What the author means by a jungle vine I do not exactly know, but conjecture that it may be one of the _Bignoniaceæ_, the woody climbing species of which have in general their stem divided into lobes arranged in a quadrangular manner. I am not aware that any species of this order is an antidote to animal poisons, but many have powerful medicinal properties, and abound in bitter juices. The whitewood of Jamaica (_Bignonia leucoxylon_) enjoys a reputation as a remedy for the poison of the Manchineel (_Hippomane mancinella_) which is so virulent that persons are reported to have been killed by its volatile emanations, when accidentally sleeping under its shade, and a drop of its juice falling on the skin burns it like fire, and produces an ulcer difficult to heal. The value of the _Aristolochia_ has been already referred to; and on the whole I am disposed to attach more importance to the use of vegetable specifics by the Ceylonese operators than the learned author whom I have just quoted. The subject is a highly curious one, and well worthy of minute investigation by able and unprejudiced men of science, willing to receive unscientific information and suggestions, in various parts of the world, particularly in the intertropical regions of both hemispheres. [183] Psalm lviii. 4, 5. [184] Jer. viii. 17. [185] This is the Tuberose, a liliaceous plant, so commonly cultivated in our conservatories. It is generally stated to be a native of the East Indies, but the one spoken of by Tschudi, with a Peruvian name, must certainly be an indigenous plant of the country. [186] The genus _Mikania_ of Willdenow is one of the tubuliflorous _Asteraceæ_. _M. guaco_ Humboldt mentions, under the name of Vijuco del Guaco, as being highly esteemed in South America as a valuable antidote against the bite of serpents. "Guaco" and "huaco" are the same word, the intensity of the aspirate varying among different peoples. The power of this _Mikania_ is denied in the most positive terms by Hancock, who suspects that the real Guaco antidote is some kind of _Aristolochia_. The word "Vijuco" or "Bejuco," in Tropical America, signifies any climbing plant, and is equivalent to our florist word "creeper." _Eupatorium ayapana_, belonging to the same order as _Mikania_, is a valuable repellent of the poison of venomous snakes. For this purpose it is used in Brazil. A quantity of the bruised leaves, which are to be frequently changed, is laid on the scarified wound, and some spoonfuls of the expressed juice are from time to time administered to the patient, till he is found to be free from the symptoms, especially the dreadful anxiety which follows the wounds of venomous reptiles. _E. perfoliatum_ has a very similar action, and _Mikania opifera_ is employed in the same way.--(_Lindley's Veg. Kingd._, p. 707.) These facts tend to confirm the accuracy of Tschudi and Humboldt against Hancock. [187] _Campaigns and Cruises in Venezuela_, vol. i., p. 43.