irritates, and even inflames, the moutli 

 and fauces, and renders the person speechless : hence the 

 name. 



A physician, in the reign of Charles the Second, wrote 

 a treatise on the virtues of the dumb cane in dropsy. I have 

 tried it in that disease, but could not get down a sufficient quan- 

 tity to produce the proper effect, on account of its acrimony. 



A Negro woman, who had been long ailing, in a fit of de- 

 spair, ate a good deal of the dumb cane, with a view to destroy 

 herself. It excoriated her mouth and throat much, and she 

 voided many worms, but recovered her health soon after. 



(The juice, boiled in hog's lard, makes a stimulating oint- 

 ment for rubbing oedematous swellings, to which Negroes are 

 often subject.) 



15. Asclepias Curassavica. — Bastard Ipecacuanha. — Tin- 

 Red Head. 



This is a pretty plant, which grows wild in pastures. It 

 rises to three feet ; has green stems and lanceolated leaves. 

 The flowers stand at top in a kind of umbel ; they are red 

 and yellow, and very beautiful. 



This plant is milky, but not dangerous, like some others 

 of this genus. The juice of the leaves is often given to per- 

 sons afflicted with worms, from a tea-spoonful to an ounce 

 for a dose on an empty stomach. In this way I can vouch 

 for its powerful and salutary effect. When given in larger 

 doses it acts as a mild emetic or purgative ; and in worm fe- 

 vers also as a diaphoretic and diuretic. Thus, whilst it ex- 

 pels worms, it brings about a crisis. 



The roots are white and woody. When given in powder, 

 as a vomit, they act as an emetic ; but this is a dangerous 

 practice. 



