196 CENTRAL AMERICA. 



me, and tried to roll. Suspecting there was 

 something the matter under the saddle, I 

 got him on his legs and took off the saddle, 

 and found on the cloth next the skin two 

 large scorpions : they could not have turned 

 over their tails, as there was no room. The 

 cause removed, the horse went willingly to- 

 wards the spot, and the assistance wanted 

 turned out to be to recover a large wounded 

 armadilla. * 



The Indians believe guaco to be a very 

 valuable medicine in almost every way it is 

 used, but they consider the fresh root much 

 superior to the dried. The serpent-eating 

 birds seek eagerly the young, fresh guaco, it 

 may be fairly supposed either as a remedy 

 for a past or an antidote for a future bite. 

 With man it has the effect, especially in hot 

 climates, of producing, in a very short time, 

 profuse perspiration. I have often tried an 

 infusion of it in hot water when I have been 

 lying in the hot, burning stage of ague, and 

 when the skin is almost painful to the touch; 

 a small drink of the infusion, followed by a 

 plentiful one of hot cream of tartar, opened, 

 in a very few minutes, the pores of the skin, 

 and changed the state of dry, burning fever 

 into one of languid ease. 



