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BERBERIS VULGARIS. ORD. XXXVIII. Trihilate. 619 
It has been discovered, that the filaments of this shrub possess a 
remarkable degree of irritability ; for on being touched near the 
base with the point of a pin, a sudden contraction is produced, 
which may be repeated several times. This contraction of the 
stamina is evidently for the purpose of throwing the pollen upon 
the stigma, and is effected by means of insects passing over the 
bottom of the filaments, which is the part in which their sensibility 
resides.* 
Another peculiarity ascribed to this shrub is, that ears of corn 
growing near it constantly prove abortive, and that it extends this 
sterile influence over them to the distance of three or four hun- 
dred yards across a field;* but Mons. Broussonet, a celebrated 
French naturalist, has refuted this very extraordinary though pre- 
valent opinion. 
The fruit or berries, which are gratefully acid,° and moderately 
restringent, are said to be of great use in bilious fluxes, and in all 
cases where heat, acrimony, and putridity of the humours prevail. 
On the authority of Alpinus* we are informed, that the Egyptians 
employ them in pestilential fevers and fluxes, with great success ; 
and Simon Paulli relates,* that he was cured of a malignant fever, 
accompanied with a bilious diarrhoea, by using these berries con- 
formably to the Egyptian practice, viz. macerating the fruit for 
a day and a night in twelve times its quantity of water, with the 
* See Mr. Whatley’s remark from Dr, Sims, in Bot. Arr. p. 366. and Dr. Smith’s 
paper in the Phil. Trans. for 1788. p. 158. 
Yr Withering says, ‘* this shrub should never be permitted to grow in corn 
lands, for the ears of wheat that grow near it never fill, and its influence in this 
respect has been known to extend as far as three or four hundred yards.” Z@. c. 
* Retzius says that it approaches very nearly to that of Tamarinds. Vet. Acad. 
Handl. 1776. p. 135. Scheele obtained from it a considerable quantity of the 
acid of sugar. Vet, Acad. Handl. 1785. p. 17. 
* P. Alpinus. Med. Agypt. L. 4. ¢ 1. 
* Vide Quadrip. Bot. 118. 
