the Cabbage-bark Tree of Jamaica. 5 1 1 
liarized, and we find it neceflary to intermit it, or have 
recourfe to others of inferior merit. 
The writers of the Edinburgh Medical Commentaries 
take notice, that the decoflion of cabbage-bark always 
excites vomiting. We find no fuch effect from it here, 
and may account for it by their receiving it in a mouldy 
ftate. A fyrup, therefore, is given there with better ef- 
fect, They obferve alfo that it has a diuretic virtue, 
which we have not taken notice of here. 
This bark purges pretty brilkly, efpecially in powder, 
thirty or forty grains working as well as jallap by ftool; 
but in this way it does not feem to kill worms fo well as 
in decodlion. 
Five grains of the extract made a ftrong man fick, and 
purged him feveral times j but, by frequent ufe, he took 
ten grains to produce at length the fame effect. 
It mull: not be concealed that fatal accidents have hap- 
pened from the imprudent adminiftration of this bark,, 
chiefly from over-doling the medicine. But this cannot 
detract from the merit of the cabbage-bark, fince the belt 
medicines, when abufed, become deleterious ; . and even 
our bell aliments, in too great quantity, prove deftrucSlive. 
Upon the whole, the cabbage-bark is a moll valuable 
remedy, and I hope will become an addition to the ma- 
teria medica .. 
U u u 4 
GEOFfRjEA 
