121 
into small cakes or tablets it would doubtless become an important 
article of trade. 
Mexicans and Indians, after removing the prickles, pound the 
leaves into a pulp which they use instead of soap. 
The Root of Baptisia tindoria has recently been examined by Dr. 
von Schroeder {Chem. Zeit,, Oct. 14th), who finds therein, among 
other constituents, an alkaloid which he calls baptitoxine, and which 
has a poisonous action even in small doses. In frogs this alkaloid 
produces cessation of the respiration and then paralysis; in warm- 
blooded animals it causes a slowing of the respiration and an.increase 
in the reflex irritability of the medulla. 
Economic Uses of Qpuntias. — Dr. Harvard, in Proceedings of 
U, S. National Museum^ says of the prickly pearsi "The joints, 
erroneously called 'leaves/ are readily eaten by cattle and sheep, for 
which they are an important article of food. It is well, as far as far 
as practicable, to make them undergo a preliminary scorching for a 
few moments, over a bright fire, to burn off the bristles and blunt the 
spines. I have seen cattle eating nopal leaves with great relish in the 
open field, although there was good green grama near by, seemingly 
indifferent to the many bristles and spines sticking to their noses. 
There are times when they prefer them to any other food. These 
leaves contain a large proportion of water and often save cattle and 
sheep from great suffering in dry seasons. If the time of drought be 
much prolonged, however, ihey lose much of their water by evapora- 
tion and become very^ thin; the pulp shrinks and the fibrous frame- 
work preponderates; in this state they are liable to cause sickness in 
animals feeding on them. During the three or four winter months, 
on the Lower Rio Grande, sheep often get no other food than nopal 
leaves. Every morning the shepherd cuts down, with his hand-ax or 
machete, the amount required for the day; as a rule he does not fire 
them. It is to be noted that as long as they feed on them the sheep 
require no drinking water. 
" The nopal leaf is much used by Mexicans and frontiersmen as a 
poultice in bruises, ulcers and sores of all kinds. It is first slightly 
toasted to remove bristles and thorns, as well as to warm and soften 
the pulp; then it is split in two, or simply one of the surfaces shaved 
off, and the exposed pulp applied to the part. From the testimony 
of many intelligent people I am inclined to regard this as an excellent 
healing and gently stimulating application. 
" It is also useful to clarify water. After being scorched it is 
mashed into a pulp, which, when thrown into water, like egg albumen, 
drags all impurities to the bottom. 
*' Again, this leaf may be prepared for food by boiling it in salt 
water; if afterwards cut up into a hash with eggs and chile Colorado, 
it makes quite a savory dish." 
Preserving Plants. — For the last three years, says Mr. P. Henning, 
certain fruits, flowers and other portions of plants have been pre- 
served in perfect condition at the Berlin University (Botanical Mu- 
seum) by means of a solution consisting of four parts of water and 
one part of alcohol saturated with salicylic acid. 
Retirement of Sir /. D. Hooker. — After occupying for nearly 
