326 Foreign Notices : — Smith America. 



country by Mr. Fanning (p. 377.), we doubt if there be one now alive. Mr- 

 Smith, formerly a pupil of Professor Jameson, but now resident in Guiana, 

 has sent home a specimen of the milk, and the analysis will be given in a 

 future number of Jameson's Journal. We very much doubt the probabi- 

 lity of acclimating trees from that part of the world in Britain ; but, when 

 once known, they may become of immense importance to the cottagers of 

 the West India Islands, of India, and of many countries. It thus appears 

 difficult for a man to conceive what there may yet be in store for him in 

 unexplored regions. Whatever tree will grow in Guiana, will grow on 

 at least one fourth part of the earth's surface : here, then, is the prospect 

 of a new source of one of the most agreeable and nutritious substances in 

 use as food, for a considerable proportion of the human race. — Cond. 



The Guaco Plant. — In addition to the beautiful account given by Sir 

 Robert Ker Porter, Sir Ralph Woodford, as well as other learned gentle- 

 men, of the guaco plant, I transmit the following accounts, which have 

 eome under my own knowledge, respecting its efficacy in curing the bite or 

 sting of those poisonous reptiles which abound in South America, as well 

 as in oth«r warm countries : — As a man named Santiago was clearing land 

 on an estate called Bogade Topo, he was stung by a tiger snake in the leg. 

 In a few hours his leg swelled very much, and the flesh about the part 

 stung turned quite black. The juice of the guaco was at length procured, 

 and he drank a wine-glassful every horn - , for six hours, and the part affected 

 was rubbed with the leaves. The pain ceased, and the swelling shortly after 

 went down without any sensation ; but, for several days, the part affected 

 remained black. Two slaves on an estate called Pilinseat, in the valleys of 

 the Toye, were stung by a rattle-snake. The poor fellows suffered much 

 before the juice of this vine could be procured : their legs and bodies swelled. 

 They drank very freely of the juice, and rubbed their bodies for several 

 hours. In the course of 12 hours, the pain ceased, and, shortly after, the 

 swelling went down ; but it was several weeks before they were fit to work, 

 A man named Don Pedro Pearos, who lived in the neighbourhood of Ca- 

 raccas, was stung by a correll snake, and his life was in imminent clanger. 

 After drinking the juice for 18 or 20 hours, he got some relief; and, in the 

 course of 48 hours, the swelling went down. A large piece of the flesh fell 

 off the leg ; and the part that received the sting, and the hollow of the wound, 

 still remain, the part never filling up. Seeing the great virtue of this most 

 valuable vine, I procured it, and cultivated it in my botanic garden at Ca- 

 raccas, where persons daily apply for it. I gave two bottles of the juice to 

 Mr. Ryan, who had laboured under rheumatism for several years. In four 

 days after using it, the swelling went down ; and in ten days he was enabled 

 to attend to his work. I gave it to a Mr. Bell ; and, in like manner, he got 

 well in a few days. I also gave two bottles to a gentleman in La Guarryro, 

 who was troubled with the gout. He got so well from drinking the two 

 bottles, that he considered himself finally cured ; and, having such good faith 

 in it, he sent some bottles to a lady a relative of his in Hamburgh. In 

 applying it for the toothache, one drop is sufficient to relieve the most vio- 

 lent pain. The dose is a wine-glassful, morning, noon, and night. It in- 

 creases the appetite, and keeps the bowels gently open. — D. Fanning. Lon* 

 don, Bee. 1829. 



Mode of cultivating the Aracacha Plant in the Caraccas.- — Take a young 

 plant or sucker, and cut it close to the top, leaving only two leaves on it. 

 After it is cut, let it remain a day or two in the shade, in order to allow the 

 cut part to heal. Plant them out early in April, about 2 ft. apart, on the 

 top of drills, barely placing the plants in the earth. Let them remain thus 

 till the latter end of August or beginning of September, when the roots will 

 be fit for use. Then take up both root and plant, and place them in a warm 

 dry situation until April, and then prepare again for planting, as stated 

 above. — Id. 



