FORESTRY OF W£ST AFRICA. 395- 



The properties of stramonium are regarded as. 

 anodyne and antispasmodic, and in overdoses is a 

 powerful poison ; it has been found useful in neuralgic 

 and rheumatic affections, in gastrodia and other 

 painful diseases. Some have regarded it as a very- 

 valuable remedy in mania and epilepsy, but in these 

 diseases it not unfrequently produces injurious effects. 

 In spasmodic asthma, dyspncea, catarrhs, &c., the 

 leaves are generally smoked like tobacco, or an in- 

 halation from an infusion of them in warm water is 

 resorted to. In Cochin China a strong decoction of 

 the leaves is regarded as a very efficacious remedy in 

 hydrophobia. — 'Medicinal Plants,' Bentley and Tri- 

 men, vol. iii., No. 192. 



Distribution : Cape Verd Islands. 



Metel or Hairy Thorn Apple {Datura Metel, L.). — 

 Herbaceous plant. This species is said to possess- 

 similar properties to D. Stramonium, L. — ' Dictionary 

 of Economic Plants,' Smith, p. 152. 



Distribution : Cape Verd Islands. 



Tobacco (Nicotiaiia Tabacum, L.). — Handsome- 

 plant, attaining a height of three to six feet. Tobacco- 

 forms a very important article of commerce ; but though, 

 it is cultivated in the Cape Verd Archipelago and 

 other parts of Western Africa, it appears only to be 

 grown for local consumption. Besides its use for 

 smoking and for making snuff, tobacco affords an. 

 alkaloid known as nicotine, which is a very energetic 



