128 URTICACE^ 



of the leaf, is placed a gland full of a caustic liquor, which has been ascer- 

 tained by M. de Candolle, jun., to be of an alkaline nature. As the surface 

 of the skin comes in contact with the point of this hair, and presses it down 

 on the gland, the juice rises through the tubular hair, and, entering the skin 

 at the punctured part, causes the pain. The sting is an interesting object 

 beneath the microscope, and in one of the earliest books ever written on that 

 instrument we find a reference to it. In 1664 Dr. Henry Power published 

 his "Experimental Philosophy," in three books, containing "New Experi- 

 ments, Microscopical, Mercurial, and Magnetical." The Doctor desires his 

 readers to look through the microscope at the under side of a Nettle leaf, 

 "And then," he says, "you shall find it all full of needles, or rather long 

 transparent pikes ; and every needle hath a crystal pummel, so that it looks 

 like a sword-cutler's shop, full of glittering drawn swords, tucks, and daggers, 

 so that here you may autopically see the causes, as well as you have formerl}^ 

 felt the effects, of their nettling. Something like them appear the prickles 

 on Borrage leafs and stalks." 



Powerful, however, as are the effects of our own Common Nettle, yet its 

 virulence is slight when compared with that of the large species of hot 

 climates, the glands of which secrete a greater quantity of a yet more 

 venomous juice. Sir Joseph Hooker, when in Nepal, remarked that the 

 number of gigantic Nettles ( U. heterophijllum) on the skirts of the maize-fields 

 was quite wonderful, their long white stings looking most formidable. Though 

 their sting produced much pain, yet its effects only lasted half an hour ; but 

 he adds that these Nettles, with the leeches, mosquitoes, and other stinging 

 insects, keep the traveller in a perpetual state of irritation. This species, 

 however, was an open enemy, showing to all who would look at it the 

 dangers with which it was beset, and thus deceiving none, reminding us of 

 the old proverb, "Better be stung by a Nettle than pricked by a rose"; 

 while another and still more gigantic species was far more dangerous Avithout 

 being so terrible in its aspect. No silvery needle-like stings in this plant 

 arrested the gaze, for its stinging hairs were microscopic, and confined to the 

 young shoots and the stalks of the leaver, and flowers. Large masses of this 

 great shrubby Nettle (Urtica crenuldta) grow at Singtam to the height of 

 fifteen feet, having broad glossy leaves. The plant is called in that country 

 Mealum-ma, and so great is the dread of the natives regarding it, that this 

 traveller had much difficulty in obtaining their aid in cutting it down. 

 Dr. Hooker says, that he gathered many specimens without allowing any 

 part to touch his skin, still the scentless effluvium was so powerful, that it 

 caused very unpleasant effects for the rest of the day. "The sting," he 

 remarks, "produces violent inflammation, and to punish a child with 

 Mealum-ma is the severest Lepcha threat." Violent fevers and even death 

 have been said to result from the sting of this plant ; but Sir Joseph doubts 

 the truth of this statement. This Nettle has long been known in India ; 

 and M. Leschenault, in his " Memoires de Musee," describes the eftects of 

 being stung by it in the Botanic Garden of Calcutta. He at first experienced 

 only a slight pricking sensation in the fingers which had come in contact with 

 the plant. In the course of an hour the pain became intolerable, and though 

 there was little to be seen on the skin, yet he felt as if his fingers were being 



