DR. HOOKER’S ADDRESS TO THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 305 
The people declare that this hue is miraculously assumed, and regard 
the change as an infallible sign of death to the accused; yet, if this 
redness be exceedingly obvious, the relations who are present, desire 
that such a fruit may be rejected and another chosen; this proposal is 
probably agreed to, but the next fruit exhibits the same ominous 
presage and the victim dies. Several opinions are held by the natives 
on this subject : some say that there are two kinds of trees, one poison- 
ous, the other only emetic, and so similar in appearance that none but 
the administrators know the difference, and even they sometimes err, de- 
stroying when they intend to save, and vice versd. May not this be 
explained by two species existing in Madagascar? The Tanghinia 
Manghas, a species found in India, bears a fruit which is stated to be 
emetic. This species was supposed by some botanists to be identical 
with 7. veneniflua, but, on comparing the living plants, they were found 
to be distinct species. Z. Manghas bears delicate white flowers, desti- 
tute of fragrance. If both species are found in Madagascar, or a 
species with similar properties to the Indian, it would readily account 
for the different results in the trial by Ordeal, and the correctness 
of the statement of the natives, that “there are two kinds, one 
poison, the other only emetic.” The milky juice of T. Manghas is said 
to be used as a purgative, and, according to Rumphius, the natives 
boil and eat the leaves mixed with other pot-herbs, which thus act asa 
gentle laxative. The bark is also used in Java and Amboyna as a 
familiar cathartic, the action of which is said to be very similar to 
that ofsenna. Manghas is the name given to the tree in its native 
country. 
Sydney, New South Wales, July 14, 1868. 
DR. J. D. HOOKER’S PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS AT THE 
MEETING OF THE BRITISH ASSOCIATION. 
All botanists, of whatever shade of opinion, must have beheld with gratifi- 
cation Dr. Hooker's presiding over the Norwich Meeting of the British Asso- 
great annual gathering of men of science in this country, was a right to which 
We botanists were entitled. "That this right should have been so long withheld 
has been a matter of regret; that it has at last been granted, a tardy act of jus- 
tice. Dr. Hooker, out-and-out Darwinian though he be, ia a good representative 
man, and in his election his colleagues were duly honoured. His presidential 
VOL. VI. [OCTOBER 1, 1868. 
