Such, Sir, are a few hafly obfervations bn this new
fpecies of Peruvian Bark. They are very limited, I con-
fefs; for my opportunities of enquiry were not only few,
but fometimes interrupted. If, however, they awake the
attention of Gentlemen, who ace not only more capable
o f treating the fubjeft, but have better opportunities of
trying its effects than I can pretend to be pofleffed of, my
intention in lending you thefe trifling and imperfect
hints will be fully anfwered.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
With due iefpedt,
Your moil obedient Servant,
Dec. 5, 1796.
D. BROWN.
P. S. I omitted to mention, that upon my arrival at
Lifbon I was informed of the Yellow Bark being in great
repute, and was favoured with theferifibleand ingenious
eflay that has been written on the fubjech It occurred to
me that this new Bark might be of the fame fort; and I
Ihewed it to Mr. Baker, an Engliih Surgeon of the moft
extenfive practice in the place, who likewife gavea fpeci-
men of it to the frrft Phyficians in that city. Upon an
accurate examination they found it a very diftindf fpecies,
and of a kind they had never feen. They told me they
did not think any of it before had been brought to Europe.
1
t * ]
The Sandal Tree * likewife abounds at Tecamez, and is
moftly found in the faine foil a$ the Bark Tree. Its gum
is ufed by the Spaniards for perfuming their chambers—
incenfing the altar at high mafs, and in many other rer
ligious ceremonies. The ^Indians likewife ufe its leaves
by rubbing them lietwden'their hands, arid applying tlfom
bruifed to their temples, as a certain cure for the head-acli
after fevere drinking. The Boldu is alfo. ufed in the fame
manner for this purpofe. Whether the Sandal Tree is-
the fame whofe gum is fo valued for religious purpofes
in the Eaft Indies^ (as I was informed it was), or whether
it is a diftindt fpecies of itfelf, I. am unfortunately, not
verfed enough in botanical refoarches to determine.
* A different plant from the Sandal Wood of the Eaft Indies ('Sirmrn myr-
tifilium Lin.), as appears by a fpecimen of the wood- brought over by Mr-
Brown, and now in my poffeffion : this wood, which: abounds with refin, has
very much the fmell, when burnt, of the Yellow Gum of Botany Bay. '
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