514 . - ORD. XXVIII. Pomacee. rrvunvs LAUROCFRASUS. 
or other kernels of the drupaceous fruits. The flowers of this 
plant also manifest a similar flavour. The powdered leaves, ap- 
plied to the nostrils, excite sneezing, though not so strongly as 
tobacco. 
The kernel-like flavour which these leaves impart being gene- 
rally esteemed grateful, has sometimes caused them to be employ- 
ed for culinary purposes, and especially in custards, puddings, 
blancmange, &c. and as the proportion of this sapid matter of the 
leaf to the quantity of the milk is commorfly inconsiderable, bad 
effects have seldom ensued. But as the poisonous quality of this 
laurel is now indubitably proved, the public ought to be cautioned 
‘against its internal use. 
The following communication to the Royal Society, by Dr. 
Madden of Dublin, contains the first and principal proofs of the 
deleterious effects of this vegetable upon mankind. “ A very 
“ extraordinary accident that fell out here some months ago, has 
« discovered to us a most dangerovs poison, which was never 
“* before known to be so, though it has been in frequent use 
* among us. The thing I mean is a simple water, distilled from 
*« the leaves of the Lauro-cerasus—The water is at first of a 
“© milky colour, but the oil which comes over the helm with it, 
“« being ina good measure separated from the phlegm, by passing 
“ it through a flannel bag, it becomes as clear as common water, 
“ It has the smell of bitter almond, or peach kernel], and has been 
* for many years in frequent use among our housewives and 
© cooks, to give that agreeable flavour to their creams and pud- 
«dings. It has also been much in use among our drinkers of 
*‘ drams; and the proportion they generally use it in, has been 
« one part of laurel-water to four of brandy. Nor has ‘this 
«« practice, (however frequent) ever been attended with any 
«« apparent ill consequences, till some time in the month of 
«« September, 1728, when it happened that one Martha Boyse, 
‘a servant, who lived with a person that sold great quantities 
«© of this water, got a bottle of it from her mistress, and gave it to 
