_Plants and Trees Used in the Treatment of Disease_.--Most sickness is thought to be caused by spirits, either with evil intent or to punish some wrong-doing or oversight on the part of the people. To placate or bribe these superior beings, elaborate ceremonies are held, but in addition to these a number of simple remedies are made use of. The efficacy of some of these medicines is explained by the fact that certain leaves or infusions are distasteful to the spirits of disease, which, consequently, take their departure. Again, a trouble such as a tooth-ache is caused by a small worm which is gnawing at the tooth. To overcome this, the bark and leaves of the _alem_ tree are thoroughly beaten, and are applied to the face. The worm smells the crushed leaves, and straightway enters the poultice which is then burned. The spirits which bring the cholera can be driven away by burning the leaves of _sobosob_ (_Blumea balsamifera_), _bangbangsit_ (_Hyptis suavolens_ Poir.) and _dala_ (?) beneath the house; likewise, the bark of the _bani_ (?) keeps the bearers of constipation at a distance. _Bangbangsit_ is also considered as a cure for stomachache, diarrhoea, and is an aid in bringing on menstruation. When used for these purposes, the root is boiled, and the liquor is drunk. The fresh leaves will also relieve a pain in the stomach if applied to it, while the fruit is eaten to cure diarrhoea. If the patient is already affected with cholera or dysentery, the leaves of the _sobosob_ are placed in a jar of water at the mouth of which a clay ball is suspended, and the whole is then completely covered with banana leaves. The pot it placed over a fire, and the steam being unable to escape is absorbed by the clay. Later this is crushed, is mixed with water, and is swallowed by the patient. Lard burned to a crisp is likewise mixed with water, and is drunk to relieve diarrhoea. Fever is a frequent ailment, and several medicines are employed against it. The most common is to crush the leaves of the _dangla_ (_Vitex negundo_ L.) in vinegar made from _basi_, and to add to this a fourth part of urine. The patient drinks a shell cup of the liquor, is washed in cold water, and then is briskly rubbed with fine salt. Young banana leaves are applied to the flesh, and over these blankets are placed. This is repeated twice daily until the fever is broken. Wild tomato leaves, pounded and applied to the abdomen, are also considered valuable in causing the patient to sweat. If the trouble is unusually severe, a hot bath is prepared by boiling the leaves of the lemon, _atis_ (_Anona squamosa_ L.), and _toltolang_ (?) trees in water. After the patient has been bathed in this, he is wrapped in blankets. The same remedy is used to cure fits. Snake bite is treated by chewing the bark of the _alonen_ (_Streblus_ _asper_ Lour.), or _kasabong_ (_Argemone mexicana_ L.), or the root of the _talabatab_ (_Capparis micracantha_ D.C.), all of which cause vomiting.