The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1908-11-14

. Observation-Disclosures
2 tyof Uranium Compounds
. --Sand Waves, Their
Work, and rlelhOdS of
Protection.
, 0>o>o~O-O-U>o>0eo~o~0>O~o~
In the dense woodlands OF Vera
Cruz there are numerous plants reput-
ed to possess medicinal virtues, and
others which could be profitaby utll-
lied fer commercial purposes. One
tree yields deep brownish red thick
sap of a islightly resinous odor. The
process Oh extraction is simple; slight
superficial incisions are made in the
bark, terminating at the foot OF the
tree; a medium-sized leaf or strip OF
palmetto is inserted underneath ths
bark, so as to form gutter into which
the sap drips, and as II overfows 1t
drips into a receptacle placed under
meath the leaf. When exposed to the
atmosphere, the sap does not appear
to undergo fermentation, but becomes
slightly denser. Small quantities are
exported to Germany. Buyers CLAIM
that it is employed in the preparation
OF carmine ink; this is doubtful. 1t
may have other and more valuable
uses, which are not divulged. 1t may
be used in the arts or in the making
of medicines:
AS there is no regular demand. price
cannot be determined, and samples.
small or large. are paid according 10
the time laborer employs in extract
ing the sap. The natives say it is an
excellent dentifrice and mouth wash. /
healing liberated parts. 1t is pow
erful antiseptic, being employed with |
excellent results on fresh or old |
wounds; it congeals and checks the +
flow of blood 1t has been employ
ed as an indelible stain; wood treat
ed with it, when thoroughly dried af-
forwards. does not appear to be affect
I'd k:y water or diluted acids, the stain
remaining unaltered. On cloth it acts
as a perfect dye. acids or alkalies
seeming to have no perceptible effect
on its color The foregoing are state
ments made by persons who have ex-
perimented with this sap, and hence
ought to have weight
The palo de leche tree is quite COM
mon in damp or marshy locations; the
sap is milk white. and about the
same consistency as rich milk: 1t is
a powerful caustic. Partial or total
blindness may result when this sap
has by accident been injected Into
he eyes: the natives claim that a
strong decoction of the Chile pepper.
f applied in time, will dissolve the
hick film which gradually spreads
)ver the eyes when attacked by this
n a glass of water acts as vio.ent
POISON. often proving fatal; ii is en- ,
,loved BY the natives in diluted form,
which they spread on the surface o!
treams or lakes 10 stupety fish, which :
hey consume. II properly analysed ..
his fluid might prove valuable: sam /,
lies, however, are difficult to obtain.
IS the native laborer can not be in.
luced to approach the tree, of which
le has the greatest fear. However.
here are some who will take the risk
t they are we'll paid, which, no mat. ,
err how large. is but a trfling amount \
ompared with the danger TO which :
hey imagine they will be exposed. +
The honote tree produces a very !;
ne, long fibre (ten to fifteen feet, Z
,hich is extracted from the inner sur =
ace of the bark. Each tree viii pro- 4,
uce from four to FIVE pounds of \
bre. The present system OF procur- +
1g the fibre is to denude the tree Of r
IS bark completely, and divide it in
hree to five-inch strips. which are
leaned by hand. The result is a fine
aver of fibre-a perfectly united \
beet about the thickness Of medium n
eavy note paper. This layer can, s
18th care, be separated so as to pro- q
uce threads of any desired thickness. \
Though the honote fibre has been 9
nown by the natives for a long time '
nd employed by them !: the prepare =
on of many articles, such as traces. v
addle girths. bagging. etc, 1t is only 9
gently that it has been brought to :,
ublic notice. So far it has not been
tilted for any well-defned purpose.
Though the matter has not been
thoroughly investigated, those WHO h
ave given this fibre passing atten- =
on claim that machinery does not .,
xist to extract it satisfactorily. Man ;,
facturers of decorating machines in :.
crested in such matters should in =