Analysis of Amlergris. 131 



fecoveries from the bite of the rattlesnake, when the ve- 

 getables that were applied externally, or exhibited inter- 

 nally, were, if not nearly inert (mere niUrientia), at least 

 endued with the most opposite powers ? Thus, the bulb of 

 hjpoxis erecta (which grows abundantly in Carolina and 

 other parts of the United States) is by many persons deemed 

 a sovereign remedy against the bite of the rattlesnake. 

 But this bulb, which I have often eaten, is almost as mild 

 and inert as boiled rice. 



That an animal which has been bitten by a rattlesnake, 

 whose poison has induced most violent symptoms, such as 

 acute paiu, fever, and even palsy of the extremities, shall 

 completely recover from these symptoms without the aid of 

 anv medicine whatever, is a fact which is familiarly knowu 

 to me from my own experiments. 



Permit me to suggest to you the propriety of employing 

 active emetics, so as to excite full vomiting, in some of the 

 cases of the bites of serpents that may come under your 

 care. The very striking analogy which subsists between the 

 effects of the venom of the rattlesnake and those of the 

 poison inducing malignant yellow fever, has led me to 

 suspect that emetics might be useful in the former as well 

 as n\ the latter of these cases. Fontana found the tartar 

 emetic U3ei\il in cases of the bite of the viper; and D. Boys, 

 an intelligent physician who is settled at Staunton in Vir- 

 ginia, informed me (in my visit to that place last summer) 

 that he had found emetics so managed as to excite both 

 puking and purging, more useful than any thing else in re- 

 moving the symptoms originating from the bite of the 

 copper-head snake, which is not less venomous than the 

 rattlesnake. 



Be assured of the high respect which I entertain for your 

 talents and usefulness in life, and permit me to subscribe 

 myself, dear sir. 



Your very obedient and humble servant, 

 and affectionate friend, 



riiii:Klelphia, BeNJAMIN SmITH BaRTOK. 



July 23d, 1S03, 



XS^III. Analysis of Amlergris. i3//BouiLLON-LAGRAXGE. 

 [Concluded from p. 91.] 



FjXP. VI. Alkalies unite with ambergris, and form with it 

 soluble soaps. 



Thirty grains of ambergris with ten grains of pure potash 

 1 2 were 



