FAMILY HERIiAL, 



355 



«nme with it, but that is .in error : the kernels of 

 "the fruit of, that tree^ are indeed of the shape 

 of the voniic imts^ but they arc not half so big. 

 The tree is lar^ and spreading : the branches 

 ^re^mimerouSj and the leaves are large : tbey stand 

 in pairs opposite to one anotlior ; and are oblong,. 

 l)roadest iii the middle, and rounded or hi ant at 

 The end, and of a very bitter taste ; the flowerg 

 are small, and stand in clusters at certain parts 



of the young branches; the fruit is of the big- 



iicss of an apple^ and is yellow when ripe 



Thfe 



kernels in this are what we call nux vomica ; 

 there arc fifteen of them in each fruit, and they 

 ^ ^odged in three divisions. 



These kernels are the only part used ; our drug- 

 ^sts keep thera ; they are rounds flat, and of a 



whitish coh)ur, very firm, and tough. 



They 



iiave been used as poison to dogs, cats, and other 

 animals ; but there arc those who give them to 

 the human species, in small doses, without mischief^ 

 and with very good effect. Quartan agues that 

 jiavc stood it against the bark, have been cured 

 y them ; but if the dose be too large, they 

 bring on convulsions, and there is great reason to be* 

 lieve, that in very large ones they would kill. 

 At present we have choice of so many medicines 

 for every disorder, that it is almost unpardonable 



to give 



such 



as are suspicious. Some people 



liavc ventured to give even ratsbane, as a medi 

 cine, mixed with other things, and in the twcnti* 

 cth part of a grain for a dose ; but reason con^ 

 demns this rash way of practice, and doubly, as 



there is no necessity to authorize iU 



r 



