Natural History, 193 



3. Vegetable Antidotes to Poison. — Dr. Chisholm, in a paper 

 read to the Society at Geneva, states, that the juice of the su- 

 gar-cane is the best antidote known for arsenic. It has been 

 tried upon various animals in the West Indies with complete 

 success, and always succeeds. Its power in the island of 

 Nevis is generally known. 



Dr. Chisholm also mentions the singular powers of a plant, 

 well known to the Indians, as a remedy for the ophthalmia ; it 

 is called akouscrounie and warannie by them, and eye-root by 

 the white people. It grows in la Guyane, in the neighbour- 

 hood of Demerara, in a sandy soil, and is a species of bignonia, 

 which Dr. C. has since called ophthalmica. An Indian prepares 

 the remedy from the root of the plants, by first stripping off the 

 brown epidermis, and then separating a fibrous pulpy part im- 

 mediately beneath ; this he presses on cotton so as to collect the 

 juice, and then by means of a paper funnel conveys a drop or 

 two of it into the eye. This is repeated once a day for three 

 or four days, in which time the cure is generally completed. 

 Dr. Chisholm had occasion in his own practice to apply this 

 remedy in three cases ; and having only the dry root, he rasped 

 off the outside, and then made a strong infusion of the part 

 beneath. Six drops of this infusion were introduced into each 

 eye once a day, and in six days* treatment they were perfectly 

 cured, though they had suffered for many weeks previously. 



4. On the Poison of tlie Viper. — M. Configliacchi has been 

 engaged on experiments with this poison. It was obtained by 

 pressing the vesicles behind the canine teeth into a watch- 

 glass, and applied by means of a needle. 



He established, in the most positive manner, that this poison 

 had no effect, except when introduced into the blood-vessels ; 

 flour-pills were dipped into the poison, and swallowed by birds 

 without producing any injury to them. 



One object was to ascertain the effect of Voltaic electricity on 

 birds poisoned by this venom. Some birds dead, but still 

 warm, were subjected, with others killed, either by breaking the 

 neck, suffocation, or decapitation, to the powers of a pile of 



Vol. X. O 



