292 ANNUAL OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY. 



sage through the vegetable tissues, and of heat into motion by 

 its action upon the laticiferous vessel. Science Review. 



AN INTOXICATING FUNGUS. 



It would seem, from a paper published by Dr. A. Kellog, that 

 this fungils is more extensively used than we are aware of. The 

 desired effect comes on from one to two hours after taking the 

 fungus. Giddiness and drunkenness follow in the same manner 

 as from wine or spirituous liquors ; cheerfulness is first produced, 

 the face becomes flushed, involuntary words and actions follow, 

 and sometimes loss of consciousness. Some persons it renders 

 remarkably active, proving highly stimulant to muscular exer- 

 tion ; but by too large a dose violent spasmodic effects are pro- 

 duced. So exciting is it to the nervous system of many that its 

 effects are very ludicrous ; a talkative person cannot keep silence 

 or secrets ; one fond of music is perpetually singing ; and if a 

 person under its influence wishes to step over a straw or a stick, 

 he takes a stride or jump sufficient to clear the trunk of a tree. It 

 is needless to say delirium, coma, and death often result, as in the 

 case of alcoholic spirits. The most remarkable fact is that the 

 fluids of the debauchee become singularly narcotic, and are there- 

 fore preserved in times of scarcity. Thus a whole village, as 

 some say, may be intoxicated through the medium of one man, 

 and this one fungus serves to prolong these most fearful and dis- 

 gusting orgies for many days together. It is worthy of note that 

 the very same erroneous impression as to size and distance pro- 

 duced by this plant, are also created by the hasheesh of India, and 

 are also frequently noticed among idiots and lunatics. Science 

 Beview. 



IMPORTED INSECTS AND NATIVE AMERICAN INSECTS. 



If we examine into the history of the imported currant-worm 

 and the native currant-worm, we shall find a very curious state of 

 things. These two insects both produce saw-flies, which are so 

 closely allied to each other, that, although they are referred to 

 distinct genera by entomologists, it may be doubted whether the 

 genus (Pristiphora) under which the native species is classified be 

 not a mere sub-genus of that under which the imported species is 

 classified. Reasoning apriori, therefore, we should expect to find a 

 very great similarity in the destructive powers of these two worms, 

 especially as each of them infests the leaves both of the red cur- 

 rant and of the gooseberry. But what are the actual facts? On 

 the one hand we see a native American species, which must have 

 existed here from time immemorial, feeding on our wild goose- 

 berries and perhaps on our wild red currant, and which yet has 

 troubled our tame gooseberries and tame red currants so very 

 slightly that it cannot be proved with absolute certainty to have 

 ever done so at all, except in Rock Island County, 111., and in 

 Scott County, Iowa. 



