386 TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF [Sess. i.vi. 



Leaves and flowers of Leucothoe spinulosa, Don. 



„ ,, Azalea indica, Linn. 



„ „ Rhododendron niaxinium, Linn. 



„ „ „ ponticum, Benth. et Hook. 



„ „ „ chrysanthiim, PalL 



„ „ ., liybridum. 



Berries of Kalmia latifulia, Linn. 

 Leaves and twigs of Kabnia angustifolia, Linn. 

 Entire lierb of Monotropa nniflora, Linn. 



AuJroniedoto.Kin was found in largest quantity in the 

 leaves of Kalmia angustifolia, which is known as " Lamb-kill " 

 in America. The same body probably exists in Pieris mariana, 

 which bears the significant name of "Stagger-bush" in America. 

 He had been led to take an interest in this matter because 

 of a paper by Dr Thresh of Buxton, and Dv Stockman, of 

 Edinburgh, on the poisonous honey of Trebizonde, read before 

 the Pharmaceutical Society a few years ago. An extract 

 prepared from this honey was found to produce the character- 

 istic symptoms of andromedotoxin poisoning. This was 

 attributed to the bees having visited plants of Azalea pontica 

 and rjiododeadvo'fi ponticum which grew abundantly in the 

 neighbourhood, but nothing definite was known as to the 

 poisonous properties of either plant until tlie lesearches of 

 l*lugge and Zaayer pointed to llhododendron j)onticum as the 

 probaljle source. This honey was interesting because it was 

 believed to be identical with the famous honey which proved 

 so disastrous to Xenophon's army, and the symptoms recorded 

 of that instance corresjtonded closely with those produced by 

 andromedotoxin. As showing the toxic effects of lihodo- 

 dcndronponticuiii,\t was stated that at Syndall Park, Lavers- 

 ham, eight sheep which ate the leaves of the plant were found 

 dead next morning. Plugge and Zaayer did not seem to 

 have examined Pirns jlorihunda, but the general conclusion 

 to which they came was that andromedotoxin was the 

 poisonous constituent in all narcotic ericaceous plants. 



