€ 
a 
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It has been difcovered, that the filaments of this fhrub poffefs a 
remarkable degree of irritability; for on being touched near the bafe . 
with the point of a pin, a fudden contraction. is produced, which 
may be repeated feveral times. This contraction of the ftamina 
is evidently for the purpofe of throwing the pollen upon the 
ftigma, and is effected by means of infedts pafling over the bottom 
of the filaments, which is the part in which their fenfibility refides.* 
Another peculiarity afcribed to this fhrub is, that ears of corn 
growing near it conftantly prove abortive, and that it extends this 
fterile influence over them to the diftance of three or four hundred 
yards acrofs a field;” but Monf. Brouffonet, a celebrated French natu- 
ralift, has refuted this very extraordinary though prevalent opinion. 
The fruit or berries, which ‘are gratefully acid‘ and moderately 
reftringent, are faid to be of great ufe in bilious fluxes, and in all 
cafes where heat, acrimony, and putridity of the humours prevail. 
On the authority of Alpinus' we are informed, that the Egyptians 
employ them in peftilential fevers and fluxes, with great fuccefs; and 
Simon Paulli relates,° that he was cured of a malignant fever, accom- 
panied with a bilious diarrhoea, by ufing thefe berries conformably to 
the Egyptian practice, viz. macerating the fruit for a day and a night 
in twelve times its quantity of water, with the addition of a little 
fennel feed; the liquor was then ftrained, {weetened, and ufed as a 
common drink. . 
* See Mr. Whatléy’s remark from Dr. Sims, in Bot. Arr. p. 366. and Dr. Smith’s 
paper in the Phil. Tranf. for 1788. p. 158. : 
’ Dr. Withering fays, “ this fhrub fhould never be permitted to grow in corn lands, 
for the ears of wheat that grow near it never fill, and its influence in this refpect has 
been known to extend as far as three or four hundred yards.” J, c. 
© Retzius fays that it approaches very nearly to that of Tamarinds. Vet. Acad. Handl. 
1776. p. 135. Scheele obtained from it a confiderable quantity of the acid of fugar. 
et. Acad. Handl. 1785. p. 37- 
4 P. Mpinus. Med. Egypt. Le 4. €. 10 
_ ¢ Vide Quadrip, Bot. 118. 
No. 5.—Part II. =, : ahat 
