ICOSANDRIA. 125 



growth in a foreign country, is the same as the same 

 species will bear on its first importation^ as I am in- 

 formed: that individual plants should not acquire 

 habits, in some degree, as individual animals do, I 

 see no reason, on philosophical principles 3 but it is 

 difficult to conceive how a species can be made to 

 change its nature ; and all opinions concerning such 

 changes seem to be without sufficient foundation. 



From the leaves of the Cherry Laurel, by distilla- 

 tion, the strongest vegetable poison is produced that 

 we are acquainted with 3 it was first discovered in 

 the year 1/28, and as the facts are extremely interest- 

 ing, I will transcribe them fi-om the S/th volume of 

 the Philosophical Transactions, where they were ori- 

 ginally published j and communicated to the Secre- 

 tary of the Royal Society of London, by Dr. Mad- 

 den, of Dublin. 



'*■ A very extraordinary accident that fell out here 

 some months ago, has discovered to us a most danger- 

 ous poison, which was never before known to be so, 

 though it has been in frequent use amongst us. I'he 

 thing I mean is a simple w^ater distilled from the leaves 

 of the Lauro- Cerasus. 



" It has the smell of the Bitter Almond, or Peach- 

 kernel, and has been for many years in frequent use 

 among our housewives and cooks, to give an agreeable 



