210 PROCEEDINGS OF THE CALIFORNIA 



In behalf of the Committee on selecting subjects for discussion, 

 Drs. Kellogg and Gibbons submitted their report, which was 

 adopted. 



Donations to the Museum : In behalf of Messrs. Nelson and 

 Doble, of this city, Mr. Harford presented a sample of steel, being 

 the first cast-steel manufactured in the State ; it is somewhat im- 

 perfect, a portion of the iron being still visible. Quartz crystals, 

 colored red by cinnabar, from Mr. Durand. A mat, or sack of 

 Macropiper methysticum^ from Mr. James Owens, by Dr. Kellogg. 



In reference to the last-named gift to the Museum, Dr. Kellogg 

 made the following remarks : " The plant here presented is a species 

 of Pepperwort i-oot from the Sandwich Tslands, known among 

 the natives as Ava or Awa : at his request, a specimen had been 

 sent by Mr. Pond, from the said islands ; but this sack was from 

 one of the Navigator Islands — it is the Macropiper methyHticum ; 

 the thick, woody and rugged rhizome only is used, chiefly for in- 

 toxicating and medicinal purposes ; the root is mostly used by the 

 islanders in the fresh state, macerated in water, or often fermented 

 into a beer beverage. For the cure of venereal diseases and name- 

 less ailments, they drink themselves drunk, when a copious per- 

 spiration ensues which lasts about three days, after which they are 

 pronounced well. In tincture, it has a great reputation as a cure 

 for chronic rheumatism and similar complaints ; for the mucous 

 membranes, especially in lower forms of inflammation, its action is 

 like cubebs, and it is of the same family. 



The natives too frequently contract habits of dissipation, and ex- 

 cessive indulii-ence be;i;ets a morbid desire most disastrous in its 

 conse(|uences, such as flushed face, bloodshot eyes, weak and trem- 

 bling limbs, paralysis, etc. 



It would be an interesting subject for the microscopist to examine 

 the medullary rays of this root, and note its similarity to that of the 

 Morning Glory : in ascertaining the qualities of a plant, a great 

 deal is predicated on form ; botanical qualities have a certain bo- 

 tanical form. 



Dr. Henry Gibbons stated that this plant was mostly used in the 



form of an intoxicating drink. Navigators tell us that formerly much 



ceremony accompanied the drinking; the King took the first glass, 



after which, his subjects being informed by messengers, were at 



iberty to take their drink. 



