MATERIA MEDICA GUIAN. BRITT. 
By EK. A. V. ABRAHAM. 
In writing on the Materia Medica of British Guiana I do so in order that 
the disciples of Asculapius who are jealous ofany one interfering with their 
vested rights may experiment on the cures here given whether germane or not 
to their doctrines. Habet. 
It behoves everyone with a knowledge of things which are practically un- 
known to tae general public to bring to the light of open day his experience, 
and even crude though it may be, to show to the world the hidden things of 
the “old people ” leaving it to those more experienced in the scientific world 
to perfect and improve the raw material. 
I have to confess to an enquiring turn of mind and whenever I see an old 
dame gathering weeds or herbs, or a “‘ Weed doctor ”’ selling her wares I ask 
the why and the wherefore and then make further research therein. 
In the olden times when a monarch was crowned the herb or weed women 
had places of honour in the procession and although at the present time they 
are not seen on coronation day in their accustomed places yet the glamour of 
their calling remains and they are looked on with veneration especially by those 
who come into contact with them and have benefited by their advice and 
medicines. 
For some years I have studied the weeds and herbs around us and I have 
come to the conclusion that nature places a cure for every disease at the doors 
of the sufferers of the particular country and particular disease. 
Tropical diseases require tropical cures and a great many of the drugs now 
in use were in the first instance brought to light from the constant use of the 
weed or shrub or tree and my object is to bring out the different medicinal 
growths of the colony with the object of further researches on the part of others 
more qualified, in order to benefit humanity. 
As mankind is placed in the world for good or evil so we find animals, birds, 
reptiles, etc., either for use or as a menace to other created beings. 
And so it is with vegetation. The potato would have been unknown as a 
food but for the bravery of the first eater thereof and several drugs would have 
been in a silent grave but for some one with an enquiring turn. 
[ apologise to the Medical fraternity for daring to trespass on holy ground ; 
but I hope that some good may be obtained from my temerity. 
The Indian cures were collected together and sent to England for the Inter- 
national Exhibition but the seed which was then sown fell on barren ground, 
