154 Miscellaneous. 



Museum, Fort Pitt, Chatham, my attention was directed to some slips 

 of paper attached to a very few specimens, on which were written 

 (evidently by the collector at the time they were undergoing preser- 

 vation, and whose name is unknown,) the uses of the plants to the 

 natives. Thinking that they may probably furnish some little infor- 

 mation, I have subjoined a list of the species with the accompanying 

 remarks : — 



Achyranthes globulifera, Boj. — The infusion of this plant is used 

 in Madagascar for the cure of syphilis. 



Sizygium terebinthaceum. — The leaves of this plant are used in 

 Madagascar to give scent to aromatic baths. [Examined under the 

 microscope, both surfaces of the leaves are found to be covered with 

 very minute glandular hairs, having at their apex (which is doubtless 

 the secreting part) a knob of brownish matter, which is most likely to 

 yield the secretion, giving to the plant its aromatic odour. — D. C.] 



Blumea alata. — Likewise used for a similar purpose as the Sizy- 

 gium terebinthaceum. 



Anthemis dentata, Boj. — Grows in the province of Emirna : the 

 infusion of the whole plant is used in Madagascar as a sudorific. 



Gnidia daphnoides, L. — The bark of this plant is manufactured into 

 ropes : met with in the province of Emirna. 



Gentiana lutea ? — Grows on the mountain of Tananarivor, Mada- 

 gascar. Used by the natives as a bitter, and given in fever and 

 stomachic complaints. 



Dombeya spectabilis, Boj. — Its bark is made into ropes. 



Amaranthus debilis. — Used in Madagascar for the cure of syphilitic 

 diseases. 



Dais Madagascariensis, L. — The bark of this plant is manufactured 

 into paper. 



Croton argyreum. — Mentioned here on account of its interesting 

 hairs or scales. The under surface of the leaves of this plant present, 

 when viewed with a magnifying power of fifty linear and upwards, a 

 very beautiful appearance. The whole cuticle is closely studded with 

 numerous very small stellate hairs (or scales), in the centre of which 

 a small elevated circular orifice (?) is seen, probably in connexion 

 with the stomata, and from which, as a centre, the radii proceed, 

 giving the hair or scale a conical appearance. They may indeed be 

 aptly compared, both as to form and apparent structure, to the in- 

 verted pappus or seed-down of a compound plant. The numerous 

 brownish spots seen on the under surface of the leaf, are hairs of the 

 same character and structure as those just described, but possessing 

 this difference, viz. that the elevated orifice is of a deep chestnut 

 colour, which tint becomes gradually diffused towards the circum- 

 ference of the hair, tinging in a slight degree the radii. — Daniel 

 Cooper, Assistant Surgeon to the Forces, Fort Pitt, Chatham. 



August 22, 1842. 



ON THE NUCLEI OF THE BLOOD-CORPUSCLES OF THE VERTEBRATA. 



When the corpuscles of the oviparous Vertebrata are mixed with 

 water, or with dilute or strong acetic acid, the nuclei are instantly 



