Domestic Medicines used in Guiana. 297 
to be very effectual. As a sample of the compounds used 
by the Creoles, I append the following recipe for a fever 
drink : — 
Bird Vine (Loranthus), 
Fiddle Wood leaves, 
Orange peel ; a handful of each, 
Salt, a teaspoonful, 
Boiling water, 2 pints. 
Boil for half an hour, and strain. Dose : a wineglass- 
ful three times a day. 
Papaine, prepared from the juice of the green papaw, 
is receiving great attention in Europe ; it will probably 
take its place as a recognized drug in a year or two. 
Andira inermis ) called Bat seed in the colony, 
is a very powerful anthelmintic, narcotic, and pur- 
gative. It is poisonous, and therefore requires great 
care in using. The Physic Nut, (Curcas purgan) 
is being recommended in England ; it is very poisonous, 
but a powerful purgative, and will probably be found 
useful. A common vine in waste places {Tragia volu- 
bilis) is on trial as an alterative in venereal affections. 
Several other coast plants may be found to have useful 
medicinal properties, such as the Bird-lime tree, [Sapium 
aucup avium). The vapour of the juice when boiling is 
so acrid, that it is said to cause erysipelitous inflamma- 
tion. The juice of the Mammee is also very poisonous ; 
it is sometimes used to destroy jiggers. The good-luck 
tree, [Cerbera thevetia), produces a bitter poisonous 
bark, which with care may be used as a good tonic. The 
Frangipanni, (Plumeria) and the Sand Box, may also 
prove to be powerful medicines. 
The Indian medicines consist principally of the barks 
of trees ; but they use a number of fresh leaves, in infu- 
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