S THE CANADIAN NATURALIST. [Feb. 



dular structure, presentiag- iu an exogenous plant a perfect ho- 

 mology with the glandular structures of the fruits of monocotyle- 

 dons, so well described by Brongniart, and serving to illustrate the 

 theory (see Trans. Bot. Sou. Ed., v, p. 213), that all vegetable 

 rglands are epidermal structures. In several points of view then 

 •-'this is an interesting plant, and Dr. Balfour has done it ample jus- 

 tice in his admirable description. 



17. Physostigma venenosum, Balfour. — The Poison Bean 

 -or Ordeal Bean of Calabar, Physostigma venenosum, Balfour, 



which is used in Africa as a state poison, a supposed means 

 -of discovering crime, and a certain method of punishing it, is 

 likely to yield, in the hands of medical men, some return for 

 ^all the evil it has done in the hands of the ignorant and super- 

 stitious Africans. Dr. Thomas R. Fraser finds that the bean acts 

 as follows : 



L The kernel acts on the spinal cord by destroying its power 

 of conducting impressions. 2. This destruction may result in two 

 well-marked and distinct effects, either in muscular paralysis, ex- 

 tending gradually to the respiratory apparatus, and producing 

 •death by asphyxia ; or in rapid paralysis of the heart, probably 

 •due to an extension of this action to the sympathetic system, thus 

 •causing death by syncope. 3. A difference in dose accompanies 

 the difference in effect. 4. The functions of the brain may be 

 affected secondarily. 5. It proJuces paralysis of muscular fibre, 

 striped and non-striped, fi. It excites secretions, and especially 

 the action of the alimentary mucous membrane. 7. Topical 

 -effects follow the local application of the watery emulsion and 

 alcoholic extract; these are destruction of the contractibility of 

 •muscular fibre, and contraction of the pupil when applied to the 

 ^ye-ball or eye-lids. 



18. New Irish Lichens and IIepatic.e. — Dr. Benjamin 

 Oarrington, F.L.S., has described (Trans. B. Soc, vii, p. 3) the 

 following new lichens : Epliehc 3Iooru, Carrington, a delicate little 

 .species found at Glen a, Killarney, growing in shallow depressed 

 patches, an inch or more in extent, on Fridlaiiia tamarisci, 

 var. microphylla ; Lecidea scapanaria^ Carrington, Killarney^ 

 parasitic on the stem and leaves of Scapania undulata, var. 

 major, and S. cequUoha. The same indefatigable botanist has 

 given an elaboration of the Killarney Hepaticse well worthy of 

 .study. Cryptogamic botany used to be a pleasant pastime ; but 



