S56 ' PHILOSOPHICAL, TRANSACTIONS. [aNNO 1 6gg. 



An Account of the Virtues of Faba Soncti Ignatii ;* mentioned in last 

 Numb. By Franciscus Joannes, the Jesuit. An Extract from the Latin. 

 M° 250, p. 87. 



The bitter seed called the Faba Sancti Ignatii, and which grows in the Philip- 

 pine Islands, is in this account said, 1 . to be good against spasms, and particularly 

 against that species of spasm which is termed sotan or soutan. 2. To be useful 

 as an emetic where poisons have been swallowed, being grated and taken in 

 cold water ; also against the bites of venomous animals, being scraped and 

 applied to the wound. 3. It Is serviceable also where any limb is affected with 

 spasm, when applied to the said limb in the manner just mentioned. 4. Fur- 

 ther, the raspings when applied to any sort of wound, stop the bleeding ; and 

 being administered internally last year (1 692) to a woman labouring under an 

 obstinate haemorrhage, she was thereby cured. 5. This bean (or seed) cures 

 fevers ; as was proved by the case of an infant who was ill of a violent fever, 

 which speedily gave way to the exhibition of this remedy. 6. It promotes 

 the birth, in lying in-women. 7- It is remarkably serviceable in surfeits and 

 indigestion, and is a good remedy in disentery and diarrhcea. 



Various modes of using this remedy are mentioned, viz. each nut or seed is 

 . directed to be cut into 3 pieces, one of which is to be held in the mouth 

 for a 4- or -i- an hour, the patient swallowing his spittle, and afterwards drink- 

 ing 2 or 3 oz. of cold water : or, the grated seed may be steeped in cold water,-|- 

 and the infusion given : or, lastly, the seed cut into small portions may be fried 

 in oil, and the oil either be taken internally or applied topically, in wounds 

 and spasms. 



A further and more exact Account of the Faba Sancti Ignatii, sent in a Letter 

 from Father Camelli, to Mr. John Ray, and Mr. James Petiver, F. R. S. 

 Extracted from the Latin. N* 250, p. 88. 



Of the Igasur or true Nux Vomica of Serapion. 



Catolongay, or as others call it cantara, is the plant which bears the true 

 nuces vomicae of Serapion. It is a climbing plant, and twines itself round the 

 tallest trees. Its stem is woody, porous, and sometimes as thick as a person's 

 arm ; the bark is rough, thick, and of an ash-colour ; the leaves are large 

 ribbed, and of a bitter taste ; the flower resembles the balaustine or pome- 

 granate flower, and is succeeded by a fruit larger than a melon, covered with a 



* Ignatia amara, Linn. Ignatiana Philippinica. Loureiro. 



■(• In the following paper on this subject it is «aid to be steeped in hot water. 



