JAMAICA DOGWOOD. 145 



children wearing amulets of coral round the neck for the above 

 purpose. In the cities it is worn by many in the shape of a 

 horn, as a protection against the influence of evil eyes. It 

 was even believed, thai coral would drive away devils and evil 

 spirits, hence perhaps arose the custom of making crowns of 

 it. Nor have the medicinal properties of coral been less exag- 

 gerated, as may be sufficiently seen in the writings of Pliny 

 and Dioscorides. It certainly may be considered as an absor- > 



bent, it is used in dentifrice powder, in the Alkermes for indi- 

 gestion, and in the Troches of Carabe, 



The Trapanese appear to have been the first who worked the pirst wrought 

 coral, being induced thereto by the great quantity of it found ^Y '^e Trapa- 

 in their seas. It is asserted, tliat Antonio Ciminello, a Trapa- 

 nese, was the first who discovered the art of engraving coral*, ^"graved. 

 In the time of king Alphonso the coral fishery was so assi- 

 duously, and so advantageously pursued by the Trapanese, that 

 the ministers of that king proposed to subject the fishery to a 

 taxf . In the last century, when it was again proposed, instead 

 of a tax, which probably would have ruined this branch of 

 industry, king Ferdinand instituted some very useful regula- 

 tions in favour of it. 



Beside forming necklaces and bracelets, the Trapanese have 

 the art of engraving it in the same manner as they do amber 

 and shells, and most certainly majay of these works display 

 great spirit, boldness, and grace in the execution, talents natu- 

 ral to the genius of the Sicilian nation. 



IX. 



©» the medical Effects of the Bark of the Piscidia Eryihryna of 

 Linnaeus, or Jamaica Dogwood. In a letter from William 

 Hamilton, Esq. 



To Mr. Nicholson. 



Nevis, the 20th of July, 1812. 



SiK, 



YOUR readers may perhaps have accidentally heard of the Bark of thcj 

 remarkable effects produced upon fish, by mixing a ^j^^J^^J^^^^^^"^ 



for poisoning 

 * Orlandlni Descrizione di Trapani. fish, 



f Capit : e Costituz. del Regno. See also, Muta capit . 49 del Re 

 Viacomo G. 1. 



Vol. XXXIII, No. 152.— October, 1812. L strong •* 



