This luxuriant plant is frequent in all the sugar-colonies, and cultivated by many people for the sake of its oil; which is commonly obtained by pounding the seeds or kernels freed from the husks, and boiling them in water until all the oily particles rise to the top; which they carefully skim off, strain, and preserve for use. This is burned in the boiling-house lamps, by many of the planters; and is sometimes used by way of physic. I have often ordered it made into an oily mixture, in the dry belly-ach, to two, three, or four ounces; and do not know any thing that procures a passage so certainly, or with so much ease. It is quite free from acrimony in this state, and stays freely upon the stomach, even when it loaths most other medicines: but its mildness seems to be chiefly owing to the action of the fire; for the expressed oil, as well as the mixt juices of the seeds, are far more active and violent in their operations. The roots of the plant are looked upon as strong diuretics; and the leaves are generally used to dress blisters, of which they make too frequent use in those parts of the world.
The Latin names and synonyms printed above the English heading are not transcribed.