[Illustration]
This herbaceous plant is pretty common in Brazil. Its ramose and
cylindrical stems are erect or a little inclined; the leaves are
alternate, sheathed, somewhat lanceolate, and constituting at the
extremity of the branches tufts whence arise long pedicles each of which
carries from four to six flowers; perianth double, three-leaved, the
outer one having sharp, herbaceous divisions, and the inner one being
petaloïd and blue-colored. Stamens six fertile; a free tri-locular ovary,
surmounted by a simple style. We employ the leaves.
_First day._—1. Vertigo. Pain in the left side of the chest. The
breathing is embarrassed as when one is affected with catarrh.
_Second day._—Yellowish, copious urine, depositing at the bottom of the
vessel an ash-colored, copious sediment. 5. The urine has an acrid smell.
Inflammation of the scrotum which is painful and very red. Difficult
breathing, sighing as from want of air. The symptoms continue from the
third to the fifteenth day. The breathing is very painful. 10. The
inflammation of the scrotum decreases since the twelfth day. Whitish
discharge from the urethra. Pain when urinating. Thin stream of urine.
Diarrhœa. The testicles return by the inguinal ring.