VIII. An Account c/ ^ QUASSIA POLTGAMA, or 



Bitter-Wood of Jamaica; and of the CINCHONA 



BRACHTCARPA, anew Species of Jesuit's Bark 



found in the fame IJland. By Mr John LlNDSAT, Surgeon 



in WeJimoreland y Jamaica. 



[Read Nov. 7. 1791.] 



THE ^uaffa Polygama has long been known in Jamaica, and 

 in fome other iflands in the Weft Indies, not only as an ex- 

 excellent timber, but as an ufeful medicine in putrid fevers and 

 fluxes. With us, it is called Bitter-wood, and in the Windward 

 Iflands, the Bitter Afj. The bark has for fome time been prefcri- 

 bed by practitioners here, and exported to England in confiderable 

 quantities, for the purpofes of the brewers of ale and porter. 

 On thefe accounts, a fuller defcription of this plant than has 

 hitherto appeared, will be acceptable to the botanift and the 

 public at large. 



Previous to this, it will be proper to give a fhort hiftorical 

 account of this tree from preceding writers. 



Sir Hans Sloane, who called at Barbatloes, notices theBitter- 

 wood. In his catalogue, he defcribes it thus : " Milanomma 

 " et melanoxylum, arbor laurifolia nucifera, gemmis nigricanti- 

 " bus, Americana." He refers to Plukenet, Tab. 205. fig. 3.; 

 but that plant is different from ours, and probably he meant 

 another, which we lhall have occalion to mention prefently. 



Dr 



