MEDICINAL PLANTS OF JAMAICA. 619 



cultivated in the French islands, and by many also in Jamaica. 

 The roots in their natural state are a very virulent poison, and 

 without speedy relief death soon ensues. It has long been ob- 

 served, and the fact is curious, that hogs rooting up this plant, 

 and eating it with the mud about it, suffer no injury ; but if 

 the roots are washed and given to them, it presently kills them. 



As soon as it is known that bitter cassada has been eaten, 

 the poison must be expelled by vomit and stool, and either 

 may be promoted by repeated draughts of warm muddy water. 



The bitter cassada, although it proves so destructive in a 

 recent state, yet, by a little art, it becomes a wholesome food- 

 It is the juice of the roots alone that is poisonous. The fresh 

 washed roots are grated over a tub of water ; and are after- 

 wards repeatedly washed in fresh supplies of water. The 

 meal is then dried in the sun, or in a stone basin over the fire, 

 and made into broad thin cakes. This bread tastes like oat- 

 cakes ; and, when toasted and buttered, forms an excellent 

 tea-bread. 



The water employed in washing the grated roots is not to 

 be thrown away, but suffered to settle. The sediment makes 

 a fine clear starch.) 



58. Jatropha gossypifolia. — Belly-ache Bush. 



Curcas. — English Physic Nut. 



multifid'a. — French Physic Nut. 



The first grows wild ; the second is planted around Negro 

 gardens ; and the third is cultivated as an ornamental shrub. 



A decoction of the leaves of the two first is often used with 

 advantage in spasmodic belly-ache, attended with vomiting. 

 It sits easier on the stomach than any thing else, and seldom 

 fails to bring about a discharge by stool. 



The seeds of all of them are drastic purgatives and emetics. 

 They yield, by decoction, an oil of the same uses and virtue- 

 as the Oleum ricini ; of which hereafter. 



