198 MEDICINAL PLANTS OF JAMAICA. 



low blossoms. The pods and seeds are the same as those of 

 the senna of the shops. I have dried the leaves, and used 

 them in purging ptisans in the same proportion as those of 

 the Alexandrian senna. 



Specimens of this senna were presented to the Society of 

 Arts; and although I received no marks of their approbation, 

 it is with pleasure I observe they have offered a premium 

 lately for raising the Alexandrian senna in the West Indies. 



26. Cassia alata. — Ringworm Bush. 



This plant is annual. The stem is woody, and rises to 

 five or six feet. The leaves are winged, and look like those 

 of walnuts. The flower spikes are simple ; the blossoms 

 large, yellow, and placed so closely as to form a cone. The 

 pod is triangular, and four inches long : the seeds are nume- 

 rous, and heart shaped. 



Tetters or ringworms are frequent amongst the black people 

 in Jamaica, and amongst the Spaniards in America very in- 

 veterate. I have seen this complaint so universal, that the 

 habit was tainted ; the skin looked leprous, and the unhappy 

 patient had not a. moment's ease from the intolerable itching 

 or painful ulcers. 



In the beginning, a poultice of the flowers of this bush is 

 of service; as are also sulphureous applications. But, in 

 more advanced stages of the disease, mercurials externally, 

 and the decoction of woods, give the only chance of a cure. 



(Dr Hill seems at a loss to describe this plant ; and after 

 all is mistaken in the number of the stamina. It sometimes 

 grows to ten feet high, and, when in blossom, looks very well.) 



27. Cassia cham^ecrista. — Cane Piece,— ^Sensitive Plant. 



This is frequently met with in cane-piece intervals. It is 

 about three feet in height, and has a few branches, with 1111- 



