NARCtfTIC PRINCIPLE. 89 



the same time it contains much less of the woody fibre, 

 on which the value of timber usually depends. 



The BITTER PRINCIPLE is afforded by many of 

 our native plants. Two species of Gentian, whose 

 flowers are the brightest ornaments of our meadows, 

 and the bark of several of our forest trees, possess bit- 

 ter qualities, and have been successfully employed as 

 medicines. The beautiful Coptis, whose yellow roots 

 have acquired the name of Gold-thread, has been long 

 in use as a domestic remedy, and it owes its efficacy 

 and colour to this secretion. 



The NARCOTIC PRINCIPLE.— There is a class of 

 plants, which the Botanist recognizes by their lurid as- 

 pect, and the physician, by their narcotic and poison- 

 ous qualities. Opium, which is extracted from the 

 Poppy is most frequently employed; but Henbane. 

 Nightshade, Belladona and Stramonium, all produce 

 their "drowsy syrups," equally powerful, and equally 

 to be avoided on account of their noxious qualities. 



But these poisons shrink into insignificance, when 

 compared with the reputed properties of the Upas tree 

 of Java. In the midst of a desert, several leagues from 

 the habitation of man, it was approached by none but 

 the condemned criminal, whose punishment was remit- 

 ted, if he returned with a branch of the fatal tree. — 

 Nothing could sustain its noxious exhalations, not even 

 a kindred plant, so that for twelve miles around, the 

 earth was a barren waste, and occasionally, as if to ren- 

 der the prospect more cheerless, the bones of other 

 victims served to remind the unfortunate visitor of his 

 approaching fate. Such were its reputed properties ; 

 but since Java has been frequently visited by Europe- 

 ans, the Upas tree has been approached with impuni- 

 ty, and examined with care, and it appears to abound 

 9 * 



