MANCHINEEL TREE. 2&5 



mg, two successive days, is said to have been seized with convulsions 

 and vertigo, notwithstanding which, the dysenteric symptoms re- 

 turned, and the disorder was cured by other medicines ; but a pain 

 in the stomach, the effect of the nux vomica, continued afterwards 

 for a long time. Bergius, therefore, thinks it should only be ad- 

 ministered in the character of a tonic and anodyne in small doses, 

 (from five to ten grains) and not till after proper laxatives have 

 been employed. 



Loureiro recommends it as a valuable internal medicine in fluor 

 albus; for which purpose he roasts it till it becomes perfectly black 

 and friabie, which renders its medicinal use safe, without impairing 

 its efficacy. 



[Gesner. Wepfer. Junghanns, Woodville. 



SECTION VIT. 



Manchincel.tr ee. 

 Hipporaane manicella. Likv. 



There are three species of the Hippomane, of which the one here 

 referred to has leaves ovate, serrate, with two glands at the base. 

 The milky juice of this tree is highly poisonous, and was at one 

 time in frequent use among the Indians as a poison for the tips of 

 their arrows. The poisonous property pervades nearly equalh the 

 fruit and the wood. Hence the incautious traveller, tempted by 

 the appearance of the first, has often fallen a victim to the violence 

 of its morbid stimulus : for the poison seems to depend on a peculiar 

 acrimony aione j and hence also the feller*, of the timber, winch on 

 account of the closeness and beauty of its grain is in much esteem 

 among our cabinet-makers, are compelled to dry the trnnk by making 

 fires around it, before they attempt to fell it ; while the sawyer* rind 

 it reqnisite to blind their eyes while sawing, to avoid ophthalmic in- 

 flammations, which the pungent aroma that flies about them is other- 

 wise sure to produce. 1 1 the juice of this tree touch the skin, it 

 generally blisters it; and if it fall on linen, it corrodes it like vitoi. 

 olic acid, the spotted parts turning black, and terminaiii g in hole*. 

 This is a West indian tree. 



The manchineel tree affords furniture for slabs, interspersed uith 

 beautiful green and yellow veins like marble; but the dust of the 



