Murray's Northern Flora, 655 



a great many valuable facts and opinions respecting the agri- 

 cultural, dietetical, medical, and chemical uses of the plants. 

 Many of these are original; some quoted from the ancient 

 herbalists ; others from ancient classical authors ; and some 

 from the moderns. For example, in describing the A'trop# 

 Belladonna (p. 143. ), the author states : " Perhaps one of the 

 most protracted instances of this effect (dilatation of the pu- 

 pil) has occurred to the writer of these remarks, who was 

 some years ago consulted by an individual in whom one eye 

 was blind, while, in the other, vision was so impaired, that he 

 only saw when under the effect of belladonna, as light only 

 then could reach the optic nerve. For the uncommon space 

 of six or seven years, this influence was continued in a great 

 measure; though latterly, I understand, the indulgence was 

 reserved for fairs and feasts, and other remarkable occasions. 

 An English opium-eater, I recollect, speaks of carrying hap- 

 piness in his waistcoat-pocket ; and, in the same way, the in- 

 dividual referred to might well consider vision in the light 

 of a portable commodity ." Again : " The preparations of 

 hyoscyamus, according to my experience, are the best substi- 

 tutes for opium that we have ; possessing, in no small de- 

 gree, its useful qualities, without causing the bad effects fairly 

 attributable to that medicine." 



The observations on localities will be found peculiarly in- 

 teresting, especially to such botanists as are fond of investi- 

 gating the geographical distribution of species. Respecting 

 alpine plants, the height above the sea level is indicated, and 

 frequently the degree of altitude below which they are not 

 found. 



" On Ben-na-buird, Azalea procumbens, according to H. C. Watson, a 

 distinguished writer on the distribution of British plants, is found as high 

 as 3500 feet, and in Aberdeenshire as low as 2100; in Switzerland not 

 below 6000 ; and may be considered as exclusively an upland plant, and 

 not one of those pliant species which the mountain flood is apt to snatch 

 from their tempestuous Highland homes, and carry away in its swelling 

 bosom to a more peaceful bed, wherein they seem to grow and prosper as 

 well as in their own native stations." 



Dr. Murray has the merit of rescuing from oblivion the 

 name and pursuits of Dr. D. Skene, a famous botanist of 

 Aberdeen, who, in the days of our fathers, was honoured with 

 the correspondence of Linnaeus and other distinguished men 

 of science. 



In an observation on C6rnus suecica (p. 100.) there is a 

 remark respecting this gentleman and the well-known theo- 

 logian, Dr. Campbell : — 



" This is a remarkable plant, with which, upon first inspection, I was 

 considerably puzzled. Dr. D. Skene, too, was at no little loss about 



