18S Imperial Academy of Sciences at Si. Pelcrshurgh. 



notwithstanding this, the Suiiie (la Berle) and all its species ; 

 the S ISO n inuridatmn and salsum ; the Phellandrnnn aqiia- 

 ticum; the Angelica sylvestris ; the ^gopodium podagra- 

 ria, plants which thrive in marshes, contain no poison. 



It is plain therefore, that neither the pale colour, disagree- 

 able smell, or growth in marshy places, can furnish us with 

 certain and indisputable signs of the presence of poisonous 

 qualities in plants. 



The pretended repugnance of animals to pernicious plants 

 is evidently as little mfallible. The division of plants made 

 by botanists into classes, orders, and families, according to 

 their nature, is not more efficient in recognising those that 

 are venomous. To be convinced of this, we have only to 

 observe, that among the principal genus of the nightshade, so 

 suspected, is found the potatoe (Solaimm tuherosjtm) , a.nd also 

 capsicum {le Piment des jardins) , which possesses the virtue 

 of exciting and destroying the pernicious principle in 

 narcotic plants. 



In consequence of this want of an exterior and natural 

 certain sign, by which noxious plants might be immediately 

 detected, it would be desirable to find out some easy me- 

 thod of examining themj such for instance as an EudiometrCy 

 or .my thing that might produce changes in them which 

 (like the black colour assumed by mushrooms when they are 

 boiling) might indicate their noxious qualities, though the 

 criterion of poisonous mushrooms is, not yet suiBcienlly 

 established. 



^'An easy method is therefore required, ly tvhich any iti- 

 dividual, not having the least knowledge of botany, may de- 

 tect venomous plants, in a short time, at a small expense ; 

 and in a vianner perfectly decisive." 



The prize is one hundred Dutch ducats ; and the precise 

 time, after which no memoir can be adniitted to the com- 

 petition, is the 1st of July 1803. 



The academy invite the learned of all nations, without ex- 

 cluding its honorary members and correspondents, to inves- 

 tigate this matter. None are excluded but those academi- 

 cians who are to exercise the function of judges. 



The learned who contend for the prize must not put 



their 



