( 157 ) 



Notice of the Effect of the Root of MonKshood (Aconitum Napellus) on 

 the Horse. By Mr HENDERSON, Chirnside. 



FOUR years ago, I dried and powdered for some purpose a quantity of 

 the root of this plant, and having kept about half an ounce till I imagined 

 it quite inert, I threw it out upon the top of a wall, near which I used 

 frequently to tie my pony. In this situation, she one morning licked up 

 about one-half of it when I had occasion to ride about eight miles. Ere 

 long, however, she began to chew incessantly, and saliva to flow from 

 her mouth in great abundance. Her debility also became such, that she 

 could scarcely carry me, and she was covered with a profuse perspira- 

 tion. After reaching with difficulty the place appointed, the salivation 

 continued for six hours ; not less than three gallons of a watery and 

 frothy mucus being discharged from her mouth. After this it gradually 

 subsided, and I rode her home in the evening, apparently nothing the 

 worse, though at one time I had given her up as lost. The situation 

 admitted of no other remedy than a little oatmeal and water ; though 

 perhaps a little linseed or sallad oil might have been of advantage, had it 

 been tried. While suffering under the poison, she would neither eat nor 

 drink ; nor did she taste any thing till the day after. No permanent ill 

 effects, however, followed. If properly administered, might not this root 

 be of service in some diseases of horses, such as colds, c., in promoting 

 a free discharge from the salivary glands ? Might it not also be tried in 

 the severe disease called Glanders ? 



Analysis of Fuller's Earth from Maxton. By ROBERT D. THOMSON, 



M.D. 



THIS mineral is found in round masses larger than the fist, in the bed 

 of a stream at its junction with the Tweed near Maxton, imbedded in clay- 

 stone porphyry, spec. grav. 2.394. Before the blowpipe, with nitre, car- 

 bonate of soda, and salt of phosphorus, it fuses into an opaque mass. 

 With borax, fuses into a transparent bead, pale amber-coloured when 

 hot, colourless when cold. Colour, yellowish-white or chalky. Frac- 

 ture earthy, soft, soiling the fingers ; scratched by the nail, tuesite and 

 gypsum. Adheres to the tongue like Halloysite. Contains crystals of de- 

 composing felspar interspersed through the mass. Its constituents I 

 found to be, 



Silica, . 57.105 



Alumina, . 31.850 



Magnesia, . 2.615 



Water, ^ . 7.280 



98.850 



Now, Ihis is equivalent to silica, 4 atoms ; alumina, 2 atoms ; water, 

 1 atom. 



