RoTH] SICKNESS AND HYGIENE 709 
Linn., Lisanthus purpurascens Aubl., Myrmecia scandens Willd., 
Strychnos pseudo-quina St. Hil., Quassia amara, Uvaria febrifuga 
Humb-Bonp., Nectandra Rodiei Schomb. Others, he mentions, are 
used as infusions: Hryngium foetidum Linn., Byrsonima crassifolia 
(SR, 1m, 334). It would seem that we have to thank the Europeans 
and not the indigenous inhabitants of America for our knowledge 
of cinchona bark (SR, m, 230). The Indians of the Rupununi set 
a great value as a febrifuge on the bark of a tree which they call 
allisau, believed to belong to the Bucku tribe, Diosmee (ScD, 97). A 
cayman penis is employed for fever by Brazilians (SR, 1, 355). 
Fever and dysentery—The Amapaima (Ciryptocarya pretiosa 
Mart.), the Casca preciosa of the Brazilians, has an aromatic bark 
and is used by the Makusi in illness of this nature (ScD, 36; ScO, 
113; SR, 1, 448). The Mauhé of the lower Amazon are the only tribe 
who manufacture guarana, a hard substance made from the pounded 
seeds of the Paullinia sorbilis, which they sell in large quantities to 
traders, it being used throughout the whole of the interior provinces 
of Brazil, grated and mixed in water as a remedy in diarrhoea and 
intermittent fevers (HWB, 245). This is apparently identical with 
the coupana, a seed which the Piapoco of the Guaviar River employ 
to give themselves strength. They rasp a quarter of an unripe seed 
in cold water, and drink this beverage, which is bitter and aromatic 
(Cr, 508). 
Diarrhoea and dysentery—For the cure of these complaints, 
Schomburgk reports the administration of bark-infusions of the fol- 
lowing: Byrsonima crassifolia, Willoughbeia acida Willd., Stachy- 
tarpheta jamaicensis, Acrodiclidium camara Schomb. or Akawai-nut- 
meg (SR, 11, 334). This same traveler makes some interesting obser- 
vations on the viccis, a dysentery with a strong inclination to sleep 
(SR, 1, 428). A decoction of green-heart (Vectandra) seed is a very 
common remedy for diarrhoea among Pomeroon and Moruca Indians 
as well as elsewhere. The sap of the wild nutmeg (JM/yristica) is 
used as a mouth wash and as a cure for “ yaws.” 
928. /its—Tapir hoofs are first singed and then placed in water, 
which is drunk as a remedy, both on the Essequibo (BB, 240) and 
Pomeroon. Among the Orinoco Indians, besides being crushed to 
powder, one might be hung on the neck of the patient (G, 1, 265). On 
an occasion of Brown’s servant being attacked with an epileptic fit, 
the men put salt in his mouth, and rubbed it also into the palms of 
his hands, while an old Indian woman was very attentive, burning 
some dried leaves of a peculiar kind under his head that he might 
inhale the smoke and obtain relief (BB, 256). Amazon or green 
stones (WER, v1, sec. 241) were believed to cure the stone, stone colic, 
and epilepsy (LCo, 71). 
