POISONOUS HONEY OF NORTH AMERICA. IQ$ 



though it rather oppofes any objection to the figns employed 

 by our hunters to diftinguifti poifonous from innocent honey. 

 But he who is ftudious of truth, fliould relate ufeful fa6h as 

 they are, without regarding what is their connection with a 

 favourite fyftem, or opinion. 



The learned Jofeph Acofta fpeaks of a grey-coloured honey 

 comb which he faw in the province of Charcas, in South- 

 America. The honey of this comb, he fays, is «' fharp and 

 black." He fays nothing farther of its properties *. 



An ingenious friend of mine f, to whom the public are in- The poifonou* 

 debted for a variety of valuable information concerning the ^^J™ 3 ^ 

 natural productions of various parts of North-America, in- diftinguifhed but 

 forms me, that, in the Carolinas and Floridas, the poifonous b * cautioU3 *$j 

 honey is fo fimilar, in colour, tafte, and odour, to the com- 

 mon, or innocent honey, that the former cannot be diftinguifh- 

 ed from the latter. It is owing, he fays, to this circumftance, 

 that fo many accidents daily happen from the ufe of the wild 

 honey. He was informed, that it is experience alone which 

 enables the hunters and others to determine, whether the 

 honey which they find in the woods be poifonous or innocent. 

 They have obferved that the injurious effects manifeft them- 

 felves in a fhort time after the honey is taken into the ftomach. 

 They are accuftomed, therefore, to eat a fmall quantity, be- 

 fore they venture to fatisfy their appetite. Should this pro- 

 duce ant/ difagreeable effects, they do not think it prudent to 

 continue the ufe of it. But, if in a fhort time, it fliould oc- 

 cafion no inconvenience, they think they may, with perfect 

 fafety, indulge their appetite to the full. 



I have been informed that the poifonous honey, by boiling Sa5cl tobe «»- 

 and by draining, may be rendered as innocent as any honey boJlinfaal * 

 whatever. It is, likewife, faid, that by long keeping it be- Graining, 

 comes harmlefs. 



The honey of which I am treating is poifonous to dogs, as 

 well as to men. 



Hitherto, I have not been able to obtain any certain in- Remedies, 

 formation concerning the means to be purGied in the treat- 

 ment of perfons labouring under the effects of the poifonous 



* The Natur.aH an4 Morall Hiftorie of the Eaft and Weft 

 Indies, &c. p. 303. ' 

 f Mr. William Bartram. 



M 3. honey 



