POISON SUMACH. 99 
and Mr. John Ellis. The mass of evidence seems 
to justify the belief, that notwithstanding the re- 
moteness of their situation, they are one and the 
same species. ‘The description of the oriental 
tree, given in Kempfer’s Ameenitates exotic, 
agrees yery closely with that of the American 
species. [Note G.] Like our native Rhus, the 
Japanese tree possesses a poisonous influence, 
and frequently causes a severe cutaneous affection 
in those who approach or gather it. It only re- 
mains to shew, that a varnish may be obtained 
from the American Rhus vernix, to furnish strong 
presumptive evidence of the identity of the two. 
If an incision be made in the bark of our 
Rhus vernix in the spring or autumn, a quantity 
of thick viscid fluid immediately exudes, and 
sometimes with such rapidity as to drop off be- 
fore it can be collected, This juice has an 
opaque, whitish appearance, and a strong, pene- 
trating, disagreeable smell. On exposure to the 
atmosphere, its colour soon changes to a deep 
black. It is extremely slow in drying, and per- 
Ymanently retains its black colour. 
In the month of October, 1814, with the as- 
sistance of Dr. Pierson, whose case is afterwards 
described ; 1 collected several ounces of this juice 
from a thicket of trees in Brighton. Being col- 
