221 



from the Editor. British plants from Dr. Mitchell, Nottingham; Mr. 

 J. T. Syme ; Mr. Moore, Chelsea; and Mr. Thomas Anderson. 

 The following papers were read : — 



1. ' Biographical Notice of the late Mr. George Don. By Dr. 

 Neill.' 



2. 'List of Plants found in Peebleshire. By George S. Blackie.' 

 Of the plants included in this list the following may be mentioned : — 

 Vicia Orobus (Manor-head), Galium pusillum, Pyrola rotundifolia, 

 Primula farinosa, Betula nana, Sibbaldia procumbens (Manor-head), 

 Saxifraga stellaris, Arctostaphylos Uva-ursi, Hymenophyllum Tun- 

 bridgense, and H. Wilsoni. 



3. ' Notice of Exidia hispidula, Bor/c, used in China as a remedy 

 in disease, and also as an article of diet. By Dr. Dill, Brighton.' 

 This communication was included in a letter to Dr. Balfour, who 

 communicated it to the Society. Dr. Dill remarks : — " The fungus 

 which I enclose for your inspection was first brought to my notice in 

 Hong Kong as a favourite remedy of the Chinese in attacks of dysen- 

 tery. It is used by them in the form of decoction, being boiled along 

 with dried plums, the latter being added merely to give flavour, &c., 

 to the decoction. The first time I ever saw it used was in the case 

 of the person who told me of its efficacy in the before-mentioned 

 malady. This man, an English gardener, was suffering from a severe 

 attack of dysentery, and as his house was a most unhealthy one I 

 strongly advised his going into an hospital. He said before doing 

 so he would like to try a Chinese medicine, which had been strongly 

 recommended to him by an old Chinaman, a friend of his. I said, 

 ' Take care what you do with yourself, for your case won't do to be 

 trifled with.' Three days after this I was surprised to find him at his 

 work, and well again. ' Sir,' he said, * this medicine has had such a 

 wonderful effect upon me that I have kept some of it to show you.^ 

 The specimen he then gave me I handed to ray Chinese servant, w'ho. 

 seemed perfectly familiar with it, and speedily obtained me a large 

 supply. 1 then determined to try it in the first case that came before 

 me. A few days. after a sailor applied to me for chronic dysentery, 

 which had been going on for eighteen months, having contracted the 

 malady when in China, on a previous voyage. I immediately placed 

 him on a strong decoction of the fungus, which he took in two oz. 

 doses, three times a day ; and in eight or ten days he seemed quite 

 cured. Being then permitted to go out, he got drunk, was exposed 

 to night air, &c., and had a return of his malady. Again, however, 

 the same medicine was employed with the same favourable result, and 



