274 Experiments on the Strength of Wood. (APRIL, 
culation is destroyed. The vital viscera are oppressed by an 
intolerable load, which produces the symptoms above described, 
while in the extremities a proportionate degree of torpor takes 
place, accompanied by tremors, shivering, and convulsions. 
I have but little to add concerning the operation of the antshar 
on the hwman system, the only credible information on this subject 
is contained in the work of Rumphius, who had an opportunity of 
personally observing the effect of the poisoned darts or arrows, as 
they were’ used by the natives of Macassar in their attack on Am- 
boina, about the year 1650. 
They were also employed by the inhabitants of Celebes in their 
former wars with the Dutch. Speaking of their operation, he 
says the poison touching the warm blood, is instantly carried 
through the whole body, so that it may be felt in all the veins, and 
causes an excessive burning, and violent turning in the head, which 
is followed by fainting and death. 
The poison (according to the same author) possesses different 
degrees of violence, according to its age and state of preservation. 
The most powerful is called oopas radja, and its effects are con- 
sidered as incurable; the other kinds are distributed among the 
soldiers on going to war. After having proved mortal to many of 
the Dutch soldiers in Amboina and Macassar, they finally disco- 
vered an almost infallible remedy in the root of the crinum Asia- 
ticum (called by Rumphius radix toxicaria) which if timely applied, 
counteracted by its violent emetic effect the force of the oopas. 
An intelligent Javanese at Banjoowangee informed me, that a 
number of years ago, an inhabitant of that district was wounded 
in a clandestine manner by an arrow thrown from a blow-pipe, in 
the fore arm near the articulation of the elbow. In about 15 
minutes he became drowsy, after which he was seized with vomit- 
ing, became delirious, and in less than half an hour he died. 
From the experiments above related on different quadrupeds, we 
may form an analogous estimate of its probable effects on man. 
ARTICLE III. 
Experiments on the Strength of different Kinds of Wood for ascer- 
taining the Law of the Resistance, or how much more Weight 
Wood will sustain when the Breadth and Thickness are aug- 
mented. Also Observations on the Practice of staying Masts, 
and additional Remarks communicated by Mr. George Smart on 
the same Subjects. By Col. Beaufoy, F.R.S. With a Plate. 
(To Dr. Thomson.) 
MY DEAR SIR, Bushey Heath, Dec, 2, 1816, 
I mavE the following experiments to ascertain the strength of 
different kinds of timber, and to determine how much the power 
