TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



93 



8. Casca d'Anta. Drymis Winteri, L. The bark 

 of this plant deserves the first place among the aromatic 

 tonic remedies of this country. In S. Paulo, Minas 

 Geraes, and Goyaz, the tree is not uncommon in moist 

 places in the campos ; but the bark is not yet become 

 an article of commerce. 



9. SciTAMiNiAS of various kinds have been introduced 

 from India into the gardens of the Portuguese, and 

 almost all of them are used in medicine. The Amomum 

 Cardomomum, L. and the Alpinia nuta7is, Rose, among 

 others, are called pacova; their roots and unripe fruits, 

 on account of their aromatic properties, are employed as 

 stimulants in addition to other medicines ; the genuine 

 ginger, too. Zingiber officinale^ Rose, and the Curcuma 

 longa, L. ar€ here and there cultivated. 



10. Periparoba, in Rio de Janeiro and S. Paulo; 

 Caapeba, in Minas Geraes. Piper umbellatum^ L. The 

 roots of this fine species of pepper have a distinguished 

 place among the domestic remedies of these parts; and 

 it has been used with great effect in obstructions of the 

 abdominal organs, which, together with general debihty, 

 are a frequent consequence of intermitting fevers. It 

 increases the activity of the lymphatic system in particular, 

 produces a speedy effect, and promotes all the secretions. 

 The leaves are often prescribed as tea, for swellings of the 

 glands. The fruit of the Piper peltatum^ which resem- 

 bles it, and is also called Caa-peba, i. e. broad-leaf, is 

 likewise used as a decoction, and is a powerful diuretic. 



11. Orelha d'On^a. Several kinds of Croton, low 

 hairy shrubs which grow on the elevated grassy plains, 

 furnish in their roots a good substitute for the Senega, 

 They stimulate and promote the secretions especially of the 

 pituitous membranes. They are administered with success 

 in atonic catarrhs, asthma, and even in phthisis tuber- 

 culosa. 



