a 
On the salivary Defluaions o 
ing outwards, and exhibiting a handsome appearance 
when its white flowers are fully blown. The E. canescens 
which ZLznneus has restricted to Spain, is an humble 
plant, trailing close to the ground, but without emitting 
radicles. Both these vegetables are found in dry: si- 
tuations. But the £. maculata with which we are more 
immediately interested, although it is to be mostly met 
with in greater abundance on the margin of dry pas- 
ture fields, is more generally diffused over the cultiva- 
ted parts than any of the other species; and, begins to 
be in fower about the latter end of July, or the begin- 
ning of August, and continues to flower for several weeks; 
during which time it, no doubt, possesses the greatest 
acrimony ; and it is during this time, that the horses are 
most commonly affected with the disease known to the 
farmers by the name of slabbers. 
A memoir was read a few years ago, before the Lin- 
nean society of Philadelphia on the ptyalism of horses, in 
which the author stated the E. maculata to be the cause ; 
but I have not seen this memoir ; nor have I been able 
to obtain any important information respecting it. In 
all probability your investigation will be more satis- 
factory and conclusive. In a conversation, however, 
which I had a few days ago with Dr. Barton, he infor- 
med me, that he believed several vegetables had a simi- 
lar effect with the E. maculata in producing the s/ab- 
bers; and that he has known this disagreeable disease 
to be produced by dry clover, which he supposed to be 
in a diseased state. 
I am Sir, 
Wirnitiam Batpwin. 
Dr. ABRAHAM PERLEE. 
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