j6 MEDICAL ACCOUNT of 



The natural number of thefe drupae is five on each common 

 receptacle ; but, for the moil part, there are only two or 

 three ', the reft abort by various accidents. 



The roots are thick, and run fuperficially under the furface 

 of the ground to a confiderable diftance. The bark is rough, 

 fcaly and warted. The infide when frefh is a full yellow, but 

 when dry paler. It has but little fmell. The tafte is bitter, 

 but not very difagreeable. This is the true Cortex Simarubce of 

 the fhops. 



This tree is known in Jamaica by the names of Mountain 

 Damfon, Bitter Damfon and Stave-wood. The fhops are fup- 

 plied with this bark from Guiana ', but now we may have it 

 from our own iflands at a moderate expence. 



On examining the fructification, I found this tree to be a 

 fpecies of Quaflia. Under that name, I fent it to Europe, and 

 Linn^us adopted it into his fyftem. 



There are male flowers on one tree, and female flowers on 

 another ; and this is invariably the cafe in Jamaica. 



Scnfible Qualities of Cortex Simarubce. 



I can difcover no aftringency in the cortex fimarubae, either 

 by the tafte, or by the various tefts to which I fubjecled it. 

 Nor is there any mucilaginous quality to be perceived in the 

 recent bark, or in die decoction of that which has been dried.. 



Its Medical Virtues in general. 



Most authors who have written on the fimaruba, agree, 

 that in fluxes it reftores the loft tone of the inteftines, allays 

 their fpafmodic motions, promotes the fecretions by urine and 

 perfpiration, removes that lownefs of fpirits attending dyfente- 

 ries, and difpofes the patient to fleep ; the gripes and tenefmus 

 are taken off, and the ftools are changed to their natural colour 



and 



