150 Nu7'sing vs. Dosing, 



either remedy ; but, so far as my observa- 

 tion goes, the disturbance from areca nut 

 is less than is the case with the extract of 

 fern. That death has been caused by the 

 improper use of both of these remedies is 

 no argument in their disfavor, when they 

 are properly administered. 



A gentleman once told me that oil of 

 fern was a very dangerous poison, and to 

 prove the statement he said that he had 

 given a tablespoonful to his puppy, and 

 when he next saw him, at the end of an 

 hour, he was dead. As this was apparent- 

 ly a very natural result, I did not gainsay 

 it. I have also heard of other cases where 

 the owner was equally unpardonably igno- 

 rant, and, it is hardly necessary to add, the 

 result was the same. 



I once prescribed by letter for a three- 

 months-old n:iastiff that was troubled with 

 worms ; and, as he would not touch sour 

 milk, I advised twenty grains of areca nut 

 made into a bolus with lard. The owner 



