or NORTH AMERICA. 6i 



I have been informed, that our Indians fometimes in- 

 tentionally poifon themfelves with a decodtion of the 

 leaves of this kalmia. The powder of the leaves has 

 been employed (but 1 fufpeft with little advantage) in 

 the inflammatoiy ftage of certain fevers. From experi- 

 ments made upon myfelf, I find that this powder is 

 fternutatoiy. 



To fomc conftitutions the flowers of the kalmia lati- 

 folia, even externally applied, are found to prove in- 

 jurious. 



III. The kalmia hirfuta appears to poflefs nearly the 

 fame properties as the two fpecies which I have juft 

 mentioned. This pretty little ihrub is a native of South- 

 Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. 



In Georgia and in Florida, this fpecies of kalmia is fup- 

 pofed to be the principal vegetable frona which the dele- 

 terious honey in thofe parts of our continent is pro- 

 cured. 



IV. The andromeda mariana, or broad leafed moor- 

 wort, is a very common plant in many parts of North 

 America. The leaves are poifonous to fheep. The 

 petioli, or foot-ftalks of the leaves and the feeds, within 

 the feed-veflel, are covered with a brown powder, fimilar 

 to that of the kalmiae. This powder applied to the 

 noftrils occafions violent fneezing.* From the flowers 

 of this plant, the bees extract confidcrable quantities of 

 honey ; and it deferves to be mentioned that this honey, 

 as well as that obtained from fome other American 



fpecies 



quoted by Dr. Haller, (See Hjjloria Stirplum Ind'igenarum Helvetie Inchoata. 

 Tom. I. p. 433.) fays, that the flefh of a hare which was fed with the 

 leaves of the rhododendron ferrugineum proved mortal to the guefts. 

 This fpecies of rhododendron is a native of Switzerland, Siberia, and other 

 parts of the old world. 



* For fome information relative to the properties of the andromeda 

 mariana, fee CoUeftions for an Effay towards a Materia Medica of the 

 United-States, pages 19, 20,47. Philadelphia, 1798. 



