On the arrow-root of Bermuda / [Charles Cogswell].

  • Cogswell, Charles, 1813-1892.
Date:
[1845]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: On the arrow-root of Bermuda / [Charles Cogswell]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    ON THE ARROW-ROOT OF BERMUDA. By CHARLES COGSWELL, M.D. Extracted from the Monthly Journal of Medical ScienceOctober 1845. In consequence of a certain want of clearness in works of reference, concerning the identity and structure of that part of the Maranta Arundinacea which yields the fecula called Arrow-root, I took the opportunity, while on a visit to Bermuda, from the latter part of February last, till the 20 th of June, of paying some attention to this subject. The term of my stay commenced towards the close of the arrow-root harvest, and from thence included only the early period of the growth of the new crop. I cannot, therefore, attempt to give a thorough systematic account of the plant from personal investigation; but it is hoped, under correction of the high autho¬ rities in question, that the observations about to be communicated respecting some points in its natural history, apparently not well understood, together with other incidental details, may be useful to the medical public. The Bermudas, or Somers Islands, lying in latitude 32° 19' 1 N., and therefore near the boundary between the temperate and torrid zones, partake, as might be expected, of the peculiarities of both divisions, in the forms of their vegetation. Here, when I landed at St George’s, were growing in the garden of the hotel, pease, carrots, potatoes, both Nova Scotian and sweet, lettuce, EDINBURGH: SUTHERLAND & KNOX, 58 Princes Street.