324 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



is pressed out are used as manure. The Chinese color their candles 

 red by a minute quantity of akanet root, (anclima tinctoria, brought 

 from Shanfftuoff.") Verdigris is employed to dye them Green. Their 



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stearinc caudles are worth about eight cents per pound. 



THE SNAKE PLANT OF SOUTH AMERICA. 



A CORRESPONDENT of Chambers' Edinburgh Journal gives the 

 following account of the " c/uaco " of Central, and South America, 

 and its efficacy as an antidote against the bites of venomous reptiles. 

 The guaco is a species of willow. Its root is fibrous, the stem straight 

 and cylindrical when young ; but as it approaches maturity, it assumes 

 a pentagonal form, having five salient angles. The leaves grow length- 

 wise from the stem, opposite, and cordate. They are of a dark-green 

 color mixed with violet, smooth on the under surface, but on the 

 upper rough with a slight down. The flowers are of a yellow color, 

 and TOW in clusters each calyx holding four. The corolla is 



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monopetalous infundibuliform, and contains five stamens uniting at 

 their anthers into a cylinder which embraces the style with its stigma 

 much broken. The guaco is a strong healthy plant, but grows only 

 in the hot regions, and flourishes best in the shade of other trees, 

 along the banks of the streams. It is not found in the colder uplands 

 (tierras frias ;) and in this disposal nature again beautifully exhibits 

 her design, as here exist not the venomous creatures against whose 

 poisons the guaco seems intended as an antidote. That part of the 

 plant which is used for the snake-bite is a sap or tea distilled from its 

 leaves. It may be taken either as a preventive or cure ; in the former 

 case, enabling him who has drunk of it to handle the most dangerous 

 serpents with impunity. 



The Avriter of the communication says : 



Being at Margarita some time ago, I heard of this singular plant, 

 and was desirous of witnessing the test of its virtues. Among the 

 slaves of the place there w r as one noted as a skilful snake-doctor ; and 

 as I enjoyed the acquaintance of his master, I was not long in obtain- 

 ing a promise that my curiosity should be gratified. A few days after, 

 the negro entered my room, carrying in his hands a pair of coral- 

 snakes, of that species known as the most beautiful and venomous. 

 The negro's hands and arms were completely naked ; and he manipu- 

 lated the reptiles, turning them about, and twisting them over his 

 wrists with the greatest apparent confidence. I was for a while under 

 the suspicion that their fangs had been previously drawn ; but I soon 

 found that I had been mistaken. The man convinced me of this by 

 opening the mouths of both, and showing me the interior. There, 

 sure enough, were both teeth and fangs in their perfect state ; and yet 

 the animals did not make the least attempt to use them. On the 

 contrary, they seemed to exhibit no anger, although the negro handled 

 them roughly. They appeared perfectly innocuous, and rather afraid 

 of him I thought. Determined to assure myself beyond the shadow 

 of a doubt, I ordered a large mastiff to be brought into the room and 



