PIPER ANGUSTIFOLIUM, OR MATICO 
175 
there, no preparation of it was used internally, its employ- 
ment being limited to the arrest of haemorrhages and the 
treatment of ulcers. 
His paper, which is short, is very much to my purpose, 
and containing, as it does, all the authentic information upon 
its commercial history and use among the Peruvians, needs 
no apology for its entire transfer. 
4£ Matico. This plant grows abundantly along the sides oi 
the mountains of Menobamba and Huanuco in the depart- 
ment of Junin. 
" There are three species of this plant which are known 
by their stems, that are of a red, brown and white colour ; 
the red species is considered superior to others, andj is 
brought to Lima in large quantities and sold to the druggists. 
The discovery of the properties of this plant is assigned to 
a soldier, who, being attacked by a violent haemorrhage from a 
a wound he received in the battle of Ayacucho, applied (for 
the want of other resources) the leaves of it to his wound, 
and found to his great astonishment that it immediately 
ceased. 
" An account of this plant is to be found in the Flora 
Peruvianna, under the botanical name of Piperomia, which 
contains several species, but no mention whatever is made 
of its medicinal properties, probably unknown at that period. 
" This plant is very generally used in Lima and along the 
coast in cases of haemorrhages and all kinds of ulcers. 
" The following is the formula observed there in haemor- 
rhages. 
66 The leaves are well J pounded and then applied to the 
wound, which occasions a contraction of its vessels and con- 
sequently a cessation of the haemorrhage. 
" An infusion of this plant is used as a wash in ulcers, 
after which asmali quantity of the powder is applied which 
produces a crop of healthy granulations. 
" I am not aware that any preparation of it has been used 
internally ; if such had been the case, I should have heard of 
