MEDICINAL PLANTS OF JAMAICA. ^_ 205 



and red ripe berries on the same twigs, make a pleasing and 

 beautiful contrast. 



The fruit is a berry of the size and exact figure of the red 

 cherry. The pulp is soft and sweet, and no doubt might be 

 converted to wine ; or, by distillation, to brandy. The beans 

 are two in each berry, which are well known. 



Coffee is an article of diet, and seldom prescribed in medi- 

 cine ; but I have known it have good effects in the moist or 

 humoral asthma, and to give speedy relief in headachs, from 

 gout and other nervous affections. It is said to prevent 

 sleep ; but this happens from any tepid liquors drank late in 

 the evening or at night. 



Coffee, with a good deal of milk, is used twice a day by 

 most families in Jamaica. 



40. Convolvulus brasiliensis. — Seaside Scammony. 



This plant grows near the sea shore. The leaves are broad 

 and shining ; the flowers large and pale red. 



The roots are thicker than a quill, and run many yards 

 superficially in sandy places. The whole plant is milky ; and 

 if this milk was collected, a resin, like scammony, might be 

 obtained. At present this root is employed as a drastic purge, 

 in dropsy, by the common people. 



The Aleppo scammony might easily be cultivated in Ja- 

 maica, and become an useful and profitable article. It is 

 growing luxuriantly in his Majesty's garden at Kew, and in 

 several other gardens about London. 



41. Convolvulus battatas. — Sweet Potatoes. 



This slip is planted for food, and grows so fast as to be 

 fit to dig up in six weeks or two months. For this reason, 

 new settlers generally plant this as the readiest provision. 



The roots have much the appearance of the common pota- 

 to, but are much larger. These, roasted or boiled, are sweet, 

 but not so farinaceous as the other potato, nor do they yield 



